Is it possible to separate running from human civilization? The answer is no; running has been a part and parcel of human civilization. Be it Marathons in Greece or races today around the world these athletes have never stopped trying to become the best. In this article, we present to you the 10 best runners of all time add their effort and work to the development of the sport and as a motivation to the rest.
10. Further, one would like to mention about the Czech long-distance runner Emil Zatopek.
From Czechoslovakia, a long-distance runner named Emil Zatopek came to the world’s merit in both the 1948 and 1952 Olympics by becoming the winner of the 5,000 meters and the 10,000 meters and the marathon race. He was the first Olympic who ever to grab three gold medals in the track events in a single Olympics. Zatopek basically trained the runners in an unconventional way though he was serious in nature and highly dedicated to the sport with his effort encouraging many runners all over the world.
9. Abebe Bikila – The Marathon Champion
Ethiopia’s marathon champion Abebe Bikila triumph in the special 1960 and 1964 Olympics games. He is the first person to have won the Olympic marathon when it was refuted and he has also won it consecutively. With Ethiopia's success in long distance running event and other Ethiopian athletes, Bikila's successes put Ethiopia on the map.
8. More about Tegla Loroupe_ The holder of the record from Kenya
Tegla Loroupe is a Kenyan athlete and a two time Olympian who is the former record holder for the women’s marathon. Despite having undertaken only 17 marathons, Loroupe boasts of 16 victories, and she has used her success to champion for peace and education for children in Africa. She has since devoted herself to the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation and is now a women and education activist.
7. Paavo Nurmi – The Finnish Locomotive
One of the most outstanding athletes of the 1920s was a Finnish middle and long-distance runner Paavo Nurmi. At the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, he was awarded nine gold medals together with three silver medals. Nurmi’s manner and hard work in his career inspired several runners, and therefore he got his nickname The Finnish Locomotive.
6. Kipchoge Keino –The Middle And Long Distance Champion Of Kenya
Kipchoge Keino, a middle and long-distance runner from Kenya who has competed in the both the 5,000m and 3,000m steeple chase events to snatch gold during the 1968 Olympic Games. He remains the only athlete in the world who holds both world records in steeplechase and 5000m run. With Keino’s feats, other Kenya athletes would gain their footing and other countries would begin to see the capabilities Kenya can do for distance running.
5. Joan Benoit Samuelson – The American Distance Queen
More information about this event is that Joan Benoit Samuelson, an American long-distance runner, was the first women’s Olympic marathon winner at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. She has set so many records; and has encouraged young ladies distance runners within the United States of America. Thus, dramatic success of Samuelson’s athletic career made her one of the most famous female American runners within and beyond Olympics.
4. Haile Gebrselassie – The Ethiopian Running legend
: Haile Gebrsel assie the Ethiopian world record holder long distance runner is among the greatest runners of all ages. He has triumphed at the Olympics with two gold medals in 10,000m event and boasts world records in marathon and half marathon. Because of his successes, Gebrselassie has been awarded many titles and emulation among Ethiopian and international athletes.
3. Eliud Kipchoge – A New King on the Kenyan Soil
Eliud Kipchoge, Kenyan marathon runner, became the Olympic Champion of the men’s marathon at Rio de Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2020. He has also broken the world record in the marathon with a time of 2:01:39, becoming the first athlete to cover the marathon distance in less than two hours of actual race under researchers’ controlled conditions. Kipchoge’s deeds have forged him into the greatest of all times runners and has given hope to many aspirants in the East African nation.
2. Paula Radcliffe – The British Marathon Champion
Paula Radcliffe, a British marathoner of female kind, is the former record holder of women’s marathon world record and the two time winner of New York City Marathon. She competed for Great Britain in four Olympic Games and won the silver medal in marathon at the 2005 World Championships. But Radcliffe is a passionate runner, and she has many records in running that clearly endeared her to the running fraternity.
1. Abebe Bikila and Kenenisa Bekele; A race of Ethiopian distance runners
You also have Abebe Bikila and Kenenisa Bekele in Ethiopia who are amongst world renowned runners. As cover earlier, Bikila has 2 Olympic champion in marathon, while Bekele has 5 Olympic champion and 17 world championship in long-distance track. Together, they have provided a lot to global road races and have prepared many generations of Ethiopian runners to soar high in the field.
These ten super runners have all set the standard and influenced millions of runners across the world, making the running sport a success. They are great sportsmen, dedicated and passionate for their sport making them icons. These are some of the legends they show people other than the record-breaking status of running, it is also an Olympic gold-winning lifestyle.
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