Who has the best finishing kick ever?

Usain Bolt

Smith

Fausto Coppi wrote:

Who has the best finishing kick ever for middle or long distance races?

Snell?

Ryun?

Coe?

Ovett?

Yifter?

Cova?

Skah?

Morceli?

Gebrselassie?

Borzakovskiy?

Bekele?

Farah?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWoNJYweeoY

I don't think there's much to seperate Ryun, Ovett, and Coe.

I think the three most impressive finishing kicks ever in middle-distance were Ryun in his famous Dusseldorf run, Ovett in his famous Dusseldorf run, and Coe in the Moscow 1500m.

People point to the Moscow 1500 final as evidence that Coe's kick was superior to Ovett's, and that Ovett never ran a 12.1 last 100m. I think this is a little unfair. Ovett was tired, unmotivated, and undergoing some girlfriend problems that put him off in the Moscow 1500 final. He also had a bad cold a week later so it's not implausible that might have affected him too. Watching the race again as they both start their sprint in the home straight it appears Ovett is moving faster than Coe but seems to hit a wall and can't then even get past Beyer. He just looked flat. His World Cup 77 run looked like he could have ran 12.1 in that last 100 if he hadn't slowed down but instead was racing for Olympic Gold with a Coe on his shoulder. Deano himself says Ovett neglected his speed work after 77. I don't think his kick was quite as good as it was at the end of 77 and the summer of 78.

Ryun was a monstrous kicker, as was Geb. Those two come to mind first.

But Abdi Bile closing the 1987 WC 1500 in 1:46.0 has to put him in contention

Farah, by a mile. See what I did there?

Daniel LaRusso.

Have you seen the original Karate Kid??

Is this the Ryun kick you are referring to?

Rashid Ramzi! ?

https://youtu.be/0HcGVbDLhI8

Fausto Coppi wrote:

Who has the best finishing kick ever for middle or long distance races?

Snell?

Ryun?

Coe?

Ovett?

Yifter?

Cova?

Skah?

Morceli?

Gebrselassie?

Borzakovskiy?

Bekele?

Farah?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWoNJYweeoY

Toss up in my mind between Billy Mills and Dave Wottle....both kicked it in for gold.

add Susanj to that list

Just off the top of my head:

Yifter 1980

Cacho 1992

Geb 2000

And yeah Bile closed in 1:46 was super impressive as well. That's 53 for the last two laps!

Yifter for sure. Very underrated

Mo Farah and it’s not even close. If your thinking it’s someone else then you are looking at the past through rose-tinted glasses.

He made a 7 year career out of it and was the most dominant winner in Olympic/World championship history for distance running. Always the kick to win, every race. Nothing comes close.

How are we missing 2003 kipchoge or 2016 Olympic trials Lagat? Or.... Really... Phil Healy.....(female) If you don't know of Phil Healy, look her up on YouTube for a treat of a watch.

Fausto Coppi wrote:

Who has the best finishing kick ever for middle or long distance races?

Snell?

Ryun?

Coe?

Ovett?

Yifter?

Cova?

Skah?

Morceli?

Gebrselassie?

Borzakovskiy?

Bekele?

Farah?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWoNJYweeoY

imo Rui Silva one of the best kicks ever 50.3 last lap and last 450 was really crazy

all-time Bekele easy off a fast or slow pace he was always consistent and deadly, from the front or off the leaders shoulder...

to be honest, the best kick I have ever seen was Matt Withrow outkicking galen rupp at the 2003 footlocker national championships. his kick was absolutely insane

Um, ever heard of Juha Vaatainen?

I just watched the Withrow footage I actually have to agree that this is one of the best kicks ever. Now, for the longest sustained kick? Michael Stember

tbh wrote:

to be honest, the best kick I have ever seen was Matt Withrow outkicking galen rupp at the 2003 footlocker national championships. his kick was absolutely insane

Yifter vids are my fave to watch. Mainly because of his 'look' too.

All good fun and a terrific runner.