Steve Prefontaine Research Paper

Steve Prefontaine: A Heartbreaking Legend Everybody is born with a talent, and maybe even more than one. Whether it is singing, painting, sports, and even cooking, but everybody something they excel at. It took Steve Prefontaine a little longer than most kids to find his talent, Running. Steve Prefontaine grew up in Coos Bay, Oregon and just like any boy in middle school, he wanted to play contact sports. Running never even crossed Steve’s mind as a middle schooler. However, coaches did not find him physically able to play such contact sports like football. His height played the primary factor of him not being able to play as well as having one leg shorter than the other. It was not until he noticed in gym class that he could outrun most …show more content…
But as a twenty four year old just out of college, Pre had a lot to be proud of. He held american record in every single long distance event from the 2,000m to the 10,000m. Retiring from his quick running break, Steve turned down a sponsorship so he would still be able to compete at the 1976 Montreal Olympics with still having his amateur status in tacked. He set a goal for himself that he would have a top three finish at the Olympic Trials that would guarantee him a spot in the 1976 Olympics. Not only did he get his top three finish, but he won the olympic trials as well. His next goal was to win goal at the next Olympics. But, Pre’s goal of winning gold would never be accomplished. After winning the Olympic trials that day, Pre went to a party at a friend’s house to celebrate. He ended up taking a buddy home as well, after he dropped him off Pre was driving his convertible when he was coming on to oncoming traffic and swerved into a rock which made his car flip. Due to the crash Pre died from being crushed and not being able to get enough oxygen to his lungs. People often have also questioned if his blood alcohol tests played a factor with his death which could have been the cause of the accident, but the world will never