david45 wrote:
For sprinting, most people can name a couple of well-known sprinters. Yet for distance running, I am willing to bet the average person has never heard of a single person. I personally didn't until recently. Are there any distance runners that are well-known among the average person? Is someone like Mo Farah well-known among most people in the UK?
I would say 0. I've found even with sprinters few people can name them in my area of the US. During an Olympic year some people would recognize Bolt's name, but even with him if you bring his name up casually outside the context of sprinting it's usually something like <thinking face> "oh, is that the runner guy?" I've found even after Ineos, nobody recognized Kipchoge unless you said "2 hour marathon" in the same sentence. Christian Coleman would draw a blank stare. Right after her Boston win a few people recognized Des, but today they don't. Sydney who? (even the guy that is a big UK fan didn't recognize her) The only time someone not into track / running has said the name of a runner to me without me initiating the conversation was a UGA fan talking about them getting Matthew Boling.
It's kind of sad. It would be like if you asked me to name a curling athlete.