NEW BOOK!
The Destiny of Ali Mimoun
As long as he could remember, Alain Mimoun had wanted to be French. In fact, he wanted to be French even more than he wanted to
beat Emil Zátopek, and he couldn't say more than that. In any case, Emil was practically unbeatable. What's more, Emil was his friend. Whereas he, Mimoun had shed blood for France. That was the ultimate bond, the contract, the vouchsafe. Better than any birthright. Ironically, it was in the beating of Emil Zátopek that Alain Mimoun would come closest to his life's ambition.
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Introducing...
Pat Butcher is a writer, journalist, television producer and commentator; and also operates a media service for several top road races around the world.
Although writing occasionally on subjects of general interest, his speciality is track and field athletics.
He first attended the Olympic Games in Munich 1972; and has covered all World Athletics Championships and Olympic Games as writer and/or commentator since 1980.
Please consult the menu for links to a variety of projects, from the highly acclaimed book, The Perfect Distance: Ovett & Coe, The Record Breaking Rivalry; to the television documentaries, Arabian Knight, The Story of Said Aouita and Race For Kenya; to the radio programmes Sport In the Movies and Coe & Ovett in Moscow; to various newspaper, magazine and website articles; and links to the events which he helps publicise across the world.
Unless otherwise accredited, all pictures on this site are from Victah Sailer at www.photorun.net
Butcher's Blog
May 22, 2013
EMPERORS
There are all too few decent books on track and field and its practitioners. But Haile Gebrselassie, the greatest long distance runner in history is fittingly getting another volume to sustain his legend; and one in which he has had … Read more
May 12, 2013
KEMBOI TURNS ON HEAT IN PRAGUE
Nicholas Kemboi and Caroline Rotich celebrated their biggest career wins on the streets of the Czech capital on Sunday, taking victory in the 19th edition of the Volkswagen Prague Marathon, writes Joerg Wenig. Kemboi, who originally comes from Kenya but … Read more
May 10, 2013
LATE CONVERT
When Albert Matebor was at school he did not think of becoming a professional runner, writes Joerg Wenig. But such has been his progress since his first marathon at the relatively late age (for a Kenyan) of 25, that he … Read more
April 22, 2013
GELANA PAYS THE PRICE
Just whose stupid idea was it to start the London Marathon wheelchair race 20 minutes after the elite women? The clash at the 15k drinks station between Olympic women’s champion Tiki Gelana of Ethiopia and Josh Cassidy, one of the … Read more
April 6, 2013
CHERONO UPSTAGES MEN IN PRAGUE
Despite temperatures that felt as if the Czech capital was enclosed in a refrigerator, writes Joerg Wenig, the Hervis Prague Half Marathon produced a thrilling men’s race and a course record in the women’s competition. Eritrea’s world record holder Zersenay … Read more
