These days glory sports such as football, basketball, and baseball get much greater publicity than running, and rightfully so. They are more exciting to watch (for the common person) and a much more established and celebrated part of American culture. But through this ESPN hoopla over the NFL, NBA etc tons of athletes many of whom are merely mediocre are publicized and celebrated while greats in our sport are forgotten. And while I know so much emphasis is placed on these glory sports it pains to think many of you would know at least 10 members ever a part of the Dallas Cowboys organization than know the American Olympic Champion in the 1972 800 meters. That is why I am using this blog to educate you DFDC members to the legends of your sport, men you should know about and celebrate.
While many of you probably have heard of Steve Prefontiane there were 2 other distance runners at the 1972 games in Munich that you should hold in higher esteem than that guy who is idolized more so for his image than his accomplishments on the track.
#1 is Dave Wottle, remember the name. Wottle was a huge underdog going into the olympic 800 that year but stuck to the racing style he patented and shocked the world. Check out the video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LHid-nC45k. Wottle wore a hat to keep his long hair out of his eyes but then kept it as a superstition. That race is probably one of the coolest I have ever seen.
#2 Frank Shorter, Shorter won the Marathon at the '72 Munich Games and was the runner-up in the same event 4 years later in Montreal (to a runner from East Germany suggested to have used banned substances). Shorter was also known for his incredible range running 12:52 for three-miles and 27:40 for 10k and 2:10 for the Marathon. Shorter is credited for helping start the running boom in America in the late 70s and early 80s (along with Forest Gump).
There are two more runners who both ran from Kansas who had great success
The first is Jim Ryun,
Some other American runners you should be familiar with but with less international success than these two are Bob Kennedy (Olympian and sub 13:00 for 5k), Jim Spivey (Olympic 1500 guy from Illinois)
