If Jakob can win the double Gold this year, I would put him over El G, because he would have one more 1500 Gold and much better 3k(2 miles) 5k performances and his 1500 PB is only slightly slower than El g . As for Bekele, it depends on your perspective. Personally I think 1500m/5k double is more harder to pull off than 5k/10k, so I would also put him above Bekele, if he wins this year. And if he wins this year and get the 1500/5k WR in 2025/26, then the debate is completely over. He's the GOAT of distance running.
I think people may suffer from the nostalgia just as OP said. Yeah, they did great at their times, but their era was also not as competitive. All Bekele had to beat back then was just Kipchoge(with a PB of only 12:48) in the 5k (and El g in Athen) and some unknown guys in the 10k, who would not even make it to the podium with the current crop of sub-12:40 runners. Same goes for El g. The only obstacle was Ngeny (who was pretty much a non factor after an accident, while Jakob has to face Josh Kerr, Wightman, Nugese and a horde of sub 3:30 runners in the 1500 and loads of sub 12:50 or even 12:40 runners in the 5k.
So he only beat the best 1500 runner of all time and the most consistent marathoner of all time?
Yeah, but unfortunately hes(Kipchoge) much stronger in the marathon than the 5k, and he's never beaten El g actually.
Yes I solide fact Ethiopian ran 13:03 prior to 1994.
Can you fact solide?
Should you wear a glass to see it? Its right there in the image I posted from the world athletics. The only prior performance to Gebresselassi is from Fita Bayisa (13:05:40 1993).
Not surprising that small country of 5 millions population is owning you with a single runner. Even Katir smarted his brain to cut you in the latest WC.
You said, “Before July 1994 the best Ethiopian runner had a time of 13mins 05 (1993)”
Yes I solide fact Ethiopian ran 13:03 prior to 1994.
Can you fact solide?
Should you wear a glass to see it? Its right there in the image I posted from the world athletics. The only prior performance to Gebresselassi is from Fita Bayisa (13:05:40 1993).
Not surprising that small country of 5 millions population is owning you with a single runner. Even Katir smarted his brain to cut you in the latest WC.
Sigh... The image is misleading. It's only showing "Best By Athlete." If you have spent any time on the World Athletics All Time Top Lists, you'd know. I've made the same mistake before.
Sigh... The image is misleading. It's only showing "Best By Athlete." If you have spent any time on the World Athletics All Time Top Lists, you'd know. I've made the same mistake before.
If Jakob can win the double Gold this year, I would put him over El G, because he would have one more 1500 Gold and much better 3k(2 miles) 5k performances and his 1500 PB is only slightly slower than El g . As for Bekele, it depends on your perspective. Personally I think 1500m/5k double is more harder to pull off than 5k/10k, so I would also put him above Bekele, if he wins this year. And if he wins this year and get the 1500/5k WR in 2025/26, then the debate is completely over. He's the GOAT of distance running.
I think people may suffer from the nostalgia just as OP said. Yeah, they did great at their times, but their era was also not as competitive. All Bekele had to beat back then was just Kipchoge(with a PB of only 12:48) in the 5k (and El g in Athen) and some unknown guys in the 10k, who would not even make it to the podium with the current crop of sub-12:40 runners. Same goes for El g. The only obstacle was Ngeny (who was pretty much a non factor after an accident, while Jakob has to face Josh Kerr, Wightman, Nugese and a horde of sub 3:30 runners in the 1500 and loads of sub 12:50 or even 12:40 runners in the 5k.
True, the 1500 / 5k double is harder than the 5k / 10k one, which is why only two have successfully pulled it off at a global championship. No disagreement there. That alone still wouldn't be enough to put him Bekele though - holding all WRs from 1500 to 10k simultaneously (an unprecedented feat) would definitely "end the discussion" as he put it.
Bekele's performances were still absolutely impressive even if you think his dominance is less impressive due to lack of depth. Aside from Kipchoge, he crushed guys like Tadese and Lagat and routinely closed in 53 for the last lap off of fast paces. His ability to win using both sit and kick as well as frontrunning proved how superior he was to his competition.
We don't need to get into his XC and road exploits since this is mainly a track comparison, but if you really wanted to get into an overall distance GOAT discussion then you have to consider those too, even if weighed less.
This post was edited 3 minutes after it was posted.
Bekele is still distance GOAT and El G is still 1500 GOAT. Cheptegei and Jakob are the only challengers and I wouldn’t consider either one to be that close, though both are great in their own right.
