Emmerich Rath

Emmerich Rath was a German-Bohemian businessman who sold sports articles. Living in Praha and Germany, he took part in the 1908 and 1912 Olympics as an Austrian representing the Habsburg monarchy. Rath was an all-round sportsman who practiced athletics, wrestling, boxing, rowing, canoeing, skating, bobsleigh, cross country skiing, mountain climbing and was playing rugby, hockey and ice hockey. Rath, the son of a shoemaker, started playing football at DFC Praha, but during his career joined multiple different clubs. Rath also competed in the Nordic Skiing World Championships.

Between 1904 and 1909 Rath became famous as a military walker with “war walking equipment”. This equipment weighed 31 kg and included a musette bag with a rolled overcoat, a buckled roast pocket (in German Bratkessel), a mantle, a belt, a bayonet, a field spade, a bread sack, a field bottle, the ammunition pocket filled with munitions, and, of course, the rifle. The weight was filled up with sand, if needed. Only shoes and clothes were free for him to choose. Rath won the 50 km walks from Berlin in 1905 and 1907-09, which were considered a medical sensation as he claimed not to smoke, nor drink alcohol, and was a vegetarian.

In 1906 he published his experiences in the book: Der Gepäckmarsch über 50 km und warum ich siegte (The 50 km Military Walk and the Way I Won It). In 1920 and 1924 Rath attended the Olympics as a journalist. After World War II he worked as a bricklayer.

Personal Bests: 400 – 55.0; Mar – 3-27:02 (1912); 10kmW – unknown; HJ – 1.62; PV – 3.10.