Running greats

9.58 and 19.19 — records that have not been approached since.

Sprinter · 2004–2017

First person to run a marathon distance under two hours.

Marathon · 2002–present

Four golds in Berlin, and four world records in 45 minutes.

Sprinter / long jumper · 1933–1936

Set the 100 m and 200 m records in 1988. Both still stand.

Sprinter · 1983–1989

Twenty-seven world records, from 2000 m to the marathon.

Distance / marathon · 1992–2015

Won the long jump at four consecutive Olympics.

Sprinter / long jumper · 1979–1997

Won the 5000 m, 10,000 m and marathon at one Olympics.

Distance · 1941–1958

Nine Olympic golds, and raced with a stopwatch in his hand.

Distance · 1920–1934

The Baby-Faced Destroyer — three Olympic golds on the track.

Distance · 2001–2019

Won the Olympic marathon barefoot, then won it again in shoes.

Marathon · 1956–1968