Primo Numero Uno wrote:
Jim Ryun is absolutely on any other American distance runners level. Just because he didn't win one race that was at elevation against a guy who lived at elevation or that he was tripped in the 1972 Olympics does nothing to change that.
As far as Centro's gold. If we set aside doping concerns, which is a big set aside I must acknowledge. Olympic Gold is Olympic Gold regardless of the tactics of the race. It is not like he is a one-hit wonder, he has 2 other WC medals. You can say his Gold was a fluke but at the end of the day with 3 global championship medals to his name, his place in American distance running history is set.
No, no it does
I know we love our stats in this sport but you can't award gold medals to athletes who didn't win them (bar doping scandals).
Every elite knows this, and even the general public appreciates the merit in the medal itself.
Elite sport is about hard work, being prepared at exactly the right time, executing tactics and delivering under pressure. That's what it takes to win the gold. That is severely underestimated in athletics whilst celebrated in team sports regularly.
Time trials are not what counts in athletics. That stuff is for the nerdy fans who cream over the tenths and post on Letsrun (like me).
Centro put together a masterful race. Although the final time was slow, he dictated the race when he needed to and knew he was prepared with a final lap in his locker that would beat anyone in the world.
He deserves that medal and all the credit with it.