Famous athletes of track

One of the most famous athletes of track and field was Tom Longboat (1886-1949), an Onondaga, from the Caledonia Reservation where he was born on June 4, 1887. (Source: Tom Longboat... A Notable Indian Athlete Louise Cuthand SASKATCHEWAN INDIAN NOVEMBER 1977 v07 n11 p70) He was a one of the best marathon runners in the world for a decade before World War 1.

He won the Boston Marathon in April 1907 in a time of 2:24:24, which made Longboat a household name in Canada.

His win was four minutes and 59 seconds faster than any of the previous ten winners of the event.

Although many athletes might think of drug use as a modern phenomenon, Longboat was accused of taking drugs when he failed to win the Olympic gold in the 1908 Olympics. The race was won by John Hayes in a time of 2:55:18.4 , which established a world record.

However, Longboat, and a number of other athletes did not do as well as expected. He collapsed, as did a number of other athletes. The pressure at the Olympics is unrivaled. Even seasoned athletes that have been competing for years can become overwhelmed with all the unexpected attention.

If you are training for the Olympics, and would like to increase your chances of winning at the games, then buy my Olympic sports hypnosis CD, which was instrumental in me winning at the Olympic Games, but also racing as a drug free athlete.

Interestingly famous athletes of track are created, after winning an Olympic medal, even if they are never heard from again. Of note is the fact that Hayes' came in third place at Boston in 1907. Well behind Tom Longboat, who as mentioned above, won the 1907 Boston Marathon.

Longboat went onto win the marathon in a rematch that same year, but of course it was not the same as winning an Olympic medal. However, Tom Longboat will be forever remembered as one of Canadas famous athletes of track and field.