STEVE PREFONTAINE Biography - Famous Sports men and women

 
 

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STEVE PREFONTAINE

Name: Steve Roland Prefontaine                                                     
Born: 25 January 1951 Coos Bay, Oregon, US                                         
Died: 30 May 1975 (aged 24) Eugene, Oregon                                         
Cause of death Car Accident                                                       
                                                                                   
Steve Roland Prefontaine (January 25, 1951 - May 30, 1975) (nicknamed Pre) was     
an American long distance runner. Prefontaine is considered to be among the       
greatest and most inspirational runners of the modern era by many of his fans,     
both during his lifetime and to this day. Prefontaine helped inspire a running     
boom in the 1970s along with contemporaries Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers. Born   
and raised in Coos Bay, Oregon, Prefontaine was primarily a long distance runner   
who once held the American record in the five distance track events 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 for     
always believing in giving a full effort. Prefontaine died at the age of 24 in a   
car accident.