Jos Hermens

Jos Hermens is a former Dutch long-distance runner. He became well-known for his later career as a sports manager as the founder and CEO of Global Sports Communication, which manages many Olympian athletes. Hermens is a three-time national champion in the men's 5,000 meters, and collected his first title on 14 July 1973 in The Hague. He was named Dutch Sportsman of the Year in 1975. He was a 10,000 meters finalist at the 1976 Summer Olympics and set the world record for the hour run the same year. Hermens twice improved the world hour record, on the Papendal track. In September 1975, with Gerard Tebroke as a pacemaker, he ran 20,907 meters. In May 1976, without a pacemaker, he ran an additional 37 meters. This record held until 1991.