Zatopek honoured by IAAF

Zatopek was known as the Czech locomotive

Olympic legend Emil Zatopek is to be posthumously awarded a 'Golden Order of Merit' by the IAAF.

"The Council has unanimously approved the awarding of the Order of Merit to Emil Zatopek for the exceptional services rendered to athletics and the example he set to youngsters everywhere," an IAAF statement said.

Nicknamed the 'Czech locomotive', Zatopek won gold in the 10,000m at the London Olympics in 1948 and at Helsinki in 1952, where he also picked up the 5,000m and marathon titles.

Zatopek set 18 world records and was European champion at 5,000m in 1950 and 5,000 and 10,000 in 1954.

Zatopek died aged 78 on November 21 after a long illness.