So what female athlete(s) do you consider Bolt-like, GOAT-standard? Just for context.
Admittedly a tough ask because Bolt is pretty unique. But I've been more impressed by Kipyegon, Hassan, Fraser-Pryce, Thompson than SML. Biles/Ledecky are female GOAT-standard athletes in other sports. Though note a similar cross-sport critique applies here, and I'd be way more impressed by someone of Ledecky's dominance in a mainstream track event than in the 800m freestyle.
Why are people downvoting? He's speaking the truth.
There is not a single person on earth that has shown they could beat Sydney in the 400 flat or 400 hurdles. In a super off event for Sydney, the 200, the are 5 people on the planet that have run faster than her this year. OP's post is not true.
I think the OP has a point. All we are hearing is potential this potential that, but nothing concrete. If she is such an A+ level talent, why doesn't she prove it by taking on Shericka in the 200 or Paulinho in the 400? Bolt took on Blake, Asafa, Gay, Gatlin and won, he didn't waste his prime hiding in the 110mh. There is absolutely no evidence that Sydney is a better talent than Gabby, Paulinho, Shericka...for how long will we keeptalking up her potential? I think people forget that she is turning 25 in a few weeks, and are still thinking of her as Syd the kid.
She's only overrated in terms of capability of breaking 47.60. Nothing else. Freak talent.
Now, if you had written the same thing but used Katie Ledecky as the reference point, I would agree with you. Women's distance swimming is among the lowest caliber of competition in any sport. It's the reason Ledecky knows she can go through 2028 and perhaps to 2032.
Once a couple of the top women ventured up to 400 freestyle they quickly eclipsed Ledecky's supposedly untouchable number from Rio 2016.
I agree on Ledecky, but I think people ignore how similar SML is, and in fewer events. Bol is the equivalent of Titmus; same on the men's side with Alison and Rai Benjamin chasing down Warholm. Another way of saying this is that in 10-20 years' time, I think sub-51 might not be enough to medal in the women's 400h. In 10-20 years' time, putting super shoes aside, 9.6 will be enough to medal in the men's 100, as will 19.1 in the 200 and 3:26 in the 1500.
Sub 51 will only be replicated by females with amazing flat speed and hurdle technique
That won't suddenly become a common combination in 10-20 years
You started off this post by saying it's easier to dominate niche events because they're overlooked by top talent, but now you're suggesting in 10 years the hurdles will be stacked to the point where sub 51 won't necessarily earn a medal?
Athletes without elite talent aren't running sub 52 let alone sub 51
Yeah man, my point is that you'll increasingly find elite athletes in the 400H. Sydney and Femke are elite - just not necessarily GOATs. Medal times in other events won't move as much because eliteness is already there.
There is not a single person on earth that has shown they could beat Sydney in the 400 flat or 400 hurdles. In a super off event for Sydney, the 200, the are 5 people on the planet that have run faster than her this year. OP's post is not true.
I don’t think Sydney is overrated, but a healthy Miller Uibo makes a strong case to beat her in both the 200 and 400.
I think the OP has a point. All we are hearing is potential this potential that, but nothing concrete. If she is such an A+ level talent, why doesn't she prove it by taking on Shericka in the 200 or Paulinho in the 400?
Why don't Shericka and Paulinho race Sydney in the 400 hurdles?
She's 10th on this list.... TENTH... .04 off of SRR not on her main event... I understand that you're trolling, but it's just silly to think SML is overrated. Frankly, with the hate that she gets on here (for not racing more among other stuff), it's more the opposite.
I think the OP has a point. She may have the talent to be a all-time GOAT but she can't achieve that by only dominating the 400H because it is a fringe event. No one considers Edwin Moses a T&F GOAT.
Now if Syd were to break the WRs in the 400 or 200 it would definitely put her in GOAT territory. Even winning an Oly Gold in one of those events would get her a lot closer.
I think the OP has a point. All we are hearing is potential this potential that, but nothing concrete. If she is such an A+ level talent, why doesn't she prove it by taking on Shericka in the 200 or Paulinho in the 400?
Why don't Shericka and Paulinho race Sydney in the 400 hurdles?
GTFOH! It's like asking Messi in his prime to play in the MLS to show he is the goat. Fact remains that the elite talents are competing in the 100, 200, 400. She cannot be heralded as the female version of Bolt when she is competing in a curtain raiser.
