Which Greek hero challenged suitors to a foot race and lost when distracted by golden apples? Atalanta did—although she is more precisely described as a Greek heroine and huntress.
In the Boeotian version of her myth, Atalanta agreed to marry only a suitor who could outrun her. She was so swift that failed challengers faced death, making the contest nearly impossible to win. Hippomenes, also called Melanion in some traditions, realized that speed alone could not defeat her.
He prayed to Aphrodite, who gave him three golden apples. During the race, he dropped them one at a time. Atalanta repeatedly stopped to pick them up, allowing Hippomenes to gain enough ground to win both the race and her hand in marriage.
A common mix-up is confusing these apples with the golden apples guarded by the Hesperides and retrieved by Heracles. They are separate mythological episodes. Later traditions say Atalanta and Hippomenes were transformed into lions after offending the gods.