Steve Prefontaine Biography

Steve prefontaine is an all American middle & long distance runner who at one point held all American records from the 2000-10000m. Pre was born January 25th 1951, in a very small town of coos bay Oregon. Steve had a tough early life, being part of the football team, basketball team & baseball team, prefontaine was never the first choice & always sat on the bench. Pre was a very small child where many companions towered over him leaving him look like he shouldn't even be there. Pre took on running as a sport that didn't matter about height but mattered about heart.pre in his Highschool days broke many records & got offered many scholarships. Prefontaine was recruited by over 40 colleges in the nation but was unsure where he wanted to go. Pre was often visited by head coaches from …show more content…
Steve knowing the olympics are in Germany needs the money as the AAU ( amateur athletics union) wouldn't buy his ticket, to get a plane ticket to Germany. So Steve worked at a local bar as a bartender to get the cash to get a ticket. Steve was one of america's greatest hopes to win a gold medal in the ‘72 olympics. Steve was an idol to everyone in Oregon as well as around the world. Pre once stated, i'm going to work so it's a pure guts race, if it is i’m the only one who can win”. Pre heading to germany leaving the united states was scared to leave. Steve in Munich now training for his 5000m he has in just days. The night of training gun firing happened right across the buildings. The whole israel track team had been killed & coaches by german terrorists. The olympics were going to cancel the games, but resumed & moved events back some days. Now the day of his race steve doesn’t know what to do. So he suits up & endures the race. In the meet the race was between pre, viren, gammoudi, ian stewart, &