If Jakob can win the double Gold this year, I would put him over El G, because he would have one more 1500 Gold and much better 3k(2 miles) 5k performances and his 1500 PB is only slightly slower than El g . As for Bekele, it depends on your perspective. Personally I think 1500m/5k double is more harder to pull off than 5k/10k, so I would also put him above Bekele, if he wins this year. And if he wins this year and get the 1500/5k WR in 2025/26, then the debate is completely over. He's the GOAT of distance running.
I think people may suffer from the nostalgia just as OP said. Yeah, they did great at their times, but their era was also not as competitive. All Bekele had to beat back then was just Kipchoge(with a PB of only 12:48) in the 5k (and El g in Athen) and some unknown guys in the 10k, who would not even make it to the podium with the current crop of sub-12:40 runners. Same goes for El g. The only obstacle was Ngeny (who was pretty much a non factor after an accident, while Jakob has to face Josh Kerr, Wightman, Nugese and a horde of sub 3:30 runners in the 1500 and loads of sub 12:50 or even 12:40 runners in the 5k.
This is one of the most delusional posts on Letsrun, which is saying something.
If Jakob can win the double Gold this year, I would put him over El G, because he would have one more 1500 Gold and much better 3k(2 miles) 5k performances and his 1500 PB is only slightly slower than El g . As for Bekele, it depends on your perspective. Personally I think 1500m/5k double is more harder to pull off than 5k/10k, so I would also put him above Bekele, if he wins this year. And if he wins this year and get the 1500/5k WR in 2025/26, then the debate is completely over. He's the GOAT of distance running.
I think people may suffer from the nostalgia just as OP said. Yeah, they did great at their times, but their era was also not as competitive. All Bekele had to beat back then was just Kipchoge(with a PB of only 12:48) in the 5k (and El g in Athen) and some unknown guys in the 10k, who would not even make it to the podium with the current crop of sub-12:40 runners. Same goes for El g. The only obstacle was Ngeny (who was pretty much a non factor after an accident, while Jakob has to face Josh Kerr, Wightman, Nugese and a horde of sub 3:30 runners in the 1500 and loads of sub 12:50 or even 12:40 runners in the 5k.
I’m a Jakob fan, but give me a break: No way you can put him above El Guerrouj if he just wins another 1500n Oly gold..! Medals matters, but so do times. -You have to have both. (And also don’t forget that El Guerrouj had worse tracks / shoes and so on).
Gold medals are very coincidental (well, not always, but very often) -if Kerr wrinkles his ankle, and Nuguse and Cheruiyot don’t improve, Jakob could have an easy win. No way he can outdo the WR holder then f.ex…
While most people on LR would agree that Jakob seems better than Chep at the 5k, Chep actually has a better championship record (1 Oly gold and 3 WC gold) vs Jakob who only has 1 Oly gold. Either way, both are quite far from surpassing El G or Bekele.
If Jakob can win the double Gold this year, I would put him over El G, because he would have one more 1500 Gold and much better 3k(2 miles) 5k performances and his 1500 PB is only slightly slower than El g . As for Bekele, it depends on your perspective. Personally I think 1500m/5k double is more harder to pull off than 5k/10k, so I would also put him above Bekele, if he wins this year. And if he wins this year and get the 1500/5k WR in 2025/26, then the debate is completely over. He's the GOAT of distance running.
I think people may suffer from the nostalgia just as OP said. Yeah, they did great at their times, but their era was also not as competitive. All Bekele had to beat back then was just Kipchoge(with a PB of only 12:48) in the 5k (and El g in Athen) and some unknown guys in the 10k, who would not even make it to the podium with the current crop of sub-12:40 runners. Same goes for El g. The only obstacle was Ngeny (who was pretty much a non factor after an accident, while Jakob has to face Josh Kerr, Wightman, Nugese and a horde of sub 3:30 runners in the 1500 and loads of sub 12:50 or even 12:40 runners in the 5k.
Who cares about two of the most flagrant dopers in history?
So Kenny B has eluded getting caught for 20+ years? I’m not saying he’s 100% for certain clean, but he’s likely the smartest doper of all time if he is doing it.
The guy is in his 40s and is still minutes faster than the fastest US marathoner. I’m a little biased as he was at the top of his game when I started following track, but he’s the GOAT in my opinion.
If Jakob is still making the Olympic team in 3-4 more cycles, I may change my mind.
