Glad to see some posts shouting out Kuts in 1956, Mills in 1964, and Viren winning in a WR in 1972 despite falling halfway through. Another lesser known thriller was the 1980 Olympic 10000. Amazing five-way battle with many surges and lead changes, with Viren making his last stand, before Yifter puts down the hammer, looking like Geb before Geb, in the last 300m.
Geb-Tergat Atlanta was awesome as well. I was standing next to a bunch of Ethiopians, who celebrated like mad for 25 laps. Tergat straining like mad to get away from Geb - and failing to do so - was just incredible. The entire stadium knew Geb was just waiting to pounce. When he finally did with 200 to go, it was electric. Best I ever saw in person.
Yes, I was there in Atlanta as well. What a race. Kenyans tried as a team after 5K to break Geb and set up Tergat. Tergat took it with 5 to go. The last 5 laps were run in 4:59! First 5K - 13:59, last 5K - 13:08. Same night Michael Johnson broke the 200 meter world record and Carl Lewis won on his last jump. I told my wife I can now die a happy man because I've seen the greatest night in track and field and all of it in person.
I’ve seen all the Olympic, World Cup and now world championships since 1972.
So many great races, but to me the Doha 10 k was the best 13:33/13:15 leader to leader. The two Kenya’s and Cheptegei trading the lead and the 3 E’s doing what Grant Fishet just did. Never leading, staying in top 4 and covering every move. I believe 6 broke 27 that night.
But this Paris Olympics is now the greatest 10k for me.
I believe the Britt announcer was the same that announced at Doha. I believe his parter in Paris was Jon Anderson.
Anderson stated best. He was referring to the E’s. You can have that trio package at the front trade the lead but you don’t have to do it in a 63/64/63 pace. His second statement on the E’s if you aren’t ready to run 26:30 then you don’t need to be involved in this race in Paris 2024.
Well 13 men decided they wanted to be involved in this race in Paris 2024.
After all that hard running the first 6 were separated by .88 seconds, 1st 26:43.14 6th 26:44.02.
Then 7 more men broke 27:00 minutes and were faster than the Olympic record.
Then the unspoken part of the race was the eventual winner was lying in wait. Not doing his normal front running. Waiting, waiting, waiting until 500 meters to go then bam, blasting through the front door which led to his gold medal.