Glenn Cunningham’s story is, well, almost unbelievable. As an eight-year old he was caught up in an explosion in his native Kansas, which killed his older brother Floyd. His legs and feet were badly burned, and doctors recommended amputating his legs. Glenn had lost all the toes on his left foot, and the transverse arch of the foot was ravaged. The flesh on his knees and shins had been eaten away by the flames. His right leg was grossly misshapen and was now a full two inches shorter than the left leg. However, Cunningham was determined he would walk again, against the odds, and as he grew older dedicated his life to athletics. Cunningham competed in the 1932 and 1936 Olympic Games, winning medals and setting world records. At his peak, Cunningham also ran the four-minute mile, a feat that was deemed physically impossible at the time.
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