Chris Brasher
London marathon co-founder, athlete, journalist
Steve Prefontaine was a legendary American long-distance runner who set numerous national records in the 1970s. Known for his charisma and competitive spirit, Prefontaine competed in the 1972 Olympics and tragically passed away in a car accident at the age of 24. His legacy lives on through the prestigious Prefontaine Classic track meet and two feature films about his life.
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About the Steve Prefontaine
Steve Roland “Pre” Prefontainewas a US-American long-distance runner who from 1973 to 1975 set American records at every distance from 2,000 to 10,000 meters. He competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics, and was preparing for the 1976 Olympics with the Oregon Track Club at the time of his death in 1975.
Prefontaine’s career, alongside those of Jim Ryun, Frank Shorter, and Bill Rodgers, generated considerable media coverage, which helped inspire the 1970s “running boom”. He was killed in an automobile crash near his residence in Eugene, Oregon at the age of 24. One of the premier track meets in the world, the Prefontaine Classic, is held annually in Eugene in his honor. Prefontaine’s celebrity and charisma later resulted in two 1990s feature films about his short life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Steve Prefontaine was a US-American long-distance runner who set American records at every distance from 2,000 to 10,000 meters between 1973 and 1975. He competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics and was preparing for the 1976 Olympics at the time of his death in 1975.
Prefontaine set American records at every distance from 2,000 to 10,000 meters between 1973 and 1975. He was a key figure in the 1970s ,running boom, and his celebrity and charisma later resulted in two feature films about his life.
Steve Prefontaine was killed in an automobile crash near his residence in Eugene, Oregon at the age of 24.
The Prefontaine Classic is one of the premier track meets in the world, held annually in Eugene, Oregon in honor of Steve Prefontaine.
Prefontaine’s celebrity and charisma resulted in two 1990s feature films about his short life.
At the time of his death in 1975, Prefontaine was preparing for the 1976 Olympics with the Oregon Track Club.
Prefontaine’s career, alongside those of Jim Ryun, Frank Shorter, and Bill Rodgers, generated considerable media coverage, which helped inspire the 1970s ,running boom,.
9 Quotes by Steve Prefontaine
- 1.
To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.
Steve PrefontaineAmerican long-distance runner (1951-1975)
- 2.
Something inside of me just said ‘Hey, wait a minute, I want to beat him,’ and I just took off.
Steve PrefontaineAmerican long-distance runner (1951-1975)
- 3.
How does a kid from Coos Bay, with one leg longer than the other win races?
Steve PrefontaineAmerican long-distance runner (1951-1975)
- 4.
I’m going to work so that it’s a pure guts race at the end, and if it is, I am the only one who can win it.
Steve PrefontaineAmerican long-distance runner (1951-1975)
- 5.
I run to see who has the most guts.
Steve PrefontaineAmerican long-distance runner (1951-1975)
- 6.
A lot of people run a race to see who is fastest. I run to see who has the most guts, who can punish himself into exhausting pace, and then at the end, punish himself even more.
Steve PrefontaineAmerican long-distance runner (1951-1975)
- 7.
Somebody may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it.
Steve PrefontaineAmerican long-distance runner (1951-1975)
- 8.
What I want is to be number one.
Steve PrefontaineAmerican long-distance runner (1951-1975)
- 9.
You have to wonder at times what you’re doing out there. Over the years, I’ve given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement.
Steve PrefontaineAmerican long-distance runner (1951-1975)