Harald Norpoth
Harald Norpoth (born 22 August 1942) is a West German former middle and long distance runner. He won the silver medal over 5000 m at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo as a member of the United Team of Germany. He had already competed in the 1962 European Athletics Championships, where he had fallen and dropped out of the 1500 m final. His high quality as both a 1500 m and a 5000 m runner was proved in the 1966 European Athletics Championships, where he won the bronze medal at 1500 m and the silver medal at 5000 m.
At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico Norpoth dropped out of the 5000 m and finished fourth over 1500 m. He also set a 2000 m world record of 4:57.8 minutes in September 1966 in Hagen, Germany. Norpoth remained an international-level 5000 m runner until his retirement from compe*ive running in 1973, as he finished third in the 1971 European Championships 5000 m final, losing by 1.2 seconds to the winner, Juha Väätäinen. At the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, he finished sixth at 5000 m, losing by 6.2 seconds to the winner, L*e Virén, and placing as the fourth best European. In his farewell run at 5000 m in 1973, he set a personal record at 13:20.49. Norpoth was known as a sharp kicker, although he also could endure a fast pace when he was in peak shape. He is a first cousin of political scientist Helmut Norpoth.