Happy Birthday to Lasse Viren!

Yes, happy birthday. Got his autograph as he walked out of the stadium after the marathon in Montreal. I was surprised at how small he was in person, always ran so tall. He was really spent after that marathon, what a week of racing!

isn't that the guy who blood doped and had a fake job as a police officer?

MiamiOhio75 wrote:

Happy 65th Birthday to the legendary Lasse Viren,

winner of the double-double(5,000 and 10,000) in the 1972 and 1976 Olympics. Pulled off the second greatest triple in Olympic history in 1976 by winning the 10,000, the 5,000, and placing 5th in the marathon.

I assume this is the greatest

swedish chef wrote:

MiamiOhio75 wrote:

Happy 65th Birthday to the legendary Lasse Viren,

winner of the double-double(5,000 and 10,000) in the 1972 and 1976 Olympics. Pulled off the second greatest triple in Olympic history in 1976 by winning the 10,000, the 5,000, and placing 5th in the marathon.

I assume this is the greatest

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/london-olympics-usain-bolt-celebrates-1230017

Zatopek!!!!

LOOKING FOR PHOTOS/VIDEO OF Viren racing Montreal (5th) & Moscow (DNF)

Marathons.

MiamiOhio75 wrote: Pulled off the second greatest triple in Olympic history in 1976 by winning the 10,000, the 5,000, and placing 5th in the marathon.

A lot of people have placed in the top 5 in three different events.

Yes it is! The fake government job allowed him to train and compete while he got paid. Also him and Maanika (i think that's how you spell it) admitted to blood doping. The reason he was never condemned for it was because it was not illegal. I still think the IOC should take his records away and medals away. He is the biggest double distance cheat since Mo.

Viren never admitted to blood doping.

swedish chef wrote:

MiamiOhio75 wrote:

Happy 65th Birthday to the legendary Lasse Viren,

winner of the double-double(5,000 and 10,000) in the 1972 and 1976 Olympics. Pulled off the second greatest triple in Olympic history in 1976 by winning the 10,000, the 5,000, and placing 5th in the marathon.

I assume this is the greatest

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/london-olympics-usain-bolt-celebrates-1230017

The greatest triple was Zatopek's 5000/10000/Marathon, no doubt.

Number 2 would go to Usain Bolt's first triple in 2008 with 3 World Records.

Number 3 would be Usain Bolt in 2012.

Number 4 could be Lasse Viren.

IIRC, OOTOMH, when asked directly, he would just reply he didn't do anything illegal. It was widely enough known back then that the ABC sportscaster Jim Mckay even mentioned it during a broadcast, IIRC, OOTOMH.

I see, since it wasn't then illegal, let's take his medals away, due to it becoming illegal later? If altitude tents become illegal somewhere down the line, lets go back and dq everyone who used them when they were legal? talk about revisionsism.

Sometimes this site and the idiots it attracts amazes me, this is one of those times.

oregon or bust wrote:

I see, since it wasn't then illegal, let's take his medals away, due to it becoming illegal later? If altitude tents become illegal somewhere down the line, lets go back and dq everyone who used them when they were legal? talk about revisionsism.

Where did I say they ought to take his medals away?

Sometimes this site and the idiots it attracts amazes me, this is one of those times.

Looks like the site attracted you.

Bolt's 2008 performance was indeed impressive, yet it wasn't really a true "triple" since one of the events was a relay. Also, I consider multi events in sprints and distances to be distinct, since the recovery factor is vastly different. I.e. imagine after Bolt's 100m, he puts 1 lb weights on his feet and hands for the 200m. After, the 200m, he puts 2 lb weights on for the 4X100. Fatigue is a greater issue in the distances and it is extra impressive when a fatigued distance runner beats fresh elites.