Joe Forshaw

Joe Forshaw of the Missouri AC was the first American to compete in three Olympic marathons. He placed 12th in 1906 and 10th in 1912, in addition to his bronze medal performance. Forshaw was an amazing athlete. Besides distance running he was a champion cyclist and speed skater around St. Louis. He gave those sports up, but at the age of 50 took up figure skating, which he continued until his death. He also played hockey in St. Louis amateur leagues from 1907 until 1936 – aged 55 years. But Joe Forshaw was also a fine distance runner. Besides his marathon successes, he set a longstanding record in 1909 when he ran up Pike’s Peak in 2 hrs-41 minutes, finishing at 14,000 feet of altitude. Despite all this, Forshaw found time to run the family stove and outdoor equipment business.

Personal Best: Mar – 2-30:01 (1908).