Sir Murray Gordon Halberg was a New Zealand middle-distance runner who won the gold medal in the 5000 metres event at the 1960 Olympics. He also won gold medals in the 3 miles events at the 1958 and 1962 Commonwealth Games. He worked for the welfare of children with disabilities since he founded the Halberg Trust in 1963.
Robert Keyser Schul was an American long-distance runner. As of 2024, he is the only American to have won an Olympic gold medal in the 5000 m, at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Sonia O'Sullivan is an Irish former track and field athlete. She won a gold medal in the 5000 metres at the 1995 World Championships, and a silver medal in the 5000 metres at the 2000 Olympic Games. Her 2000 m world record of 5:25.36, set in 1994 stood until 2017.
William Solon Dellinger is a retired American middle-distance runner, and track and field and cross country coach. He competed in the 5,000 m at the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Olympics and won a bronze medal in 1964, setting his personal record. He lettered in track at the University of Oregon in 1954, 1955, and 1956.
Yevgeny Romanovich Grishin was a Soviet and Russian speedskater. Grishin trained for the largest part of his speedskating career at CSKA Moscow. A four-time Olympian, he became European Champion in 1956, and won Olympic gold in the 500 meter and 1500 meter events in both 1956 and 1960 Winter Olympics, competing for the USSR team. Along with his compatriot Lidiya Skoblikova, he was the most successful athlete at the 1960 Winter Olympics.
Harald Norpoth 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.
Michel Jazy was a French middle-distance runner and long-distance runner. He won the 1500 metres silver medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics, as well as two golds and one silver at the European Championships. He set nine world records in the mile (once), 2000 metres (twice) and 3000 metres (twice), the two miles (twice) and the 4×1500 metres relay (twice).
Jouko Juhani Järvinen was a Finnish speed skater. He competed in the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Olympics with the best result of fourth place over 1500 m in 1956 and fifth in 1960. In 1959 he won a world title, placing second at the European championships. The same year he set a world record over 1500 m (2:06.3) and was elected Finnish Sportspersonality of the year. His world record stood for seven years.
John Roland Werket was an American speed skater. He competed in seven events in total at the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Winter Olympics with the best achievement of sixth place in the 1500 m in 1948. In 1948, he also won the 1500 m event and a silver allround medal at the world championships. This was the best achievement for an American skater, surpassed only in 1977 by Eric Heiden. In 1950, Werket finished in third place allround, but won the 500 m and 1,500 m events. In 1952, he finished second in the 500 m and 1,500 m and tenth overall.
Philip Yates Coleman was a middle- and long-distance runner from the United States. He was born in Champaign, Illinois. He won the gold medal in the men's 3000 metres steeplechase event at the 1959 Pan American Games. Coleman attended Southern Illinois University (1948 - 1952, spent two years in the Army and becoming inter service steeplechase champion. He attended graduate school at the University of Illinois, meanwhile competing for The University of Chicago Track Club. He was a member of the 1956 and 1960 Olympic teams. He retired from running in 1960, wrote an article for Sports Illustrated "Idea of an Amateur", 1962, for which he was awarded the Mohammed Taher trophy by the International Olympic committee. With his thesis, "Mark Twain's Desperate Naturalism" completed, he received a PhD in Literature in 1964. He taught literature and served as dean at California University of Pennsylvania, retiring in 1998.
The 5000 metres speed skating event was part of the speed skating at the 1956 Winter Olympics programme. The competition was held on naturally frozen ice on the Lake Misurina. It was held on Sunday, 29 January 1956, started at 11 a.m. and ended at 3 p.m. Forty-six speed skaters from 17 nations competed.
Sándor Iharos was a Hungarian long-distance runner. Though unsuccessful in major competitions, Iharos ran world records over multiple distances and is one of only two athletes to have held outdoor world records over 1500 metres, 5000 metres and 10,000 metres. Iharos was one of the star pupils of the famous coach Mihály Iglói.
Tor Torgersen was a Norwegian long-distance runner. He specialized in the longest track distances, 5000 and 10,000 metres, as well as cross-country running and from around 1960 the marathon, in which he also competed at that year's Olympic Games. On the track he became national champion in two events in 1959, with an additional four titles taken outside the track. He was later a national team coach in swimming.
André Kouprianoff is a retired French speed skater who won three all-round medals at the European and world championships in 1960–1962. He competed at the 1960 and 1964 Winter Olympics in 500 m to 10,000 m distances with the best achievement of eighth place in 1,500 m in 1960.
Ivar Bengt Nilsson was a Swedish speed skater who won a bronze all-round medal at the 1962 world championships. He competed at the 1960 and 1964 Winter Olympics in 1,500 m, 5,000 m and 10,000 m events with his best achievement having been a fourth place finish in the 10,000 m event in 1960.
Günter Tilch is a retired German speed skater. He competed at the 1960 and 1964 Winter Olympics in the 500 m and 1500 m events. His best achievement was 20th place in 500 m in 1960.
Jürgen Schmidt is a retired German speed skater. In 1964 he won three national titles, in 5000 m, 10000 m and all-around, and was selected for the 1964 Winter Olympics, where he finished in 39th place in the 1500 m and 5000 m events.
Michel Bernard was a French middle- and long-distance runner. He competed at the 1960 and 1964 Olympics in the 1500 m and 5000 m and finished in seventh place in all events. During his career he won nine national titles, in the 1500 m, 5000 m and 10000 m. Between 1985 and 1987 he was president of the Fédération française d'athlétisme.
Kunio Nando, was a Japanese speed skater. He competed at the 1936 Winter Olympics in the 500 m and 5000 m events and finished in 22nd and 31st place, respectively.
