Staņislavs Petkevičs

After initially representing the country of his birth, Latvian distance runner Staņislavs Petkevičs became a Polish citizen where he continued his athletics career. Petkevičs was a 12-time champion in Latvia, winning titles in the 800 metres (1928), 1,500 metres (1927–28), 5,000 metres (1926–28), 10,000 metres (1926–28), and cross-country race (1926–28). His consistent performances earned him a place on the Latvian Olympic team for the 1928 Amsterdam Games. He ran in both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres at the Olympics, finishing 7th and 15th, respectively.

Later in 1928 Petkevičs became a Polish citizen, representing the national athletics team the following year. His reputation preceded him when he was named the Polish Sports Personality of the Year in 1929. Petkevičs won his first Polish title the same year with victory in the cross-country race, before winning back-to-back titles in the 800 metres in 1930-31. He was prolific in multiple events, which saw him set 13 Polish records in distances from the 1,500 to the 10,000 metres.

In 1932 Petkevičs was disqualified from competing due to a dispute over his amateur status. With his competitive career over he moved into coaching and became the head trainer of Polish middle and long-distance runners from 1934 to 1939. Shortly after the outbreak of World War II he emigrated to Argentina where he worked as a PE teacher. He then founded the Instituto de Cúltura Física, a sporting complex in Buenos Aires, in 1945. Tragically Petkevičs died just five years later after being shot by a former employee who had been dismissed from the institute.

Personal Bests: 5000 – 15:01.0 (1930); 10000 – 32:12.0d (1928).