Sources
Help build the largest human-edited directory on the web.
Submit a site - Become an editor
Wikipedia. Licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Are you an expert in this subject? Join the discussion and share your knowledge at Wikipedia.org.
Frank Shorter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men's Athletics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 1972 Munich | Marathon | |
| Silver | 1976 Montréal | Marathon | |
Frank Shorter (born October 31, 1947) is an American distance runner and winner of the marathon race at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Born in Munich, Germany, where his father served in the army, Frank Shorter attended and graduated from Mount Hermon School and Yale University. He first achieved fame by winning the 1969 NCAA 10,000 m title. He won his first national titles in 1970 in the 5000 m and the 10,000 m. He also was the national 10,000 m champion in 1971, 1974, 1975 and 1977.
Shorter won the national cross-country championships four times (1970-1973). He was the U.S. Olympic Trials Champion in both the 10,000 m and the marathon in both 1972 and 1976. He also won both the 10,000 m and the marathon at the 1971 Pan American Games. Shorter was a four-time winner of the prestigious Fukuoka Marathon (1971-1974). He was successful on the road racing circuit as well, winning the prestigious Peachtree Road Race in 1977 and the Falmouth Road Race in 1975 and 1976.
But his greatest fame came when Shorter won the gold medal in the marathon at the 1972 Olympics. He also finished fifth in the 1972 Olympic 10,000 m final. He was the 1972 recipient of the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States. Shorter earned his Juris Doctor (law) degree in 1975 from the University of Florida. He finished second in the marathon at the 1976 Summer Olympics behind surprise winner Waldemar Cierpinski of East Germany.
Shorter decided to retire from athletics after the next season (although he returned to road racing competition in 1979, winning several races) and started his own athletic supply company. He also has worked in television as a sports commentator. He is former Chairman of the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
Shorter was also featured as a prominent character, played by Jeremy Sisto, in the 1998 film "Without Limits". The film follows the life of Shorter's contemporary, Olympic teammate and sometime rival Steve Prefontaine. Shorter was, regrettably, one of the last people to see Prefontaine alive.
Shorter was the World Masters Biathlon Champion in 1989.
Frank Shorter was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1984, the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1989, and the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in 1998.
Contents |
- 1971 - first
- 1972 - first
- 1973 - first
- 1974 - second
- 1976 - second
- 1970 - second
- 1972 - fifth
- 1974 - fifth
- 1975 - second
- 3 miles - 12:52
- 5000 m - 13:26.60
- 10,000 m - 27:45.91
- Marathon (42,195 m): 2:10:30
| Olympic champions in men's marathon |
|---|
| 1896: Spiridon Louis | 1900: Michel Théato | 1904: Thomas J. Hicks | 1906: William Sherring | 1908: Johnny Hayes | 1912: Kenneth McArthur | 1920: Hannes Kolehmainen | 1924: Albin Stenroos | 1928: Boughera El Ouafi | 1932: Juan Carlos Zabala | 1936: Sohn Kee-chung | 1948: Delfo Cabrera | 1952: Emil Zátopek | 1956: Alain Mimoun | 1960: Abebe Bikila | 1964: Abebe Bikila | 1968: Mamo Wolde | 1972: Frank Shorter | 1976: Waldemar Cierpinski | 1980: Waldemar Cierpinski | 1984: Carlos Lopes | 1988: Gelindo Bordin | 1992: Hwang Young-Cho | 1996: Josia Thugwane | 2000: Gezahegne Abera | 2004: Stefano Baldini |