What Is the Zatopek Phenomenon?

Answer:

A term for the beneficial effects associated with tapering, named after Czech middle distance Olympic champion Emil Zatopek. His intense training prior to the 1950 European Games was interrupted by illness that hospitalized him for two weeks. He came out of hospital just two days before competing in the 10,000m race, which he won convincingly. He also went on to win the 5,000m event. His success has been attributed to the benefits of his forced tapering.