Is it really worth having Olympic dreams, when you see people like Bekele destroying the competition?

I still have dreams now that a favorite like Defar has lost...

There are more Olympic tourists than serious Olympic athletes with a reasonable chance at getting into an Olympic final.

Only one person is going to win each event (with the exception of relays). I wouldn't say the Olympics were are a failure and a waste of time for everyone else. I can only imagine the feeling of walking in the Opening Ceremonies representing your country. That has to be an experience that will last a lifetime regardless of the your event performance.

If you think you have to win or medal for it to be worthwhile, you have missed the ideals of the Olympics.

Bekele did not destroy Legat and was beaten by Alistair Craig a few years back.

They still have to run the race, and as we've seen this week, anything can happen. And even the greats eventually lose or retire. Someone did eventually beat Edwin Moses after he won 107 straight finals.

Billy mills self hypnosis interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfG8tnavH0s

Another video that motivates me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSM1mvMypWU

Here is some motivation for you my friend. You need to believe to achieve; it is when you stop believe that you die.

With Bekele in the action, just have wet dreams for a while. The man cannot be beaten.

the man can, has, and will continue to be beaten

not often, but it happens

so dont stop dreaming

hicham beating the hell out of bekele in athens 2004 5000 meters,just saying

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a78SssRsms

I agree - all one needs to have a chance of beating Bekele - is first of all - get your 1500 PB down to 3.26 and then your 3000 PB down to 7.23.

Seriously, it's our obsession that if you don't take first you shouldn't be doing it.

There are pros in every sport who aren't the best. Have Olympic dreams, PR dreams, whatever freaking dream you want, Bekele or no.

Our 5K guys ran great- we got three in the finals, who else did that? 1500 M&W the same. 800- he was in the race until the end.

We are now one of the top distance nations.

yes , you have to have both conditions, if you only have one (3:26:34 bernad lagat in 1500) you fail, but nobody said it would be easy..

Somehow my Olympic dreams always involved me destroying the competition-- the way that Bekele is now.

He proves that crushing the rest of the world can be done...

It's Bekele, huh?

That's what's keeping you from a gold medal?

Yeah, me too. That's why I'm not even messing with this World Championship stuff right now.

thanks to everyone who is jealous of bekele, he will continue to never be beaten on the track. you are his motivation. haters and discrimination are his motivation.

get out and work on your own game instead of motivating people that are naturally better than you and will keep beating you due to your hating motivation and lack of focus of your person potential.

runn wrote:

Seriously, it's our obsession that if you don't take first you shouldn't be doing it.

There are pros in every sport who aren't the best. Have Olympic dreams, PR dreams, whatever freaking dream you want, Bekele or no.

Our 5K guys ran great- we got three in the finals, who else did that? 1500 M&W the same. 800- he was in the race until the end.

We are now one of the top distance nations.

See? This is the kind of mindset Americans have that causes us to be destroyed by the Africans constantly. It's this acceptance to be something other than first. I don't think you should even consider going to the Olympics unless you have a good chance of winning. I think when we have Olympic Trials, we only send the winners to the Olympics if their PRs are the best in the world. Otherwise, it's just not worth it. America will be expecting gold from all of them, don't let us down! Unless you hate America.

It just seems that the american distance runners get totally psyched out when it comes to the big races. I think most of the time all the tools are there, but their minds start to play games with them.

Snatch wrote:

Bekele did not destroy Legat and was beaten by Alistair Craig a few years back.

1) Bekele miscounted the laps when he was beaten.

2) Are you TRYING to misspell these names?

jesse johnson wrote:

It just seems that the american distance runners get totally psyched out when it comes to the big races. I think most of the time all the tools are there, but their minds start to play games with them.

True, I was hoping that Teg would finish faster than that. I think that even Lagat was out-psyched. I know he was tired, but that last 100m was about 13.4 seconds.