No historical account of race walking in the U.S. would be complete without tribute to the Dean of American race walkers, Henry Laskau. 

After initial success in the early Olympic Games, American race walking fell upon Dark Ages. Instead of cheers, race walkers in the 1940s and 1950s were, in Laskau's words, met with catcalls. It would take athletes like Laskau to change that.

Born October 12, 1916, in Berlin, Germany, Laskau became his country’s top middle distance runner in the 1930s. Unfortunately, however, his status did not protect him from the atrocities of the Nazi Era. In 1939, he and his family were arrested and sent to a forced labor camp. There, Laskau was able to earn the sympathy of a guard who allowed him to escape. Sadly, he was forced to leave his family behind, and they later perished in concentration camps.

Laskau fled Germany, traveling to France and then Cuba before settling in the United States. In the early forties, he served in the U.S. Army, providing counter intelligence during World War II. With the war concluded, Laskau’s thoughts returned again to track and field. Following the suggestion of a track coach at New York University, he decided to give race walking a try. 

Laskau was a complete natural and quickly rose to dominate the sport nationally. From 1947 to 1956, he amassed 43 national championships, earning positions on the U.S. Olympic teams in 1948, 1952, and 1956. At one time or another, he held each and every American record, from 1 mile to 20 kilometers. Laskau electrified the crowds at Madison Square Garden in 1951 when he lapped walker after walker on his way to a world record for the 1 mile: 6:19.2, which stood for 12 years. His legend at Millrose lived long past his record. Even today when warming up in the bowels of Madison Square Garden, Laskau’s accomplishments still loom large. Amazingly, Laskau did all this while reportedly training only three days a week!

His dominance in American race walking did not go unnoticed. In 1997, Laskau was the second race walker inducted into the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame.

As amazing as his performances were, Laskau’s dedication to the sport during his post-competition career remains equally memorable. He continued to give back to race walking in every way imaginable. He has been responsible for converting countless runners to race walking and inspiring race walkers all over the U.S. He organized and judged race walks locally and internationally and served as judge for both race walks in the 1984 Olympic Games. He was president of the Walkers Club of America, the expressed purpose of which is to encourage race walking for competition as well as fitness.

On a personal note, I consider myself very lucky to have met Laskau. In the Eighties a race was named in his honor. In 1986, one cold and miserable Sunday morning, I was fortunate enough to win the Henry Laskau 10K. I still have a piece of the race T-shirt sewn into a blanket. Years later I enjoyed the privilege of Laskau’s company when he traveled with me to the Macabbiah Games, which he won all four times he competed. Laskau will forever remain within my fondest race walking memories.

Later in life Laskau suffered from Alzheimer's disease. He passed away May 7, 2000. Today, we must savor the inspirations and memories he left us.

20K Olympic Games
1988 - 38 th - 1:27:30 - Seoul, Korea
1984 - 23 rd - 1:30:20 - Los Angeles, USA

20K World Championships
1983 - 19 th - 1:25:55 - Helsinki, Japan

50K World Championships
1988 - 22 nd - 4:03:34 - Rome, Italy
1983 - DNF - Helsinki, Japan

20K Pan Am Games
1983 - 6 th - 1:34:47 – Caracas, Venezuela

20K World Cup
1983 - 16 th - 1:24:51 - Bergen, Norway
1981 - 22 nd - 1:30:39 - Valencia, Spain
1979 - 31 st - 1:28:51 - Eschborn, West Germany
1977 - 36 th - 1:33:40 - Milton Keynes, Great Brittan

50K World Cup
1987 - 29th - 4:08:15 - New York City, USA