Emiel Puttemans was born on 8 October 1947 in Leuven, Belgium.
He was a brilliant distance runner who set world records for 3000 m (7 minutes 37.6 seconds) in 1972, for 2 miles (8 minutes 17.8 seconds) in 1971 and for 5000 m (13 minutes 13 seconds) in 1972.
His pattering strides were well suited to tight indoor tracks and he set long-lasting standards indoors in 1973 ; 2000m (5 minutes dead), 3000m (7 minutes 39.2 seconds) and 2 miles (8 minutes 13.2 seconds), and in 1976 for 5000m (13 minutes 20.8 seconds).
His championship record did not do justice to his abilities. He competed at four Olympic Games but only once met with any success, in 1972 when he was 2nd at 10,000m and 5th at 5000m. He did, however, win the European Indoor 3000m in 1973 and 1974.