NotAustin18 wrote:
Haha yeah I'm definitely wishy-washy, but Lagat is where its at. Just look at his accolades, credentials and longevity. And the failed EPO was stored wrong so the B sample came back positive.
Ryun ran those records so young because he ran himself into the ground and had a short career. He has an olympic silver, Rupp also has an olympic silver. It's not what you do when you're young, its what you do over an entire career. Rupp, so far, has done more.
Rupp has equaled Ryun's medal count, and has a longer career with lots of accomplishments. Sure Rupp will never run a world record, but with the exception of KIP Keino, the East Africans weren't a factor yet on the track. If you take out all the East Africans today, guess what? Rupp would also have a world record. So think about that.
Ryun made three olympic teams. That hardly constitutes a "short career". And it was a hell of lot harder back then. Think about it; Ryun was getting approximately the same support for his running that you are.
Now, as for the lack of africans back in olden times, let's review the results from the 1968 olympics.
800m Men
Ralph Doubell AUS 1:44.3 GOLD
Wilson Kiprugut KEN 1:44.5 SILVER
Thomas Farrell USA 1:45.4 BRONZE
1500m Men Kipchoge Keino KEN 3:34.9 GOLD
Jim Ryun USA 3:37.8 SILVER
Bodo Tümmler FRG 3:39.0 BRONZE
3000m Steeplechase Men Amos Biwott KEN 8:51.0 GOLD
Benjamin Kogo KEN 8:51.6 SILVER
George Young USA 8:51.8 BRONZE
5000m Men Mohamed Gammoudi TUN 14:05.0 GOLD
Kipchoge Keino KEN 14:05.2 SILVER
Naftali Temu KEN 14:06.4 BRONZE
10000m Men Naftali Temu KEN 29:27.4 GOLD
Mamo Wolde ETH 29:28.0 SILVER
Mohamed Gammoudi TUN 29:34.8 BRONZE
Marathon Men Mamo Wolde ETH 2:20:26.4 GOLD
Kenji Kimihara JPN 2:23:31 SILVER
Michael Ryan NZL 2:23:45 BRONZE
Do you see any events here in which no Africans medalled?