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Louis Silvie Zamperini (January 26, 1917 – July 2, 2014) was an American World War II veteran, an Olympic distance runner and a Christian Evangelist. He took up running in high school and qualified for the United States in the 5,000 m race for the 1936 Berlin Olympics, finishing 8th while setting a new lap record in the process.
Jul 3, 2014 · Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who as an airman during World War II crashed into the Pacific, was listed as dead and then spent 47 days adrift in a life raft before being captured by the...
- He was a juvenile delinquent. Born in January 1917 to Italian immigrant parents, Zamperini spent his youth as one of Torrance, California’s most notorious troublemakers.
- He met Adolf Hitler at the 1936 Olympics. After graduating high school, Zamperini set his sights on competing in the 1936 Olympic games. Switching from his preferred 1,500 meters to the 5,000 meters, the “Torrance Tornado” made a good showing at the U.S. trials and became the youngest distance runner to ever make the Olympic team.
- He was a leading candidate to break the 4-minute barrier in the mile run. Following his strong showing at the 1936 Olympics, Zamperini shattered collegiate records at the University of Southern California and became one its most celebrated student athletes.
- He cheated death several times while serving as a B-24 bombardier. During World War II, Zamperini served as a B-24 Liberator bombardier in the Army Air Corps’ 372nd Bomb Squadron.
Nov 11, 2014 · Louis Zamperini was a World War II prisoner of war and an Olympic athlete who became an inspirational figure and writer.
Dec 24, 2014 · Learn about the remarkable life of Louis Zamperini, a former Olympic runner, a World War II bombardier, and a POW survivor. See photos from his military service and his journey of survival and redemption.
Apr 17, 2024 · Learn about the life of Louis Zamperini, who ran in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, survived 47 days at sea, and endured torture in a Japanese POW camp. Discover how he became a motivational speaker, author, and inspiration for the film Unbroken.
Lou Zamperini was a high school star distance runner in Southern California in the 1930s, and competed in the 1936 Olympics shortly after graduating from high school, winning the California high school championship, and earning a track scholarship to Southern Cal.
