Former US Olympian Jeff Galloway, who revolutionized the sport of distance running, has died at the age of 80.
Galloway passed away on Wednesday afternoon in a Pensacola, Florida hospital after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke, according to his daughter-in-law.
‘Jeff spent his life proving that anyone could cross a finish line. He celebrated every mile, every walk break, and every finish. He coached millions, but found fulfillment in each of your stories of personal accomplishment,’ his family said in a statement.
‘He empowered people to believe in themselves. He is survived by every person who ever crossed a finish line and thought, ‘I didn’t think I could do this’.
‘Jeff had an almost supernatural ability to look at any person, any age, any fitness level and see not what they were, but what they could become, in fitness and in life.’
He is survived by his two sons and six grandchildren.
Jeff Galloway, who revolutionized the sport of distance running, has died at the age of 80
The 1972 Olympian, pictured with one of his grandchildren, suffered a hemorrhagic stroke
The 1972 Olympian was a cornerstone of the American running boom and is credited with making the marathon distance accessible to millions of amateurs.
Galloway was named on the US Olympic team for the 1972 Games in the 10,000 meters and could have also taken part in the marathon but ended up as an alternate at the event due to a selfless act that saw his teammate earn a spot instead.
At the marathon trials, Galloway had been in third-place throughout before stepping aside at the finish line to allow his friend to clinch third and a place on the team.
Meanwhile, his signature Run-Walk-Run method encouraged participants to take strategic walking breaks to manage fatigue and reduce the risk of common injuries.
Galloway famously applied his own logic during the 1980 Houston Marathon, where he utilized walk breaks at every water station to finish in 2:16:35.
That performance in Houston stood as a testament to his endurance, as he finished the 26.2-mile course faster than his previous ‘run-only’ efforts.
Beyond his coaching, Galloway was a highly decorated competitive athlete who earned All-American honors while competing for Florida State University.
In 1970, he won the inaugural Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, a 10-kilometer event that has since grown into the world’s largest race of its kind.
Along with his endeavors on the track, Galloway also funded a number of running stores, group and camps to help people get involved in the sport.
