mgm wrote:
I'v been thinking this since Farah joined the group and began training under Salazar. If I was Rupp, I would not have approved.
This idea of "we'll get faster together and dominate" is stupid. Only one person can be the winner and training/resources is a big part of the equation.
Am I going to trai with the guy who I'm usually duking it out against on the roads for overall wins? Hell no. I'm not going to make it easier on anybody to beat me. Better to train on your own, make them fear you, and show up to kill on race day.
Farah is has more TALENT than Rupp and on top of that they evened the playing field in terms of all the other supplementals that could make the slightest difference at these levels where mere seconds count.
If you know the history, Rupp had reached a point where he had no training partner that could keep up with him in all workouts.
Brendon Foster asked Alberto to consider training Mo whom British athletes thought was under performing for his talent.
Alberto asked Galen what he thought, they discussed it and agreed that it would be good to have a training partner that could not only stay with him, but share the work, and also pull him along.
The result was the first American medal in the Olympics in 48 freaking years.
So, no, the idea was not stupid. It worked out for both of them.
It's pretty unlikely that without Mo, Rupp wins silver or gold last year.
Mo's just better at this point, and if Rupp ever does contend for the wins in these things, it will be because he passed through these stages on the way up.
Most runners lose most of their races most of the time on the world stage.