Frank Shorter

Frank Shorter: Long Jump, Retirement & Net Worth

Frank Shorter is a former long-distance runner and the co-founder of the Bolder Boulder.

Similarly, he also served as the chairperson of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

In addition, the runner came with a double victory in the 1971 Pan American Games, winning both the marathon and 10,000-meter run.

Frank Shorter is the first American to win a gold medal in the Olympic marathon at the 1972 Games in Munich.

Olympic gold medalist Frank Shorter
Olympic gold medalist Frank Shorter

Similarly, he also won a silver medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.

Here, we have mentioned Shorter’s early life, personal life, career, retirement, and net worth.

Quick Facts

Here are some quick facts about Frank Charles Shorter:

Full Name Frank Charles Shorter
Date of Birth October 31, 1947
Birth Country Munich, Germany
Residence Boulder Colorado, USA
Gender Male
Nationality United States
Religion N/A
Ethnicity N/A
Horoscope Scorpio
Father’s Name Samuel Sanford Shorter
Mother’s Name Katherine Chappell Shorter
Siblings N/A
Age 76 Years Old
Height 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm)
Weight 134 lbs (61 kg)
Eye Color N/A
Hair color N/A
Body Measurements N/A
Brand Endorsement N/A
School Mount Herman School, Gill, Massachusetts
College Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
University of Florida College of Law, USA
Qualification Bachelor of Arts
Juris Doctor Degree
Sexual Orientation Straight
Marital Status Divorcee
Spouse(s) Louise Gilliland (1970 – 1985)
Patrica Walford (1986- 2000)
Girlfriend N/A
Children 7
Profession Player
Sport Long-distance running
Events Marathon, 10,000 meters
College Team Yale
Build Athletic
Club Florida Track Club
Personal Bests 3000 meters: 7:51.4
5000 meters: 13:26.62
10,000 meters: 27:45.91
Marathon: 2:10:30
Awards James E. Sullivan Award
Net Worth $1 million- $5 million
Merch Signed Magazines, Autograph Memorabilia
Last Update March, 2024

Early Life and Family

On October 31, 1947, Frank Charles Shorter was born as the second eldest son to Samuel Sanford Shorter and Katherine Chappell Shorter. The runner has 10 siblings.

Similarly, Shorter was born in Munich, Germany, where his father served as a doctor for the armed forces in postwar Germany.

Further, the family moved to the United States in 1948. They settled in Middletown, New York, in 1951.

Likewise, in 1967, Shorter’s father became a missionary doctor in New Mexico, and the family moved there.

Moving to New Mexico was an advantage to Shorter as he could train running at a 7,000-foot altitude in oxygen-thin air.

Abusive Father

While participating in a benefit race for the victims of child abuse, Frank Shorter said that his own father abused him physically and mentally.

Personal Life

Frank Shorter was married to Louise Gilliland in 1970 and got divorced in 1985.

However, the runner again married Patricia Walford on 23 May 1986, but the marriage ended in 2000.

Further, Shorter is the father of seven kids.

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Education

The Olympic runner completed his high school at Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts.

Similarly, in 1965, Shorter attained Yale College in New Haven, from where he completed his bachelor of arts in Psychology.

After graduating from Yale College, the runner joined medical school at the University of New Mexico in 1969. But, sadly, he didn’t continue and dropped out to a lack of funds and time.

However, the runner again enrolled at the University of Florida in Gainesville, as it didn’t interfere with training.

Further, Shorter graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 1974.

 Age, Height, Weight, and Body Measurements

The marathon champion celebrates his birthday on October 31 every year. As of 2024, the runner has turned 76 Years Old.

Similarly, Shorter stands 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 134 lbs or 61 kg, but the body measurement of the runner is not available.

Nationality and Residence

Though the marathon champion was born in Munich, Germany, he holds American nationality.

Similarly, Frank has been residing in his home for nearly 40 years in Boulder Colorado.

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How did Frank Shorter start running?

Shorter excelled in running from an early age.

Moreover, the runner was undefeated in cross-country, breaking records on every course he ran in the senior school year.

During his time at Yale, the athlete trained under Bob Giegengack.

Similarly, he also trained with Jack Bachelor as a member of the Florida Track Club (FTC) founded by Jimmy Carnes.

Moreover, the runner was qualified for the 1972 Olympics.

Frank Shorter: Career

The Olympic runner used to train even during his school and college days.

Shorter first achieved glory as a runner after winning the 1969 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) six-mile run during his senior year at Yale.

Moreover, in 1970 the runner won his first U.S. national titles in the three-mile and six-mile events.

Besides having doctorate degrees, Shorter planned to continue his career as a long-distance runner.

