Press Release - AIMS Liftime Achievement Award - 10/29/15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

               MARATHON LEGEND FRANK SHORTER TO BE PRESENTED 
   WITH AIMS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AT BEST MARATHON RUNNER AWARD GALA
 
The world running organisation the Association of International Marathons 
and Distance Races (AIMS) is delighted to announce that American Marathon 
Legend Frank Shorter will be recognised with the AIMS Lifetime Achievement 
Award at the third annual AIMS Best Marathon Runner' (BMR) Award Gala in 
the home of the Marathon in Athens, Greece on 6 November 2015.
 
Frank's lifetime of achievement in distance running will be recognised on 
behalf of the AIMS Members, representing more than 390 of the world's 
leading and most prestigious races from 108 countries and territories.
 
Frank will receive the AIMS Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of 
his significant role in the development of the Marathon Movement, 
particularly in the United States of America. Due to recently undergoing 
surgery Frank's son Alex will travel to Athens to receive the award on his 
behalf at the BMR Gala. Alex is a marathon runner and is carrying on the 
Shorter family running tradition through his scientific research on 
biomechanics and assisted motion.
 
Born in Munich Germany, Frank was raised in Middletown, New York and it was 
representing the USA that he won his greatest recognition by becoming the 
only American athlete to win two medals in the Olympic Marathon event. 
Frank won the Gold Medal in the Marathon at the 1972 Olympics in Munich 
before going on to win the Silver Medal in the Marathon at the 1976 
Olympics in Montreal, Canada. Frank also won the Marathon at the Pan 
American Games in 1971 and was a four time winner of the Fukuoka Marathon 
in Japan (1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974). Frank's victory in the 1972 Olympic 
Marathon is credited with starting the running boom in the USA in the 
1970's.   
 
Further to his achievements in athletics, Frank was a founding member of 
the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and served as Chairman from 
2000 to 2003.
 
AIMS President Paco Borao comments: "We are delighted to recognise the 
achievements of Frank Shorter and his contribution to the Marathon 
Movement. Frank is an inspiration to so many throughout the United States 
and beyond to take up the world's original and most affordable sport."
 
Frank Shorter comments: "I am delighted and honoured to receive this award 
from AIMS. I have watched with great pride as the Marathon Movement has 
grown and developed particularly since the 1970's. I would like to extend 
my thanks to AIMS for choosing to recognise me in this way. I am sorry I 
will not be able to attend the Gala in person but I am glad my son will 
receive the award on my behalf in the shadow of those who created the event 
2,500 years on. It is a very humbling thought."

About the AIMS Best Marathon Runner Award Gala
The purpose of the BMR Award Gala is to:
 
I. Announce and honour the best male and female Marathon runners of the 
year through the AIMS BEST MARATHON RUNNER (BMR) Award. The BMR Award 
replaces the AIMS World Athlete of the Year Award.
II. Recognise and honour exceptional Marathon figureheads and personalities 
for their contribution to the development of the Marathon movement.
III. Publicise and promote the best practice and initiatives of AIMS 
members (390+ race organisers) through the establishment of special 
environmental and social awards.
IV. Enhance the role, programs and services of AIMS.
The event will be staged in Athens, Greece on Friday 6 November 2015.

About AIMS
AIMS is a member based organisation and since being established in 1982 has 
grown to a membership of more than 390 of the world's leading distance 
races, from over 108 countries and territories. AIMS Members come from 
every continent on the planet and include the Athens Marathon, The 
Authentic formed on the legend of Pheidippides, the Greek soldier-runner 
who ran from the town of Marathon to Athens in 490 BC to announce the 
Persians had been defeated in the 'Battle of Marathon'. Other AIMS members 
include many of the world's greatest distance races in history such as the 
Berlin, Boston, Chicago, New York & Tokyo Marathons. The three key 
objectives of AIMS are:

1. To foster and promote distance running throughout the world
2. To work with the International Association of Athletic Federations 
(IAAF) on all matters relating to international road races.
3. To exchange information, knowledge and expertise among members of the 
association
 
For further information on AIMS please visit: www.aimsworldrunning.org 

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