László Tabori passed away today at CedarsSinsi hospital in Los Angeles. Tabori was the third person ever to break the 4 minute mile. He was 86 years old.
Editor's note: We added to the title to make it more descriptive. The original title was "RIP László Tabori."
Here are a few articles on him.
IAAF:
https://www.iaaf.org/news/iaaf-news/laszlo-tabori-obituary
AP:
https://apnews.com/17def53efda04b70a5c67e6aa1aea5ba
USC:
RIP.
John Landy still kicking, or at least holding on, at 88.
Trojan76 wrote:
László Tabori passed away today at CedarsSinsi hospital in Los Angeles. Tabori was the third person ever to break the 4 minute mile. He was 86 years old.
Wow he was 86 when he went sub4?
Seriously sorry to hear it although if you had asked I would have guessed he was already dead.
Wow! I just got his biography last week, and was reading it today.
He was the last of the great Hungarian trio who rewrote the record books in the mid-50s.
Tracksmith commissioned a nice profile of him a couple of years back:
Trojan76 wrote:
Tabori was the third person ever to break the 4 minute mile.
The fourth and fifth, Chataway and Hewson, were right behind him in the same race.
Another great has left us. RIP.
If I have my info correct, only four out of the first ten men to run under 4 mins are still alive: John Landy, Brian Hewson, Jim Bailey, and Ron Delaney.
He was a friend of my father's, who trained with Igloi along with Jim Beatty. I don't remember him, although I am sure he saw me wobbling around as a little toddler. My father mentioned him often, pointing to him as one who mastered Igloi's system.
Although not close to my father, I will let him know. Thanks to Let's Run for the news, as sad as it is.
i bought my first pair of running shoes in 1981 at the store laszlo owned in the san fernando valley. i remember his thick accent and his funny yet authoritarian tone while i made my purchase--almost as intimidating as the small, grainy, black and white photo on the wall with a caption "3rd man to break 4 minutes in the mile" or something like that. that seemed otherworldly, impossible, but it planted the seed of a dream in this 13 year old kid who had yet to break 6 minutes in the mile. around 10 years later i got to join this fairly exclusive club.
he was a fixture in the southern california running scene, though i didn't see him much at track meets this season. i saw him last year at the usc-ucla dual meet, and he still had this habit of smacking me on the back of my leg with his cane, telling me "get off of your toes" because i'm such a supinator. i always wondered if he was too...
i exchanged messages with him at the passing of roger bannister, me thanking him for his inspiration, and he telling me to keep on dreaming and striving. what a cool dude...i'd say rest in peace, but he's probably just finishing a set of 6x200, goodspeed, with many more to go...
cush
I ran for Laszlo in the mid-1970s. One day a runner was talking smack to him. Coach responded “get the hell outta here. I am not your dog.” Great coach, good man.
I first became aware of him while reading Bob Schul’s autobiography. Hard to comprehend nowadays the political circumstances he had to endure, which essentially curtailed his running career while at his peak. A co worker of mine trained under him the San Fernando Valley in the 80’s. In March of 2017, he was honored at the Screenland 5K in Culver City and I had the opportunity to meet him and introduce him to my son, who was just beginning his high school running career. Although he was physically frail, he was still mentally sharp as he grilled my unsuspecting son on his training regimen with his caustic wit and twinkle in his eye
RIP
Here is his website:
Laszlo was my hero growing up along with Gordon Pirie, Bruce Tulloh and others . We lived close to the White City and saw most of the big athletics meets in the 50's and 60's. It was later that Laszlo and I became friends. He was a great guy and had many story's to tell. Chris Chataway came up a lot in the conversations. Bill Dellinger and Wes Santee greeted him warmly and with affection during the 2008 Olympic Trials in Eugene. His athletes loved him and he had many friends. I enjoyed a party held for him in 2015 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of his four minute mile. You gotta love the license plate on his car......Sub4in55. One of my lives high points to get to know Laszlo and Laurie.
For some reason I am blocked from posting under my registered handle.
Probably a good thing. Funny actually. Whatever.
Anyway, I was fortunate to train under Mihaly Igloi, Joe Douglas and Laszlo Tabori. All great coaches and unique in their own way. Tabori dosed out hard 1,200m-2,400m runs at 3k to 5k effort. Ran my best 3k under Tabori late in my career. Dave Babiracki was often my training mate. Fun times had by all.
Igy
In high school I twice went to his training sessions in the valley after visiting his store. I was a nobody 17 yr old with a 420 pr. He couldn't have been nicer or shared his philosophy more freely. Or made his workouts more demanding. Tons of 4 to 1200 work. It was great. Wish I had lived closer and been able to take advantage more.
mkng1 wrote:
In high school I twice went to his training sessions in the valley after visiting his store. I was a nobody 17 yr old with a 420 pr. He couldn't have been nicer or shared his philosophy more freely. Or made his workouts more demanding. Tons of 4 to 1200 work. It was great. Wish I had lived closer and been able to take advantage more.
Any more info/details on the workouts?
I read the Bob Shulz bio 20 + tears ago .
Did he not train under his tutelage ?
