Steve Prefontaine: America's Greatest Distance Runner
America’s Greatest Distance Runner
During the time which I have been involved with the sport of Track and Field, I found interest in those who have ran in the Olympic Games and excelled within their sport. Track and Field has an enormous history dating back to 776 B.C. where the Greeks first organized the sport. Millions of runners have competed ever since the first Olympic Games in order to achieve the same goal, to go beyond their physical limits. One runner within the pack stands out above them all, America’s greatest distance runner, Steve Prefontaine. Within this paper my goal is to depict an accurate description of Prefontaine’s life and explain what gave him such a significant impact to the world of sports within the United States. …show more content…
As a young man, Prefontaine never excelled at sports due to his lack of height and skinny body. Prefontaine’s love for running was found when he decided to join his high school’s local track team. Prefontaine continued to run throughout his high school career where he later won the state title in his junior cross country season. After Prefontaine’s explosion into the world of athletics he was quickly recruited by top schools all around the country.
Prefontaine’s Professional Career. Prefontaine officially began his professional career as a runner while he attended the University of Oregon in 1970. Under the supervision of Bill Bowerman, future co-founder of the popular shoe brand, Nike, Prefontaine became unstoppable. Despite Prefontaine’s desire to compete in the 1600m run, Bowerman urged him to compete in the 5000m run, a much more stamina involved race which he believed Prefontaine would revolutionize. Within his college career Prefontaine won the NCAA Men’s Cross Country Championship three times consecutively, only to sit out his senior year in order to prepare for the 1972 Munich Olympics. What is considered one of the greatest races of all time, Prefontaine was pitted against the greatest distance runners in the world. Lasse Virén, Prefontaine’s rival, took the lead in the final turn over silver medalist Mohammed Gammoudi. Prefontaine ran out of gas with 30 meters …show more content…
He is a huge inspiration to millions of runners around the world due to his aggression and passion for the sport. Steve Prefontaine’s death is often considered the end of Track and Field’s popularity within the United States due to much of Prefontaine’s fame following him to the grave. The courage and audacity of Prefontaine to tackle the enormous AAU and pave the way for rights for athletes was a significant impact in United States history. Prefontaine’s memorable 5000m run will never be forgotten and his legacy will forever flourish within the hearts of runners everywhere. Prefontaine was more than just an athlete. He pursued his goals and ambitions with the heart of a lion which is why he is America’s greatest distance
During the time which I have been involved with the sport of Track and Field, I found interest in those who have ran in the Olympic Games and excelled within their sport. Track and Field has an enormous history dating back to 776 B.C. where the Greeks first organized the sport. Millions of runners have competed ever since the first Olympic Games in order to achieve the same goal, to go beyond their physical limits. One runner within the pack stands out above them all, America’s greatest distance runner, Steve Prefontaine. Within this paper my goal is to depict an accurate description of Prefontaine’s life and explain what gave him such a significant impact to the world of sports within the United States. …show more content…
As a young man, Prefontaine never excelled at sports due to his lack of height and skinny body. Prefontaine’s love for running was found when he decided to join his high school’s local track team. Prefontaine continued to run throughout his high school career where he later won the state title in his junior cross country season. After Prefontaine’s explosion into the world of athletics he was quickly recruited by top schools all around the country.
Prefontaine’s Professional Career. Prefontaine officially began his professional career as a runner while he attended the University of Oregon in 1970. Under the supervision of Bill Bowerman, future co-founder of the popular shoe brand, Nike, Prefontaine became unstoppable. Despite Prefontaine’s desire to compete in the 1600m run, Bowerman urged him to compete in the 5000m run, a much more stamina involved race which he believed Prefontaine would revolutionize. Within his college career Prefontaine won the NCAA Men’s Cross Country Championship three times consecutively, only to sit out his senior year in order to prepare for the 1972 Munich Olympics. What is considered one of the greatest races of all time, Prefontaine was pitted against the greatest distance runners in the world. Lasse Virén, Prefontaine’s rival, took the lead in the final turn over silver medalist Mohammed Gammoudi. Prefontaine ran out of gas with 30 meters …show more content…
He is a huge inspiration to millions of runners around the world due to his aggression and passion for the sport. Steve Prefontaine’s death is often considered the end of Track and Field’s popularity within the United States due to much of Prefontaine’s fame following him to the grave. The courage and audacity of Prefontaine to tackle the enormous AAU and pave the way for rights for athletes was a significant impact in United States history. Prefontaine’s memorable 5000m run will never be forgotten and his legacy will forever flourish within the hearts of runners everywhere. Prefontaine was more than just an athlete. He pursued his goals and ambitions with the heart of a lion which is why he is America’s greatest distance