View source for Henry Laskau

{{Short description|American racewalker (1916–2000)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name           = Henry Laskau
| image          = Helmut "Henry" Laskau.jpg
| image_size     = 230px
| alt            = Laskau in 1957
| caption        = 
| birth_name     = Helmut Laskau
| full_name      = 
| nickname       = 
| national_team  = United States
| birth_date     = {{birth date|1916|9|12}}
| birth_place    = [[Berlin, Germany]]
| death_date     = {{death date and age|2000|5|7|1916|9|12}}
| death_place    = [[Coconut Creek, Florida]], U.S.
| height         = 
| weight         = 
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[athletics (sport)|athletics]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1951 Pan American Games|1951 Buenos Aires]] | [[Athletics at the 1951 Pan American Games|10 km Walk]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Maccabiah Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1950 Maccabiah Games|1950 Israel]] |3000 m }}
{{MedalGold | [[1953 Maccabiah Games|1953 Israel]] |3000 m }}
{{MedalGold | [[1957 Maccabiah Games|1957 Israel]] |3000 m }}
}}

'''Helmut ("Henry") Laskau''' (September 12, 1916 &ndash; May 7, 2000) has been called the greatest [[racewalking|racewalker]] in U.S. track and field history. Born in [[Berlin, Germany]] Laskau was a top distance runner in his native [[Germany]], before being forced to leave that country by the [[Nazis]] in 1938 due to his [[Jewish]] heritage. He moved to the United States and served in the U.S. Army during World War II, before resuming his competitive walking career in 1946.

Over two decades Laskau won 42 national titles, set the world record in the mile, was the national A.A.U champion, and was a competitor in the 1948, 1952, and [[1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Olympic Games]], placing 12th in 1952 at 20 kilometers.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1950/08/06/archives/laskau-in-israel-meet-enters-1950-world-maccabiah-games-sept-27oct.html|title=LASKAU IN ISRAEL MEET; Enters 1950 World Maccabiah Games Sept. 27-Oct. 8|date=August 6, 1950|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/la/henry-laskau-1.html |title=Henry Laskau |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303192015/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/la/henry-laskau-1.html |archive-date=2012-03-03 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He was [[Athletics at the 1951 Pan American Games|a 1951 Pan-American Games champion]].

He also was a four-time gold medal winner at the [[Maccabiah Games]] in the 3,000 m race walk; in the [[1950 Maccabiah Games]], [[1953 Maccabiah Games]], [[1957 Maccabiah Games]], and [[1965 Maccabiah Games]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/08/30/101566065.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|title=Laskau, 49, and Once-Retired, Shows Field His Heels in Walk|website=timesmachine.nytimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1950/10/03/89754475.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|title=U.S. ACES SHATTER 3 MARKS IN ISRAEL; Korik Annexes Decathlon Lead With Record Pole Vault and Then Goes On to Triumph|website=timesmachine.nytimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jewishsports.net/BioPages/HenryLaskau.htm|title=Henry Laskau|website=www.jewishsports.net}}</ref><ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=JPOST19531002-01.1.4&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------|title=Jewish Post 2 October 1953 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program|website=newspapers.library.in.gov}}</ref> During an 11-year career, he set five national records and during nine years of that period was unbeaten by any American walker. Laskau won the racewalk at the 1970 Masters National Outdoor Championship in San Diego.  In 1983, he was named to the USA All-Time Track and Field team. He remained active in the sport after retiring from competition, serving as a volunteer official. Laskau died at the age of 83 in [[Coconut Creek, Florida]], in 2000.

==See also==
* [[List of Jews in sports#Track and field|List of select Jewish track and field athletes]]

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.jewishsports.net/BioPages/HenryLaskau.htm Henry Laskau] at the [[International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]]
* {{USATF Hall of Fame}}
* {{Olympics.com profile}}
* {{Olympedia}}

{{Footer Pan American Champions 20km Walk Men}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1948 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1952 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1956 Summer Olympics}}
{{USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners in men's racewalking}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Laskau, Henry}}
[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:2000 deaths]]
[[Category:American male race walkers]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1948 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1951 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1952 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1956 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Olympic track and field athletes for the United States]]
[[Category:Jewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United States]]
[[Category:Jewish American track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Athletes from Berlin]]
[[Category:International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Maccabiah Games gold medalists for the United States]]
[[Category:Maccabiah Games medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1950 Maccabiah Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1953 Maccabiah Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1957 Maccabiah Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1965 Maccabiah Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1951 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:American masters athletes]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]