Topic wrote:
Title says it all. Who is your pick for greatest distance runner of all time and why? I think there is a strong argument to be made for Bekele, Komen, and El G (with Geb and Kipchoge as honorable mentions), but ultimately El G is the GOAT due to his untouchable world records and dominance. It's possible that this topic has already been beaten to death, but I'm curious to hear everyone's thoughts.
Do you make an incense type offering with EPO every night, to these Gods?
Rudolf Harbig - ran world class times from 100m to 1000m. Quite possibly still the fastest 100/1000m runner ever, and he did it in the 30s. Set an 800m WR that lasted 16 years. Sadly, died fighting communist vermin and never competed in an Olympics whilst at his peak. Admittedly, there has to be a question mark as to whether he doped given he ran under the NAZI regime.
Herb Elliott - retired undefeated at age 22, already setting times over 1500 that likely no clean African could match today.
Peter Snell - Double Olympic 800m champion, as well as a 1500 gold (and 800/1500 double). Ran the equivalent of 1:42 back in the 60s. Retired at his peak in mid twenties due to the financial circumstances of the amateur era (especially for Oceanic athletes) otherwise would almost certainly have won a third 800m crown at Mexico and likely destroyed the WR too.
Jim Ryun - a freak of nature, only denied in the most dubious of circumstances by a dubious Kenyan at Mexico. Tripped when looking certain to win gold in 72.
Seb Coe - The most incredible performance at the most competitive event - the 800m. This is the only track event in which the entire world competes in at the top level, including West African ancestry, East African ancestry, and white European ancestry. And he set a time that is still probably the clean WR 37 years ago. On top of that, he is the only man ever to defend his Olympic 1500 title.
Steve Ovett - Started out as a 200/400 runner (whilst winning schoolboy xCountry for fun) and ended up winning a major 5000m title. Probably the most naturally gifted clean runner ever. Could probably have won the 800/5000 double in Moscow.
Jakob Ingebrigsten - Some might say it's still too early to putJakob on GOAT lists, but even if he retired tomorrow, what he's done has no parallel in the sport. He just ran 3:31.18 at 17. That's less than 1 1/2 seconds outside the clean world record.