Franjo Mihalić

Franjo Mihalić was the first great Yugoslavian distance runner. His first major success came in winning the 10,000 metre silver medal at the 1951 Mediterranean Games, behind Alain Mimoun. Mihalić competed at three Olympics, highlighted by his marathon silver medal in 1956, also behind Mimoun. During his career he set 25 Yugoslavian records. His two biggest victories came in winning the 1953 International Cross-Country Championship and the 1958 Boston Marathon. He also won the prestigious Cinque Mulini Cross-Country race three times. Mihalić continued to compete through 1966 but stayed active, and took up race walking, later winning three gold medals in race walking at the Balkan Masters’ Games.

Personal Bests: 10000 – 29:37.6 (1954); Mar – 2-21:24 (1957).