Who is the best runner of all time?

I don’t believe he’s not talked more about here. Truly a great runner, The real deal.

Kipchoge and Bekele could go either 1 or 2.

Kipchoge is the best road runner ever with an underrated track career. Bekele is the greatest track runner by a large margin, but largely disappointed on the roads.

Bekele edges Kipchoge in world XC, but it depends on how much value is placed on that as to who wins overall.

Neither is wrong at the 1 spot.

My top 5:

Kipchoge

Bekele

Haile (clear #1 if Bekele and Kipchoge don't exist)

El G (the most notorious record in all of distance running)

Cheptegei (probably the best range of all time behind Kipchoge- 2x WR holder, best modern distance runner with man years still ahead)

800 King Rudisha

King of the Mile El Guerrouj

Distance King Bekele

I'd have to say me...when I got jumped by 3 dudes when I was in 8th grade and your boy straight blasted up outta there and outran them all.

close second for all time fastest runner? Eric "Floberg".

Not without the massive doses of drugs he was on back in the day. Talk about being a high responder and a clown show.

No, he sprinted them

No, that's a very conceited notion that some distance runners promulgate.

Paavo Nurmi 1 and close behind is Haile Gebrselassie who has 27 world records

Finnish distance runner Paavo Nurmi holds the record for the most Olympic medals and global records in the history of distance running. Competing between 1920 and 1928, Nurmi won 12 Olympic medals, including nine golds and three silvers. Throughout his career, he established between 22 and 25 official world records across various distances, from 1,500 meters to 20 kilometers.

Paavo Nurmi's Record Achievements
Nurmi, nicknamed the "Flying Finn," dominated the 1920s with an analytical approach that included running with a stopwatch to regulate his pace.

Olympic
Medal Count: 12 total (9 Gold, 3 Silver).

World Records: He set 22 official world records according to some accounts, while others credit him with 25.

Simultaneous
Records: In 1923, Nurmi became the first runner to hold world records for the mile, the 5,000m, and the 10,000m simultaneously, a feat that has never been repeated.

1924 Paris Feat: On a single day in July 1924, he set Olympic records in both the 1,500m and 5,000m in just over one hour.

Comparison with Modern Greats
While Nurmi holds the historical lead in total medals and records, modern runners
have achieved high counts in specific disciplines:

Haile Gebrselassie
10,000m / Marathon
2 (Both Gold)
27 World Records

Barrett DahIdo

Joan Benoit Samuelson

Bekele or Faith Kipyegon.

OK. Side topic. Ethiopia easily is #1 with their top 2 GOATS in Bekele and Gebrselassie.

These are all great runners but I can't believe no one has suggested Forrest Gump. He was running ultramarathons before it was cool.

Bolt

The best runner of all time is the guy who just keeps on going day after day year after year through highs and low and puts in the slog because that’s who he is and all he wants to be.

thats the best runner of all time.

Camille Herron. Her wikipedia is more impressive than anyone else's listed here.

Most of these posts demonstrate a recency bias combined with a lack of historical sporting knowledge.

It's NURMI and without any doubt.

Bear in mind that he leads the Olympic medal count regardless even without considering the denied opportunities to compete in 1924 (10k) and 1932 (marathon). In 1924 he was denied a 10k entry despite being the reigning Oly champ at this distance. And so he ran 15, 5k and CC, well, obviously nothing tired him out and he would have won the 10k as well if he had the chance to run it. Remember his 1500/5k OG double run within two hours. Unparalleled. Let's see Hocker/Jakob/anyone do that in the modern era.

And - even thirty six years before his infamous repression of TOMMIE SMITH and JOHN CARLOS - none other than AVERY BRUNDAGE was involved in this... "His successor was Edström's "pupil" and personal friend, Avery Brundage (1887-1995). In his capacity as President of the Amateur Athletic Union, he was also active in the banning of Nurmi."

"Edström, Brundage and von Halt were very good friends. They all belonged to the so
called "Beer Drinking Society"

"A contemporary sports journalist confirms Nurmi's large income during the USA tour
: "Nobody could match Nurmi at being paid off in the dark. He toured America like a cach register and broke records and banks with equal ease."

https://isoh.org/wp-content/uploads/JOH-Archives/JOHv15n3h.pdf