Prefontaine, Steve
Steve Roland Prefontaine (January 25, 1951 – May 30, 1975), nicknamed Pre, was an American Olympic runner and considered perhaps the most loved American runner of all time, having inspired a running boom during the 1970s. Born and raised in Coos Bay, Oregon, Prefontaine was primarily a long distance runner, and at one point held the American record in every running event from the 2000 meters to the 10,000 meters. Prefontaine had one leg longer than the other (a common condition that does not affect running speed), and due to this he was told to give up on his dream of being the fastest runner on earth. He is known for his extremely aggressive “front-running” racing style and always believing in giving a full effort. Prefontaine died at the age of 24 in a car accident.
