Hicham El Guerrouj
Hicham El Guerrouj hails from Morocco, and is known as the “King of the Mile.” He is the current world record holder for the mile at 3 minutes, 43.13 seconds. This record was set in 1999. El Guerrouj is also the world record holder in the 1,500-meter and 2,000-meter. He has won two Olympic gold medals.
Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich
Virgin Money London Marathon
Kenyan-born Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich is 6 feet tall, yet only 135 pounds. He holds the men’s world record for marathon running. He set the 2:03:23 record at the Berlin Marathon in 2013 and also won the bronze medal in the 2012 Olympic marathon. Kiprotich has also won New York, Honolulu, and London marathons.
Steve Prefontaine
In America, Steve Prefontaine is a well-known name, helping to generate media coverage and inspire the sport of running in the U.S. He is a middle- and long-distance runner born in 1951 in Oregon and competed in the 1972 Olympics. Prefontaine held the American record in seven track events ranging from the 2,000 meter to the 10,000 meter.
Dean Karnazes
As the world’s most famous ultramarathon runner, Dean Karnazes is well-known by the media. In 2006, Karnazes ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days. He began with the Lewis and Clark Marathon in St. Louis in 2006 and completed the New York City Marathon on November 5. Eight of these races were conventional marathons, with the rest of the marathons being run along marathon courses but not during the live events. A film by director JB Benna was created to document the adventure, released in 2009.
Usain Bolt
Runner Usain Bolt is a Jamaican runner who holds the men’s world record in the 100 and 200-meter races, at 9.58 seconds and 19.19 seconds, respectively. “Lightning Bolt” holds six Olympic gold medals in sprinting and is commonly known as the fastest person ever. His awards include the International Association of Athletics Federations and the Track & Field World Athlete of the Year, and he is the highest-paid athlete in his field.
Ashton Eaton
Poland Athletics Indoor Worlds
Young Ashton Eaton is an American decathlete born in 1988. He currently holds the world record in the heptathlon, which comprises seven events: a 60 meter race, a long jump, a shot put, a high jump, 60-meter hurdles, a pole vault, and a 1000-meter race. Eaton beat a previous record that had lasted 17 years.
