Frank Shorter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Frank Shorter

Shorter in 2002
Personal information
Full name	Frank Charles Shorter
Nationality	United States
Born	(1947-10-31) October 31, 1947 (age 77) Munich, Allied-occupied Germany
Height	5 ft 10 in
Weight	134 lb
Sport
Sport	Long-distance running
Event(s)	Marathon, 10,000 meters
College team	Yale
Club	Florida Track Club
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	3000 meters: 7:51.4 5000 meters: 13:26.62 10,000 meters: 27:45.91 Marathon: 2:10:30
Medal record Men's athletics Representing  United States Olympic Games Gold 1972 Munich Marathon Silver 1976 Montréal Marathon Pan American Games Gold 1971 Cali Marathon Gold 1971 Cali 10,000 m Bronze 1979 San Juan 10,000 m

Frank Charles Shorter (born October 31, 1947) is a famous American long-distance runner. He won a gold medal in the marathon at the 1972 Summer Olympics. He also earned a silver medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics. His amazing success helped start a big interest in running across the United States in the 1970s. This period is often called the "running boom."

Frank Shorter's Early Life and Education

Frank Shorter was born in Munich, Germany. His father was a doctor serving in the U.S. Army there. Frank grew up in Middletown, New York, where a street is now named after him. He went to the Northfield Mount Hermon School and graduated in 1965.

After high school, Frank attended Yale University and earned a degree in 1969. He later studied law at the University of Florida College of Law, finishing in 1974. Frank had a difficult childhood, which he later spoke about publicly. He became a strong supporter of stopping violence.

Frank Shorter's Running Career

Frank Shorter first became known in 1969. He won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) six-mile race while at Yale. In 1970, he won his first U.S. national titles in the three-mile and six-mile events. He also won the U.S. national six-mile/10,000-meter championship several times.

After Yale, Frank thought about becoming a doctor. But he decided to focus on his running training instead. He moved to Florida to study law at the University of Florida. This allowed him to train with other great runners like Jack Bacheler and Jeff Galloway. They were part of the Florida Track Club (FTC). Their success made Gainesville a top place for distance running in the early 1970s.

National and International Wins

Frank Shorter won the U.S. national cross-country championships four times in a row (1970–1973). He was also the U.S. Olympic Trials champion for both the 10,000-meter run and the marathon in 1972 and 1976.

In 1971, he won both the 10,000-meter run and the marathon at the Pan American Games. Frank also won the Fukuoka Marathon four times (1971–1974). This was considered the most important marathon in the world at that time. His fastest marathon time was 2:10:30, set in Fukuoka in 1972. He also won the Lake Biwa Marathon in 1973. Frank won the 7-mile Falmouth Road Race in 1975 and 1976. He also won Atlanta's 10-kilometer Peachtree Road Race in 1977.

Olympic Achievements

Frank Shorter is best known for his achievements in the marathon. He is the only American runner to win two medals in the Olympic marathon.

At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany (his birthplace!), he finished fifth in the 10,000-meter race. He even broke the American record for that event. A few days later, he won the gold medal in the marathon. During this race, a person ran into the stadium ahead of Frank, making the crowd think someone else was winning. But Frank knew he was in first place and kept running to win the gold. He later received the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the U.S.

At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, Frank focused only on the marathon. He won the silver medal, finishing second to Waldemar Cierpinski from East Germany. There were later suspicions that some East German athletes, including Cierpinski, might have used performance-enhancing drugs as part of a state-sponsored program.

Fighting for Fair Play

From 2000 to 2003, Frank Shorter was the chairman of the United States Anti-Doping Agency. He helped create this organization to fight against doping in sports and ensure fair competition.

Life After Running

Frank Shorter was shown as a character in the 1998 movie Without Limits. This film was about his friend and fellow runner, Steve Prefontaine. Frank was one of the last people to see Prefontaine before he passed away in a car accident.

Frank Shorter has been honored many times for his contributions to running.

• He was inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 1984.
• He joined the USA National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1989.
• He was added to the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in 1998.

Frank used to live in Boulder, Colorado. In 1979, he helped start the Bolder Boulder race. This annual 10K race is a popular event held on Memorial Day. It ends with a special tribute to the U.S. Armed Forces. There is a life-size bronze statue of Frank Shorter outside the stadium where the race finishes.

In 2021, Frank and his wife, Michelle Cox, moved to Falmouth, Massachusetts.

Track & Field News Rankings

Shorter (left) running 10,000 m at the 1972 Olympics, shown on a stamp from Umm al-Quwain

World Rankings

Marathon

• 1971 – 1st
• 1972 – 1st
• 1973 – 1st
• 1974 – 2nd
• 1976 – 2nd

10,000 m

• 1970 – 2nd
• 1972 – 5th
• 1974 – 5th
• 1975 – 2nd

5000 m

• 1975 – 10th

U.S. Rankings

Marathon

• 1971 – 1st
• 1972 – 1st
• 1973 – 1st
• 1974 – 1st
• 1976 – 1st

10,000 m

• 1969 – 3rd
• 1970 – 1st
• 1971 – 1st
• 1972 – 1st
• 1973 – 5th
• 1974 – 1st
• 1975 – 1st
• 1976 – 2nd
• 1977 – 1st
• 1979 – 3rd

5000 m

• 1969 – 6th
• 1970 – 2nd
• 1971 – 4th
• 1972 – 10th
• 1973 – 7th
• 1974 – 4th
• 1975 – 3rd
• 1976 – 5th
• 1977 – 7th

Personal Records

• 2 miles - 8:26.2 (1971)
• 3 miles – 12:52.0 (1974)
• 5000 meters – 13:26.60 (1977)
• 10,000 meters – 27:45.91 (1975)
• Marathon (42.195 km) – 2:10:30 (1972)

See also

In Spanish: Frank Shorter para niños

• List of University of Florida alumni
• List of University of Florida Olympians
• List of Yale University people