The Greatest Runners of All Time

Running Categories

Running is a sport that has three main categories which includes short Distance, middle Distance, and long Distance. Each running event has there G.O.A.T (greatest of all time), from world breaking athletes to athletes who were so influential they changed running in all. These athletes have won medals in the Olympics, World championships, The Dimond League and Qualifying Marathons around the world. 

Usain Bolt 

One of the most well known sprinters of all time is Usain Bolt and arguably one of the most dominant athletes of all time. His first Olympic games was in the summer of 2008 in Beijing where he set a world record in the 100 meter dash with a time of 9.69 seconds. His all time PR (personal record) is 9.58 seconds in the 100 meter sprint that still stands as the world record to this very day. He is an eight-time Olympic gold medalist and has won gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100 relay.

Michael Johnson 

Considered to be the greatest American Sprinter of all time, Michael Johnson clocked in a time of 19.32 seconds in the 200 meter and 43.49 seconds in the 400 meter. He won the Gold medals in both of those events in the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta. He is the only Olympian to win the 200m and 400m in the same Olympics. His world record of the 200m lasted 12 years until one Usain Bolt dethroned it.  

Allyson Felix

The only female track and field athlete to ever win 7 Olympic Gold Medals was Allyson Felix. A sprinter who was known for the 200m, 400m and Team events. She started her career in the 2004 Olympics in Athens where she placed 2nd in the 200 meter, from there she went on to medal 10 more medals in 5 Olympic games, and 12 gold medals in the World Athletics Championships.

Faith Kipyegon

When it comes to female middle distance only one name comes to mind and that is Faith Kipyegon. The Kenyan superstar set the world record in 1500 meter run with a time of 3 minutes and 53 seconds in the Dimond League. She is currently still active as she is only 29 years old. She has won 2 gold medals in the Olympic games in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. She is planning on attending the Paris Olympics in 2024. 

Hicham El Guerrouj

When talking about the G.O.A.T of middle distance Hicham name is the only one that should be in the conversation. In 1997 Hicham set a world record in the 1500 meter run, running a time of 3 minutes and 43 seconds which is a record that no one has beaten to this day, 25 years later. Over a 9 year period between 1995-2004 Hicham was in 132 finals and won 128 of those races. Surely, the most dominant middle distance runner of all time. 

Mo Farah

The most successful British Track athlete of all time is Mo Farah. One of the most well known long distance runners, he won 4 gold medals in four Olympic game and specialized in the 3000 meter and 10000 meter run. He also clocked in a personal best in the 5000 meter run of a time of 12 minutes 53 seconds.

Paula Radcliff 

When it comes to Long-Distance female Athletes Paula Radcliff is the only name I could think of. She won three London Marathons, three New York Marathons and the Chicago Marathon as well. In 2003 she set the female world record marathon time of 2 hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds which stood for 16 years.

Eluid Kipchoge

One man stands above all, one man who could say he has done the impossible, one man who is the greatest long-distance runner of all time, that one man is Eluid Kipchoge. Running a sub two-hour marathon was thought to be impossible but not for Kipchoge as in 2019 he ran a staggering time of 1 hour 59 minutes and 40 seconds setting the world record in the marathon. He has medaled four times in the Olympics not only in the marathon but in the 5,000 meter run as well. He will go down in history as the greatest Long distance runner of all time and no one even comes close.

Steve Prefontaine

In the 1970s Steve set the bar for future runners in America. He claimed 7 NCAA titles, he came in fourth place in the Olympics and had set all the American Records from the 2000 meter run through the 10000 meter run during his time. He had this never give up attitude that runners needed in America. He died at the young age of 24 in the year 1975 but his legacy still lives on, as every year the final race in the Dimond League is called the Prefontaine Classic that is set in Steve's home state of Oregon