Symmonds needs to lose some weight, looked huge next to the Africans

Symmonds can't lose weight, it's in his genetics. He's half gorilla you know.

I think he just timed his kick poorly. 800m has no margin for error. He's young, and he ran very, very well.

The cat ran 1:43 this year. Enough said.

If he loses weight he can't push them around any more.

Yeah he still ran 1:43 this year. It was just how the race played out. There are way more factors than weight.

I think he used too much energy getting into position for the kick, to be able to kick with the eventual winner. He cut in hard as soon as possible, and passed a lot of people on the outside. It's a fine balance. Maybe he wouldn't have won it no matter what this year, but he's getting close.

Weight isnt't his problem- it just looks like he is expending more energy than his competitors- I think if he brought his elbows in a little to reduce some of the side to side wasted movement he'd be able to move faster down the stretch .

I don't think it would be wise for him to focus on losing weight. It would detract from his training (see: Alan Webb the year after he left Michigan). As I watched that race, though, it seemed to me that he would benefit from an aggressive plyometric program. His stride looked flat compared to the others'.

he has said if he were to focus on the 1500, he would lose weight. He is very aware of it.

The 600m last year before the Olympics:

D Mercado:"....Nic is fat!..."

He's not a very graceful runner, but he has run 1:43 and 3:55 for the mile. His weight looks like muscle to me, so it's not a huge drawback. I could see him running better being a few pounds lighter, but trying to lose a lot of weight would be a mistake.

That being said, almost everyone looks big compared to the Africans.

Have to say...

:53+ 51+ splits is SIC!!!

Yeah, they tried to change Bill Rodgers arm swing and his oxygen consumption went up (meaning, less efficient). You find your most efficient stride through lots of miles, NOT by striving to look like some pre-conceived "norm".

Too much energy expended too early in the race. On the other hand, if he stayed at the back, positioning may become a problem. He decided to stay in a great position instead of taking a chance on getting boxed. Nothing wrong with that, especially after watching Lagat in the 1500. Hopefully, he will have many more chances.

Yea...

If he was good enough to win, he put himself in perfect position to do it. He was pretty close. I loved how he ran his race, down to the elbows. It's about time we did that!!!

Ditto. Symmonds may not be the picture you are for an 800 meter runner, but he has passion and talent and smarts enough to run 1.43, to be USA's first 800 metere finalist in 10 years and he puts himself in a position to win every race. Hell, if he gained a few pounds he might be even tougher.

He doesn't need to lose weight he needs to stop racing like a f***ing idiot. If you wanna win a championship 800 you have to BE IN THE FRONT AT THE START my god is he so dense that he thinks he needs to start out in last every damn race and kick in the last 200? Does he get it that that will NEVER work on the world stage?

You didn't watch any of the World Championship races, did you...

Tactically he did everything right. A tiny bit more strengh/fitness and he had that race won. Maybe if he kicked in the straight slighty later - but its easy to say that afterwards (and he avoided getting boxed). He made his move from where a lot of 800's are won

He went to win the race unlike a lot of other athletes dawdling round the back..and in slow races

DK fan wrote:

He doesn't need to lose weight he needs to stop racing like a f***ing idiot. If you wanna win a championship 800 you have to BE IN THE FRONT AT THE START my god is he so dense that he thinks he needs to start out in last every damn race and kick in the last 200? Does he get it that that will NEVER work on the world stage?

Errrr...You did watch the 2004 olympic final right?