The men's
10,000 metres
The 10,000 metres or the 10,000-metre run is a common long-distance track running event. The event is part of the athletics programme at the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships, and is common at championship level events. The race ...
was an event at the
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, whi ...
in
Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a metropol ...
, held on Friday November 23, 1956. There were a total number of 25 participants from 15 nations.
From the gun, favorite
Vladimir Kuts
Volodymyr Petrovych Kuts ( uk, Володимир Петрович Куц, russian: Владимир Петрович Куц, 7 February 1927 – 16 August 1975) was a Soviet long-distance runner. He won the 5000 and 10000 m races at the 1956 O ...
took the lead. Only
Gordon Pirie
Douglas Alistair Gordon Pirie (10 February 1931 – 7 December 1991) was an English long-distance runner. He competed in the 5000 m and 10,000 m events at the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Olympics and won a silver medal in the 5000 m in 1956, placing fo ...
was able to maintain contact as Kuts pushed the pace. Then at the conclusion of 12 laps, Kuts swung wide to let Pirie go by. Pirie obliged while Kuts took the rear for a little less than 200 meters, then Kuts accelerated back into the lead. In the last mile, Pirie was broken, Kuts pulled away to an ever-increasing lead. The chase group settled the remaining medals with a final sprint as
József Kovács beat
Allan Lawrence to the line for silver. Pirie struggled home a lap behind.
Final classification
References
External links
Official Report
{{DEFAULTSORT:Athletics At The 1956 Summer Olympics - Men's 10000 Metres
M
10,000 metres at the Olympics
Men's events at the 1956 Summer Olympics