Known
as “Mr. Walking” in
American track and field circles, Henry Laskau
set the World Outdoor One Mile Race-Walking record in 1951
at 6:19.2. His
record stood for 12 years.
A budding middle distance runner
in Germany, he escaped from his homeland
in 1939 after serving three months
in a forced labor camp. Making his way through France to
a ship that took him
to Cuba, he eventually picked up his
life and running career in the United
States. When the United States entered
World War II, Laskau enlisted and
served in counterintelligence for the
American Army. After his Army discharge
in 1946, he decided to resume
his track career as a race-walker.
Laskau dominated U.S. race-walking
competition. He was unbeaten in the
United States from 1947 to 1956, winning
42 National AAU championships.
His American Outdoor titles were for
the Two-Mile 1952 to 1955 and in 1957; 3
Kilometers in 1948 to 1952, and in 1956;
10 Kilometers in 1947 to 1957; 15 Kilometers
in 1947, and in 1953 to 1956; 20
Kilometers in 1951 to 1955; and 25 Kilometers
in 1956. Indoors, he won every U.S. One Mile championship
from 1948
to 1957.
In addition to his World record,
Laskau also set three American marks:
10 Kilometers in 1951 (46:45); 3 Kilometers
in 1952 (12:52.7); 15 Kilometers in
1956 (1:12.40).
A three-time member of the United
States Olympic Race Walking Team, in
1948, 1952, and 1956, his best Olympic
finish was seventh place in the 10 Kilometer
Walk in 1948 (47:05). At the Melbourne
Olympics in 1956, at the age of
40, Laskau finished twelfth in the 20
Kilometer Walk.
In the years 1950, 1953, 1957, and
1965, Laskau won gold medals at the
World Maccabiah Games in Israel. In
1997 he was elected to the U.S. Track & Field
Hall of Fame.
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