bekele or bolt - who's better?

If we use Daniel's VDOT tables:

Bolt's VDOT is 118.

Bekele's is only 85.

(just kidding)

If we look at Purdy Points:

Bolt's 200m is 1141.

Bekele's 10000m is 1139.

Bolt was only restoring a balance upset by Geb and Bekele.

If we look at length of career and breadth of events:

Bolt is young, and has potential if he keeps competing. Winning at 400m would be interesting.

Bekele has shown world domination in short and long cross-country, 5K and 10K for the last 10 years.

If we look at public perception and appeal:

Bolt fascinates the non-running world

Bekele fascinates distance runners

wtf are purdy points?

and Bekele has not been dominating for 10 years.

In my opinion 12:37.35 is way more rediculous than 9.58. We're all raving about Ritz's time, and rightfully so as it would have been a WR in the pre-Gebrselassie-Komen era. But think about it this way: when Bekele set the current WR Ritz would have still been over by the steeple pit.

unless you are Jamaican or Ethiopian if not choose your favorite and wear with pride

http://www.zazzle.com/fantasy_jamaican_mens_tshirt-235209449590770366

http://www.zazzle.com/fantasy_ethiopian_mens_tshirt-235370851716821528

There is not even any debate about this one.

Bekele can run 100m in 11 seconds which puts him just a few ticks behind Bolt in a 100m race. This would is the equivalent of Bolt running a 30 minute 10k which will never happen.

Bekele is by far the greater athlete. I would also put Ritz way above Bolt as well for the same reasons.

fvck McMillan wrote:

wtf are purdy points?

and Bekele has not been dominating for 10 years.

OK, not 10 years, but only 8 years (or 9). Bekele started winning world cross-country in 2001 (as a junior), and 2002 in the long and short course.

Purdy points are calculations based on scoring tables not unlike Hungarian tables or IAAF scoring tables, but based on 1936 Portuguese scoring tables.

If I "google" for Purdy points:

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Run-Down Statistics & Rankings - Performance Predictors

First, the Purdy points are reported, demonstrating what the performance is ... Purdy Points: Taking the Purdy points calculated above for the original ...

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Run-Down Statistics & Rankings - Performance Predictors & Purdy ...

Easy to use Purdy table & Multievent calculations for a variety of track & field events.

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FAQ: Race time predictor

The Purdy point system is calculated from a table of running performances compiled in 1936 called the "Portuguese Scoring Tables. ...

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Purdy Points - Computer Science : Computer Science : UMass Lowell

More information on Purdy points: The original paper: Computer Generated Track Scoring Tables Medicine and Science in Sports Vol. ...

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You guys are tools. All of you!

student of the sport wrote:

There is not even any debate about this one.

Bekele can run 100m in 11 seconds which puts him just a few ticks behind Bolt in a 100m race. This would is the equivalent of Bolt running a 30 minute 10k which will never happen.

Bekele is by far the greater athlete. I would also put Ritz way above Bolt as well for the same reasons.

Bekele yes, Ritz no.

I had a dream last night that Bolt and Bekele raced over 600m and Bolt won by 2m. I don't believe for a second that that's what would happen but it seemed so real.... far too much letsrunning

They're both extremely dominant in their respective disciplines. I would say at this moment Bolt is more dominant, as there is zero chance of anyone beating him and he is smashing world records left and right. But as has already been mentioned, Kenenisa has been doing it for a lot longer than Bolt and is really showing no signs of letting up any time soon. So it seems like a bit of a tie, and since I'm a distance runner and this board is mainly focused on distance running, I'll give the nod to Bekele. A 9.58s 100m is very impressive, but it just doesn't boggle my mind like 25 consecutive 63 second laps does.