Gaston Reiff

{{short description|Belgian runner}}

{{More footnotes needed|date=August 2021}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name =

| image = Gaston Reiff 1949.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Gaston Reiff in 1949

| birth_name =

| fullname =

| nationality =

| birth_date = 24 February 1921

| birth_place = Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium

| death_date = 6 May 1992 (aged 71)

| death_place = Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium

| height = 173 cm

| weight = 61 kg

| country =

| sport = Athletics

| event = 1000–10,000 m

| pb = 1500 m – 3:45.2 (1952)
Mile – 4:02.8 (1952)
5000 m – 14:10.8 (1951)
10,000 m – 30:18.8 (1951)[http://trackfield.brinkster.net/Profile.asp?ID=5525&Gender=M Gaston Reiff]. trackfield.brinkster.net

| club = USG

| alma_mater =

| retired =

| olympics =

| highestranking =

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | {{BEL}} }}

{{MedalOlympic}}

{{MedalGold|1948 London|5000 m}}

{{MedalEuropeanChampionships}}

{{MedalBronze|1950 Brussels|5000 m}}

}}

Gaston Étienne Ghislaine Reiff (24 February 1921 – 6 May 1992) was a Belgian runner. He competed at the 1948 and 1952 Olympics in the 5000 m event and won it in 1948, defeating Emil Zátopek in the final and becoming the first Belgian track and field athlete to win an Olympic title. He lost to Zátopek at the 1950 European Championships, placing third.

Reiff competed in boxing and football before changing to athletics. Besides his Olympic gold medal he set world records in the 2000 m, 3000 m and 2 miles and won 24 national titles; in 1951 he held Belgian records on distances ranging from 1000 m to 10000 m. A street in Braine-l'Alleud and the town's stadium are named after Reiff in his home town of Braine-l'Alleud.[https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/re/gaston-reiff-1.html Gaston Reiff] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322134432/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/re/gaston-reiff-1.html |date=22 March 2016 }}. sports-reference.com

References

{{Commons category|Gaston Reiff}}

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{{Succession box|before={{flagicon|SWE}} Gunder Hägg|title=Men's 3000 m World Record Holder|years=12 August 1949 – 14 May 1955|after={{flagicon|HUN}} Sandor Iharos}}

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{{Footer Olympic Champions 5000 m Men}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions Belgium Men}}

{{Footer Olympic Medalists Belgium Athletics Men}}

{{Footer US NC Indoor 3000 meters Men}}

{{Belgian National Sports Merit Award}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Reiff, Gaston}}

Category:1921 births

Category:1992 deaths

Category:People from Braine-l'Alleud

Category:Belgian male middle-distance runners

Category:Belgian male long-distance runners

Category:Olympic athletes for Belgium

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1952 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic gold medalists for Belgium

Category:World record setters in athletics (track and field)

Category:European Athletics Championships medalists

Category:Sportspeople from Walloon Brabant

Category:Medalists at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field)

Category:20th-century Belgian sportsmen

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