I don't agree with that. Bol is just starting to tap her potential in the hurdles since switching her stride pattern. Why deny her the chance to reach her top end because SML switched. At 23 she has time to focus on the 400.
Personally I think SML is ducking. One Olympic Gold and one World Gold and she retires from the event?
Why is SML ducking? The 400 flat is historically been more competitive than the hurdles. She has nothing to prove in the hurdles anymore. She's trying a new event and it's fun to watch her progress. It's so hard to please a LRC user these days.
Most believe in defending their titles at least once. She only raced Bol twice in her whole career.
Why is SML ducking? The 400 flat is historically been more competitive than the hurdles. She has nothing to prove in the hurdles anymore. She's trying a new event and it's fun to watch her progress. It's so hard to please a LRC user these days.
Most believe in defending their titles at least once. She only raced Bol twice in her whole career.
Who is the 'most'?
SML is facing more competition in the 400 flat from Paulino, Naser, Wilson, Adeleke, the polish and Dutch runners (sorry, forgot your names!) and Williams.
Why is SML ducking? The 400 flat is historically been more competitive than the hurdles. She has nothing to prove in the hurdles anymore. She's trying a new event and it's fun to watch her progress. It's so hard to please a LRC user these days.
Most believe in defending their titles at least once. She only raced Bol twice in her whole career.
I assume she will defend next year at the Olympics. As the first poster said, she's accomplished everything possible at the 400h. Either a world champ/new PR/WR at the 400m would mean significantly more to her legacy than another 400h title.
Most believe in defending their titles at least once. She only raced Bol twice in her whole career.
I assume she will defend next year at the Olympics. As the first poster said, she's accomplished everything possible at the 400h. Either a world champ/new PR/WR at the 400m would mean significantly more to her legacy than another 400h title.
I remember my high school teammate, Denny, who was not very fast running about 22.8 all the time. So I don't consider this a stellar time for such a great runner.
As much as I'm a fan of Bol and don't particularly care for Sydney, that 200 race against Tasa Jiya is the same issue Bol would face every time against Sydney. Comparative times don't matter much at all. It's ridiculous to look at Bol's 51.45 and conclude that she's getting closer to Sydney's 50.68 and therefore might defeat her one day.
Sydney will run right past her. That's the variable that dictates every matchup. Bol is an amazingly dedicated self-made superstar. Sydney is a prodigy who simply owns more natural talent and speed.
Bol can't beat her unless Sydney makes a mistake like clipping a hurdle. If they got a relay exchange at the same time Bol would fight valiantly and make up some ground near the end, but not enough to overcome the few meters that Sydney would stretch near the beginning.
I still don’t see her breaking SML’s world record.
The Dutch should have a very good 4x400 team. Since SML and Bol aren’t racing each other in the 400h, I would love to see them anchoring their relay teams in a close race.
Likely won't be close when Bol gets the stick. The Dutch other legs after Bol and Klaver might split low 51's, US has too much depth. They can definitely get silver and go under 3:20 however.
Honestly, I think they can run as low as 3:17. Dutch athletes are typically very, very well periodized for global athletics competitions. Even then, I don't really expect the USA to be challenged in the women's 4x400.
I will say that I have become a Femke-Fan. I knew very little about her a few years ago…and was certainly rooting for Syd. But since Syd’s WR she has been virtually invisible. This certainly makes it tough to be a fan…especially when someone has the ability to draw much more attention to the Sport and they don’t, nor do they help any of the event organizers or city’s that are hosting the events. One or two top names on the start list can make a massive difference for media, gate admissions, sponsors etc. it also brings much more attention to the other athletes attending the event.
So it is refreshing to see Femke out racing every few weeks and doing interviews win or lose. SHe seems like a sponsors dream. Anyway, it doesn’t mean I am rooting against athletes like Syd or Mu….but I will certainly be cheering for the Femke’s of the world!!
When you watch all of the diamond league meets and an Athlete is not there, you tend to root for other Athletes, that has been the case with Bol for many.
I have become a huge Bol fan in the absence of SML. The 4X400 though will be epic at Worlds can wait for that.
Most believe in defending their titles at least once. She only raced Bol twice in her whole career.
I assume she will defend next year at the Olympics. As the first poster said, she's accomplished everything possible at the 400h. Either a world champ/new PR/WR at the 400m would mean significantly more to her legacy than another 400h title.
Sorry, but this is ridiculous…I guess Jordan should have retired after winning his first championship. Or just sat the seasons, and just come on for playoff games.
I assume she will defend next year at the Olympics. As the first poster said, she's accomplished everything possible at the 400h. Either a world champ/new PR/WR at the 400m would mean significantly more to her legacy than another 400h title.
Sorry, but this is ridiculous…I guess Jordan should have retired after winning his first championship. Or just sat the seasons, and just come on for playoff games.
SML didn't retire from the sport. She is just doing another more competitive event and there is absolutely nothing wrong or ridiculous about that.
Sorry, but this is ridiculous…I guess Jordan should have retired after winning his first championship. Or just sat the seasons, and just come on for playoff games.
SML didn't retire from the sport. She is just doing another more competitive event and there is absolutely nothing wrong or ridiculous about that.
No there is not...but she has virtually not given anything back to the sport/fans/organizers/events since winning the gold....which again, is her choice. I am not knocking her for this...I am saying that I certainly appreciate an athlete like Femke who continues to show up.
I have no problem with SML going after the 400...have at it. But to suggest that SML has already accomplished everything at the 400h level so why continue?....if that is why she is going after the 400m, then fine - no issue at all. If that is why she is not showing up and competing at least semi-actively, then that doesn't speak well for her.
I assume she will defend next year at the Olympics. As the first poster said, she's accomplished everything possible at the 400h. Either a world champ/new PR/WR at the 400m would mean significantly more to her legacy than another 400h title.
Sorry, but this is ridiculous…I guess Jordan should have retired after winning his first championship. Or just sat the seasons, and just come on for playoff games.
Not only completely unrelated to what I said, but also a terrible analogy.
By the way, Jordan did get bored and try something new. It was called baseball.
Kersee is poison for the sport, die hard T&F fans will still watch but marginal fans need these high profile top athletes to compete or a regular basis.