Steve “Pre” Prefontaine would have turned 73 on Thursday, and the legendary runner’s enduring legacy and impression on the game continues. From Coos Bay, Ore., Pre grew to become one of many largest stars within the sport throughout his time on the College of Oregon within the 70s, the place he held seven American data from the two,000m to the ten,000m. Listed below are 5 information concerning the iconic runner, whose achievements and phrases proceed to encourage and resonate.
Trailblazer of distance working
Prefontaine was a pioneer in distance working, recognized for his fearless method and unwavering willpower. He burst onto the scene within the early Nineteen Seventies, and his aggressive front-running model and refusal to accept something however victory revolutionized distance working within the U.S. and past.
Prefontaine’s Olympic journey was tragically minimize quick when he was 24. He competed within the 1972 Summer season Olympics in Munich and was making ready for the 1976 Olympics with the Oregon Monitor Membership when he died in a automobile accident on Might 30, 1975.
Advocate for athletes’ rights
Past his achievements on the observe, Prefontaine was a vocal advocate for the rights of beginner athletes. He challenged the prevailing system, ruled by the Beginner Athletic Union (AAU) that restricted athletes’ means to earn cash whereas sustaining their beginner standing. Prefontaine defied the AAU by organizing a sequence of meets with a bunch of Finnish athletes. One among these meets, held at Marshfield Excessive College in 1975, was the place Prefontaine set his final American document.
Legendary duel on the 1972 Munich Olympics
One among Prefontaine’s most memorable moments was the 5,000m race on the 1972 Munich Olympics. In a fierce battle towards Finnish runner Lasse Virén, Prefontaine showcased his indomitable spirit, ending fourth in a race that’s usually thought-about one of many biggest duels in Olympic historical past. The picture of Prefontaine pushing himself to the restrict serves as a timeless reminder of his aggressive hearth.
4️⃣6️⃣ years in the past right now, a 21-year-old Pre approached the bell-lap bloodied by spike wounds however nonetheless in rivalry for Munich Olympic 🥇. Lasse Viren was too robust and accomplished his gold-medal 5k/10k double, whereas Pre was fully spent and completed 4th.#PreLives pic.twitter.com/SrmEtQnKPA
— The Prefontaine Basic (@nikepreclassic) September 10, 2018
Nike’s first signature athlete
In 1974, Prefontaine signed with Nike for $5,000—as the primary runner to signal with the corporate, he jump-started the model as a working shoe firm. Invoice Bowerman, the sports activities coach on the College of Oregon, additionally occurred to be the co-founder of Nike. In 2022, a pair of Nike Oregon waffle sneakers worn by the gap runner had been bought for USD $163,800 on the public sale website, Sothebys.com.
The Prefontaine Basic
In honor of Pre’s lasting impression on the game, the annual Prefontaine Basic observe and subject meet was established in Eugene, Ore. This prestigious occasion attracts elite athletes from around the globe and continues to be a becoming tribute to Pre’s legacy. Hayward Area, the place the meet is held, holds a particular place within the hearts of runners because the venue the place Prefontaine achieved a lot of his outstanding feats.
Prefontaine is remembered not just for his athletic prowess but in addition for the fervour, braveness, and advocacy that outlined his life.
