Charles Dewachtere
Introduction


**Charles Paul Dewachtere** (22 December 1927 – 22 July 2020\) was a Belgian [long\-distance runner](/wiki/Long-distance_track_event "Long-distance track event"). He competed in the [marathon](/wiki/Athletics_at_the_1952_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men%27s_marathon "Athletics at the 1952 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon") at the [1952 Summer Olympics](/wiki/1952_Summer_Olympics "1952 Summer Olympics"). Dewachtere became twice Belgian champion. 

In 1951 he became Belgian champion in a race over 35 km, between [Waregem](/wiki/Waregem "Waregem") and [Ghent](/wiki/Ghent "Ghent"). In 1952, the Belgian championship was held over the official [marathon](/wiki/Marathon "Marathon") distance as qualification race for the [1952 Summer Olympics](/wiki/1952_Summer_Olympics "1952 Summer Olympics") in [Helsinki](/wiki/Helsinki "Helsinki"). Helped by the high pace of [Jean Leblond](/wiki/Jean_Leblond "Jean Leblond"), Dewachtere won the Belgian championship in a very fast time. Only two Englishmen ran a faster marathon at that time. Dewachtere was therefore one of the main favorites for the Games. However, due to a heel bone injury, he finished 18th. Winner Emil Zátopek was only four seconds faster than Dewachtere's time at the Belgian championships.


Why did Charles Paul Dewachtere finish 18th in the marathon at the 1952 Summer Olympics?