Salazar had a fat, out of shape Rono on his home track and still couldn't beat him. Many of you guys have NO idea how good Rono was. And no hint of PED's. In fact, he took PDD's - Performance Detracting Drugs (alcohol).
Salazar was very good. But when it counted, Olympics and WC he was not. That what truly makes a great runner.
Rono sadly never had the chance at Olympics due to his country’s boycott of the 76 and 8O Olympic Games. He was basically done running when the WC’s started in 1983.
I agree with the post above, Rono was in a different level at that time.
I hate Salazar and do not want to defend him in anyway as he is the biggest POS in the history of the sport, but lets put some context to this.
Salazar also missed the 1980 Olympics because of the boycott, and since WC were on a 4 year basis at the time, he really only had a shot to run at one, MAYBE two (1987). So in this sense, he didn't have the opportunities like athletes do now, and holding him to that standard is kind of unfair.
Plus, you're also discounting his results at World XC (SILVER in 82, 4th in 83), which was arguably harder to medal at the time, so he it's not really true he didn't have success "when it mattered most," as you defined it.
If I could choose having Salazar's career or that of Lopes, I'm choosing Lopes in a NY second.
Olympic Gold medal trumps all.
Me too, especially when you consider that Carlos Lopes also had a silver from the 10,000 at the 1976 Olympics, three World Cross victories, and an out-of-the park world record in the marathon.
Alberto's calling card was his mental toughness. But he had no finishing speed. I saw him tow the Nyambui and the UTEP crew through the '79 and '81 NCAA 10,000's and then they dusted him in the final 800. He would not have medaled in the '80 Olympics 10,000. His marathoning is a bit different, as he was the top dog for awhile; he didn't run well at the '84 LA Oly marathon; not sure if it was the heat or not, but Lopes was dominant that day while AS finished around 10th.
There's no doubt (in my mind, at least) that Rono and Lopes rank above Salazar on the list of all-time legends. But Rono's prime was pre-1980 and the hot streak that really made Lopes a legend was post-1982. As someone else said earlier in the thread, there's a reasonable argument to be made that Salazar was the top long-distance runner in the world for a brief period around 1980-82.
The best illustration of that, for me, was reading Deek's autobiography. As Deek emerged as a star (around 1981-82), it seemed like he really wanted a shot at Salazar, who he viewed as the top guy in the world at the time. When he finally raced (and beat) Salazar in Rotterdam in 1983, that made Deek the uncontested top dog (albeit only until the Olympics!).
Salazar certainly wasn't dominant in the way, say, Geb and Bekele were in their respective eras. And his reputation was probably greater than his actual accomplishments thanks to the U.S. media hype machine. But it's not totally crazy to say that there was a brief period of time when many knowledgeable observers would have ranked him as the top guy in the world.
There's no doubt (in my mind, at least) that Rono and Lopes rank above Salazar on the list of all-time legends. But Rono's prime was pre-1980 and the hot streak that really made Lopes a legend was post-1982. As someone else said earlier in the thread, there's a reasonable argument to be made that Salazar was the top long-distance runner in the world for a brief period around 1980-82.
The best illustration of that, for me, was reading Deek's autobiography. As Deek emerged as a star (around 1981-82), it seemed like he really wanted a shot at Salazar, who he viewed as the top guy in the world at the time. When he finally raced (and beat) Salazar in Rotterdam in 1983, that made Deek the uncontested top dog (albeit only until the Olympics!).
Salazar certainly wasn't dominant in the way, say, Geb and Bekele were in their respective eras. And his reputation was probably greater than his actual accomplishments thanks to the U.S. media hype machine. But it's not totally crazy to say that there was a brief period of time when many knowledgeable observers would have ranked him as the top guy in the world.
Of course Alberto was NEVER the top all around distance runner in the world as Rono owned him but if you want to say Alberto was the top marathoner for a couple years that may be…however 2 years is not an era and Alberto was not even top 3 distance runner in his era.
Three good names here. Rono was king for a moment. Then Salazar was king briefly. Then Lopes had a couple great showings.
Because we value championships, Lopes is tops.
But everyone seems to forget that when Salazar ran 2:08.13 in NYC 1981, the existing marathon record was from 1969. Even if you consider that 1969 course short, the record was still likely a 2:09-flat. Salazar's 81 run was epic. He called it when nobody had gotten close for 12 years, and he did it. He's a major ass, but on that day, you couldn't say a single bad thing about it.
There's no doubt (in my mind, at least) that Rono and Lopes rank above Salazar on the list of all-time legends. But Rono's prime was pre-1980 and the hot streak that really made Lopes a legend was post-1982. As someone else said earlier in the thread, there's a reasonable argument to be made that Salazar was the top long-distance runner in the world for a brief period around 1980-82.
The best illustration of that, for me, was reading Deek's autobiography. As Deek emerged as a star (around 1981-82), it seemed like he really wanted a shot at Salazar, who he viewed as the top guy in the world at the time. When he finally raced (and beat) Salazar in Rotterdam in 1983, that made Deek the uncontested top dog (albeit only until the Olympics!).
Salazar certainly wasn't dominant in the way, say, Geb and Bekele were in their respective eras. And his reputation was probably greater than his actual accomplishments thanks to the U.S. media hype machine. But it's not totally crazy to say that there was a brief period of time when many knowledgeable observers would have ranked him as the top guy in the world.
Even conceding his stature in that brief period, AS's claim was best distance runner of his era. His era was a lot longer than those few years, and when you consider the longer period of his era and distances other than the marathon, including world XC, AS's claim doesn't stand up.
Rono was unbeatable for a season, then very good for a few weeks another summer or so. Lopes won in LA, then set the WR the next spring, and won a few World XC races. Two years, really, he was it. Salazar was unbeatable for just over two years, not a whole lot differences here.
Simply put, he was one of the top contenders in most races at his peak but never really came through it title races that go down in history to be remembered as significant. Lopez was the man during Salazar's peak. He has the titles to prove it repeatedly.
So, it seems to be consistent with his current history/arrogance that yes, he would like people to forget the truth.
1980, when Salazar won NYC, you had to be there. It's literally like Hocker showing up, and winning Western States.
The 24 months that followed, he was the greatest distance runner in the world, easy.
Lopes was coming on, clearly, and bluffing from NYC 82 on, but few realized it. Only after Salazar started losing overseas, and Lopes took World XC, did things seem clear. Oddly, in mid-82, the only question was the order you'd see in LA - Salazar, Decastella, or Seko?
That was Salazar's 'era'. NY 1980 to NY 1982. During that period he was one of the very best in the world. Before and after, not so much. So it goes I guess, you can never know what your career arc will look like.
Even if NYC was a little short in 1981, it was not a time trial course either, so still a better performance than Deek’s Fukuoka run that December.
Salazar was born in 1968 so he was literally a kid competing against a much older Rono in the 1970s.
His March through July 1982 were arguably the greatest 4 months any distance runner has ever had and clearly the best of any American. He got a silver at World Cross, had the Duel with Rono, a week later won Boston in an AR, then set the 5k and 10k ARs in the early Summer. If an American did any one of those things today, you guys would need to change your underwear.
Also, a peak Salazar never ran in the Olympics or World Champs. He was burnt out out by the time he was 24.
I disagree too. I personally think he may have been the greatest doper of his era though. Dude seems to always be looking for a chemical edge. Arrogant POS.
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