Kosice Marathon – Chapter 2: What happened 80 years ago. HE REWARDED HIS FRIENDS WITH A VICTORY

That day, on Sunday, 28th of October 1937, everyone was talking about one man – Désiré Leriche. You will come to know why..

According to chroniclers, Desiré Leriche was the firs Frenchman on the course in Košice. And not only on the course, but at the finish as well.                                      

This man, who has been working as a gardener, traveled to Košice thanks to his Paris friends´ who put together the money for his trip here.

He did not forget this, and for every victor's autograph he gave, he asked a smal sum, and finally dedicated the whole amount to the local poverty.

Rumors concerning his triumph in prestigious Košice Marathon has quickly spread to his hometown, where he was honored again and rewarded personally by french Minister of sport Léo Lagrange.

However after this success, destiny hasn´t bring a lot of happiness to him. During the war Désiré was imprisoned in the concentration camp, where he died in1944.

Results:

1937 Košice Marathon / Sunday, 28th October

    Désiré Leriche /France/    2:43:41,7
    György Balaban /Austria/ 2:50:44,6
    Ludovic Gall /Romania/    2:51:07,0

Next story:  What happened in 1947

Upcoming Košice Peace Marathon will be held on October 1, 2017.

www.kosicemarathon.com

www.kosicemarathon.com
 
Brano Koniar
Race Director