Persistent runners....

Los Angeles Olympic Marathon, August 12, 1984 (Carlos Lopes,723)

During the year of 1984, Carlos Lopes had his greatest season. He started by winning his second world cross-country title in New Jersey. In July, in Stockholm, he and his teammate Fernando Mamede ran under the previous 10 000 meters world record time, set by Henry Rono in 1978. The best achievement of his career was yet to come. On the last day of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Lopes did the race of a lifetime by winning the marathon in supreme style. He ran the last 7 kilometers at an average speed of 2:55 per km, a violent pace at the end of a marathon. The winning time of 2:09:21 was the new Olympic Record, and stood for 24 years until 2008. Carlos Lopes was by then 37 years old, and this win came at the same time as the big running boom of the 1980`s. This made him for sure economically independent for the rest of his life....and he deserved every penny. He retired from athletics in 1985 by setting a world best in the Rotterdam Marathon (2:07.12), and was the first human to run the 42.195 km in less than 2 h 8 min. Not to forget, one month before that, he had taken his third world cross-country title. And, until this day, he is still the last European athlete to do so. He combined, like the very best....a great physique, with huge mental strength.

Anything to hide...?

..welcome !

Very few....

Janis Joplin, New York City, 1969

..could sing from the heart like she did.

Courageous runners....

Richard Chelimo 1972 - 2001

Never afraid of "leading the pack". Unfortunately, never got a gold medal at senior level. During the season of 1993 he became the world record holder of the 10 000m....for 5 days (!). The 1992 Olympic final (10 000m) in which he bravely participated, is still a shame for the sport.

Across Europe 1976....

..with the Alfa Romeo, 2000 GTV Bertone

How about....

..jumping, 8,68, 8,83w, 8.91w, 8,87 and 8,84 in the same competition....and getting second place !?

Here....today

Our conception of freedom is distorted....

Robyn....

photo: Rodeo

"Body Talk"....and talent

True rebels die young....

Teotihuacan, 1969

..and a few live like they preach.

The best run ever....

Florence Griffith-Joyner, Seoul, 1988

The last meters of the 200 m final is the best sprint ever done by a human....

Courageous runners....

Eugene, July 9, 1972. US Olympic Track & Field Trials

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift". 
Steve Prefontaine 1951-1975

Business as usual....

..money talks

Spanish conservation part two....

Castelo de Martrera, Villamartín

After Ecce Homo what could we expect ?

Fernando Pessoa....

..a ray of light through clear water

About patience....

..ask a tree !

Eating together is just one step away....

The day Sweden lost its innocence....

..with youngest son at Fårö

Olof Palme, cowardly assassinated in Stockholm, on this date....30 years ago.

The 1970`s....

Agnetha Fältskog, 1972

Anyone who disagrees if i say that she carried everything with grace....

Harlow, May, 1968....

..a bit too much Marvin Gaye before the final ?

The painter....

Van Gogh, 1888

L`Étranger....

Talent for infinity....

Wolfgang, by Jean-Baptiste Greuze

Tintin....

..dreams from another era

Say it with grace....

..Grace Slick about her early retirement

"You can do jazz, classical, blues, opera, country until you´re 150, but rap and rock and roll are really a way for young people to get that anger out. It´s silly to perform a song that has no relevance to the present or expresses feelings you no longer have"