Willem SLIJKHUIS

One of the top middle distance runners in the years after World War II, Wim Slijkhuis won two Olympic bronze medals at the 1948 Olympics. In the 1,500 metres, he quickly closed on the leading Swedish pair of Henry Eriksson and Lennart Strand, but narrowly failed to overtake Strand. In the 5,000, he was part of the lead group, from which both Gaston Reiff and Emil Zátopek escaped. In 1946, Slijkhuis had also earned a silver medal at the European Championships (5,000 m), while in 1950 he would win the 1,500 m in a sprint duel with Patrick El Mabrouk. During his career, Slijkhuis collected 18 Dutch titles (1500 m: 1949, 1951, 1953; 5,000 m: 1942-44, 1946, 1948-51; cross country (short); 1946, 1948; cross country (long): 1943, 1946-49) and a US indoor title (mile: 1949) as well as a British AAA title (3 miles: 1948). He retired in 1954 due to an Achilles’ tendon injury.

Personal Bests: 1500 – 3:43.8 (1949); 5000 – 14:14.0 (1946).