Paavo Nurmi is certainly one of the greatest ever, but for best distance runner of all time, you have to vote for an East African. An East African such as Kenenisa Bekele or Haile Gebrselassie. I am shocked that Geb is not on this list! This list is missing so many runners, for instance Emil Zatopek who won triple gold in the 1952 Olympics in the 5K,10K, and marathon. When he won the marathon, that was the first time he ran it! This list is also missing Henry Rono. Henry Rono is a Kenyan who set three world records in eighty days in the 3K, 5K, and 10K!  This list is also missing Daniel Komen. Daniel Komen is a Kenyan who currently holds the world records in the 3K(7:20) and the two mile(7:59).

An astonishing and durable athlete, winning twelve medals, nine of them gold, at three consecutive Olympic games between 1920 and 1928.

easily the greatest distance runner of all time, 12 olympic gold medals in all, more if he wasmt banned for being "paid" to run