Further, the runner won four times at the U.S. national cross-country championship (1970- 1973).

At the most prestigious marathon globally, Fukuoka Marathon, Shorter was the four-time winner (1971- 1974).

Similarly, the Olympic runner was the winner of the prestigious 70mile Falmouth Road Race on Cape Cod in 1975 and 1976.

And he also won Atlanta’s 10-kilometer Peachtree Road Race in 1977.

Olympics

The Olympic runner was the U.S. Olympic Trials champion in both the 10,000-meter run and the marathon in 1972 and 1976.

Similarly, Shorter finished fifth in the 10,000-meter final. He won the gold medal in the Olympic marathon at the 1972 Munich Games.

Marathon champion, Shorter, posing after marathon
Marathon champion, Shorter, posing after a marathon

In addition, he became the first American in 64 years to win the gold medal in the Olympic marathon.

Likewise, at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, the runner dropped out of the 10,000 meters. Moreover, the athlete won the silver medal in the marathon.

Pan American Championship

Similarly, at the 1971 Pan American Games, Shorter was the winner in both the 10,000-meter run and the marathon.

In addition, the marathon champion won the bronze medal in the 1979 Pan American Games.

Frank Shorter: Personal Best Record

The long-distance runner set his career-best of 2:10.30 at the Fukuoka Marathon race on December 3, 1972.

Similarly, Shorter was successful in setting his career-best of 27:45:91 at a 10,000-meter race in 1975.

His other personal best records include 13:26.60 at the 5000 meters race in 1977 and 12:50.0 in 3 miles race in 1974.

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Frank Shorter: After Retirement

The marathon champion stopped competing at a world-class level at the age of 35. But even in his forties and fifties, he continued to race in master’s series.

Similarly, the veteran athlete co-founded the Bolder Boulder in 1979, an annual 10-kilometer run in Boulder Colorado.

After retiring from competitive long-distance racing, Shorter helped establish a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

Moreover, the organization is in charge of Olympic drug testing.

Further, the former runner served as chairperson of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency from 2000 to 2003.

Similarly, Shorter even became an advocate for the fight against illegal drug use in sports.

Frank Shorter: Films

In addition to being a great athlete, Frank Shorter has also acted in the 1998 film Without Limits as a veteran player.

Moreover, the film was about the Shorter’s contemporary training partner, Olympic teammate, and sometime rival, Steve Prefontaine.

Further, the veteran runner has served as a television sports commentator for track-and-field performances.

Frank Shorter: Achievements and Awards

So far, Shorter is the only athlete in America to win two medals in the Olympic marathon.

Similarly, the United States Olympic Hall of Fame inducted Shorter in 1984.

Also, the USA National Track and Field Hall of Fame inducted him in 1989, and in 1998, he was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame.

In addition, the marathon champion received the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States.

Similarly, a life-size bronze statue of Shorter stands outside the Bolder Boulder stadium in his honorary.

Every year, the Frank Shorter Track Classic honors different Boulder Olympians and celebrates Frank’s career and contribution as a running athlete.

Similarly, in 2018, The Frank Shorter Track Classic honored Frank Shorter as America’s greatest ever distance athlete.

Further, the event even promotes Shorter’s health and fitness.

Autobiography: Books

Frank wrote a book named Olympic Gold: A Runner’s Life and Times (1984).

Similarly, he also wrote “My Marathon: Reflections on Gold Medal Life.”

A book on life history of Frank Shorter written by John Brant
A book on the life history of Frank Shorter written by John Brant

Moreover, other books based on Shorter’s life are “Through a Childs’s Eyes” and “Runner’s World with John Meyer.”

Similarly, a book named “Run For The Ages: Shorter’s Golden Moment in Munich Touched Millions” is also based on Frank’s life.

There are also autograph present in some of his books.

Net Worth and Salary

The primary income source of Frank Shorter is the long-distance runner.

The estimated net worth of Frank Shorter is $1 million- $5 million.

Moreover, he earned as a co-founder of Bolder Boulder.

And he has also earned as chairperson of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

Social Media

The former professional long-distance runner is not active on social media.

FAQs

Who was Norbert Sudhaus?

West German student Norbert Sudhaus was an imposter who ran into Olympic Stadium ahead of Shorter and marred the Shorter’s ultimate achievement during the Munich Games.

Has Shorter been injured in his running career?

Shorter’s serious foot and back injuries in 1979 had solely hampered his track performances.

What was Frank Shorter’s diet for running?

The running diet of marathon champion Shorter was based around Schlitz beer and Ring-Dings.

How tall is Frank Shorter?

Frank Shorter is 1.78 m tall.

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