10 Best Jared Leto Performances

Prefontaine is a 1997 biographic film that depicts the short life of Steve Prefontaine, an Olympic runner who died while driving intoxicated. For his role in the film, Leto immersed himself in the runner's life.

He bore such a resemblance to Prefontaine that when he appeared in character, ready to run, the runner's sister Linda broke down. Leto delved into the role as he would become known for, adopting both the look and lifestyle of a long-distance runner.

Prefontaine was a runner in his college years and, during that time, competes in the 1972 Munich Olympics. He is beaten in the last 150 metres of a 5,000 metre race, bringing his college career to a close.

Prefontaine's life is memorable for the effect it had on amateur sport as a whole. At the time, there were strict rules in place that disallowed professional atheletes from competing in the Olympics, which in turn led to Prefontaine living in a trailer, making little money in a restaurant, as he was training for a rematch at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.

In 1975, Prefontaine flipped his car while driving under the influence, dying at the age of 24. It would be 1978 before the Amateur Sports Act was passed that amended the rules for amateur atheletes.