There have been many famous runners throughout the years, and they have accomplished many record-setting performances and feats which are hard to break. These world-famous runners have participated in the Olympics, ran many marathons, and are track and field stars in their own right. Some of them have pioneered the sport from over a century ago, and some of them have attained world prominence because of their hard work and athletic prowess in recent years. While listing all of these great athletes would be impossible, here is a great taste of some of the more memorable ones.
When we think of some of the greatest Olympians who have been runners, some of the first names who come to mind are; Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis, Mary Decker-Slaney, Grete Waitz, Michael Johnson, Deena Kastor, and Paula Radcliffe. These world-famous runners have been able to accomplish Olympic gold and marathon excellence Most set new track and field marks which have often been hard to reach.
Jesse Owens was able to win four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He brought Olympic running to prominence because of his unprecedented feat. These four Olympic gold medals were not matched for almost 50 years until Carl Lewis came along in 1984 at the Los Angeles Olympics. These two heroic runners were able to claim their multiple prizes by running in the 100 m, 200 m, 4 x 100 m, and long jump events.
Arthur Lydiard, who passed away in 2004, is considered one of the top five running figures in this past century. Not only had he won several different marathons over his great career, but he also is credited with inventing the exercise program that we all know as jogging.
Deena Kastor is currently considered one of the best female American marathoners. In the same token, Paula Radcliffe is also one of the best long distance runners in the world. Craig Mottram is from Australia and is also a continual threat in the marathon. Some of these world-famous runners are current threats in the world of running.
Many other world-famous runners of the past and present are names that you just might recognize. The list includes, but is not limited to: Sir Roger Bannister, Uta Pippig, Jeff Galloway, Joan Benoit Samuelson, Naoko Takahashi, Evans Rutto, Catherine Switzer, Rosa Mota, Arturo Barrios, David Bedford, and Paul Bitok. All of these runners have gained acclaim in the world of running through their hard work and sacrifice.