2007-04-16 06:18:52 · 8 answers · asked by White Boy and Proud of it 2 in Sports ➔ Olympics
Maybe not the best, but I would say he's the most inspiring runner in history. He had extreme talent and drive, and you have to wonder what he could have done if he hadn't died so young.
Best Pre quote "To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift"
2007-04-16 06:30:36 · answer #1 · answered by jewie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look I know Prefontaine was a good runner and he died before he could reach his prime, but the best runner in history? You have to be joking!
You have to look at history and results
One Man stands Head and shoulders above others and thats
Emile Zatopek
1948 Olympics: Gold 10,000m
Silver 5,000m
1952 Olympics Gold 5,000m
Gold 10,000m
Gold Marathon
In 1956 He had to have a hernia operation 1 month before the games and didn't run a place.
At one time simutaneously held every world record from
5km -30km
Then you have someone like Lasse Viren who was Prefontaines contempory. He won the 5km & 10 km at consecutive olympics. Even if he had lived and run at Montreal there is no guarantee Prefontaine would have beaten Viren. Viren was a better racer.
Then you have Herb Elliott. The greatest miler the world has ever known. Never beaten over the mile in his career. If he was running today he would be the world record holder. He was just that good.
Then what about Vladimir Kuts
1956 Olympic Gold 5,000m & 10,000m
So please lets not let sentiment get in the way of the facts.
2007-04-18 15:14:10 · answer #2 · answered by pejon60 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, probably not. His best 5k was a 13:22 and he couldn't win at Munich or the world championships. He died young and this simply drove home the idea into the hearts of so many runners that he would have owned the world record in the 5k and set it so great that no one would have ever come close to it. In the minds of many runners, pre had the ability to become the best runner in history, but since he tragically died, he has been endowed with "what could have beens" and limitless possibilities. I think this is where the title "without limits" comes from.
2007-04-16 07:59:26 · answer #3 · answered by hahree 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The pride of Oregon is the best runner in history
2007-04-16 15:25:06 · answer #4 · answered by Rick J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not any more than Seabiscuit was the best racehorse in
history. One of the best, yes; inspirational,yes ; makes good movie viewing, yes. THE best, no.
2007-04-19 11:55:09 · answer #5 · answered by ursaitaliano70 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pre was amazing. Like everything else, the training technics are better now so the athletes are better, but going on pure heart and running ability, he was hands down the greatest of all time.
2007-04-18 13:00:54 · answer #6 · answered by GoalieK 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who Is Prefontaine
2016-11-04 05:23:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
inspirational... YES. The best... NO!
2007-04-19 10:31:46 · answer #8 · answered by Stace 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