Zatopek probably because of his Olympic prowess and that he was an innovator (and from what I read, a really nice guy who had to put up with some crappy circumstances).
Zatopek probably because of his Olympic prowess and that he was an innovator (and from what I read, a really nice guy who had to put up with some crappy circumstances).
southshoreview wrote:
Pre
The car crash slowed him
Moses Kiptanui.
Star wrote:
There was a time where Aouita simultaneously held the world record in the 1500m, 2000m, 2 mile, 3000m and 5000m.
3 real worlds not good enough for you, so throw in 2 fakes? It looks worse that way.
Aouita could never run a sub 60 HM like range GOAT Augustine Choge.
Bill Rodgers
I don't remember from where, but I recall reading an article that stated Zatopek was generally considered to be the GOAT before Haile came along.
Bad Wigins wrote:
Not Nurmi. No way. His era was soft, so soft history has almost forgotten there was a fast era before it.
Read about that era and it will become clear the olympics nearly destroyed the sport of running.
Exactly. Walter George ran a 4:10 mile in 1885. Nurmi never ran faster than Walter George.
If not Walter George, then I would go with Zatopek.
Yes - range, titles and records.
1:43 to 27:26. Gold in the 5K, bronze in the 800, world records at 1500, 3000 and 5000. First under 13:00.
ck3237 wrote:
How about Ron Clarke? No major victories but plenty of World Records how horrible tracks.
Not a chance.
It is all about getting it done in the big ones.
World records are borrowed. Olympic Gold medals are forever.
Kvothe wrote:
Viren with maybe an honorable mention to Zatopek and Shorter.
Agree with this.
Bad Wigins wrote:
Star wrote:
There was a time where Aouita simultaneously held the world record in the 1500m, 2000m, 2 mile, 3000m and 5000m.
3 real worlds not good enough for you, so throw in 2 fakes? It looks worse that way.
Aouita could never run a sub 60 HM like range GOAT Augustine Choge.
Actually, I bet he could have, it's just that no one gave a sh1t in the 1980s about running 21.1 km on the roads as a serious endeavor. He probably would have also been the fist sub 60, just because.
malmo wrote:
Aouita
First name that came to mind. His range was mind boggling.
83 1500m bronze
84 5000m gold
87 5000m gold
88 800m bronze
WR at 1500m, 2000m, 2 miles, 5000m (twice). First man under 13:00.
Alan
Also first under 7:30 for 3000. Incredibly gutsy runner and the best before Geb.
https://youtu.be/I-Dh8kdnd2cRunningart2004 wrote:
malmo wrote:
Aouita
First name that came to mind. His range was mind boggling.
83 1500m bronze
84 5000m gold
87 5000m gold
88 800m bronze
WR at 1500m, 2000m, 2 miles, 5000m (twice). First man under 13:00.
Alan
Stin Parkerson wrote:
Rono? He did not have the Olympic glory or longevity at the top but what a run in 1978.
Ovett smoked Rono for the 2 mile WR in 1978
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JZTzLne2A8Aouita was the first name that came to mind.
Viren, Zatopek certainly should get a mention.
Zatopek.
Viren was great but I wonder about the "blood packing?" It was never proved, and maybe wasn't even banned.
I'm tempted to say Ovett, but he's more of a middle distance man.
Has anyone said Kip Keino? Two Olympic golds, (yes, he won the steeple in '72) an Olympic silver, a 5000m world record, a 3000m world record that was amazing for it's time, 7:39. How many commonwealth golds - two in '66 and one in '70, plus other commonwealth medals. This was an era when a Commonwealth gold was a bigger deal that it is now.
If there is a hole in Kip's resume, it's that Jim Ryun owned him in '66 (two miles) and '67 (mile in London, 1500 WR.) But he made his mark in 1500 in '68, and I guess ran 3:53 at altitude in '66. Kip was a MONSTER!
Aouita
Bad Wigins wrote:
Not Nurmi. No way. His era was soft, so soft history has almost forgotten there was a fast era before it.
Read about that era and it will become clear the olympics nearly destroyed the sport of running.
Soft? Did you lived in his era? Let me see: cinder tracks, leather shoes, running in oppressive heat, events ran on short schedule sometimes with only minutes to recover from one event from another. Yeah very soft. If there is something Nurmi proved: he was tough as nails. You have no idea what you are talking about (but that's the norm with you, typical Monday morning watercooler guy trying to sound knowledgeable) get real kid.
Viren, first double double gold in 5k and 10k. WR and Olympic gold after tripping and falling to the track in Munich is probably the single best running performance of all time. Think of all the other great runners who have fallen in competition and either dropped out or faded to the back of the pack.
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