Good luck with that. I think fair to say it has been a poor outing.
No medals in 10k (M/W), 1500m (M/W), 800m (M), 400m (M), SC (M/W).
No US men in 800m final at all.
Only 1 US man in 1500m final, and here the US were supposed to have the best depth out of any country.
Opposite side of the world. Plus NBC had this little segment about how the warmup track was a long bus ride away from the stadium with a bunch of athletes complaining about it in post race interviews. Not Rupp USA certified.
Can't be arguing a German is dirty and a Kersee trained athlete with all the rumours around him is somehow squeaky clean.
We either doubt all records or believe them all.
According to the Stasi archives, Koch took steroids - there's not much of a "doubt" about it. Her 47.60 does have a what if - what could she have run that day from a better lane than 2?
Koch prepared at home with a 21.56 200m time trial before leaving for Canberra. She ran a relay and a 200m the day before the 400m WR was set. Different kettle of fish entirely. You can do that on a steroid programme, taking testosterone throughout the event. SML is in a different league; a once in a lifetime female talent. Koch (on the drugs you can get away with taking these days) couldn't hope to compete with her (or Paulino).
curious if we see SML run 400H again, or if she just stays with the 400
I’m guessing their goal is to win the double in LA, though that will be close to impossible
I actually think she may focus on the 200m next year
Don't think short sprints are her strength.
She is totally dominate in the 400h but cannot compete with best 100h in the world...at least based on the races she has run in that event (maybe only one?)
Yes, the US has been poor in the distance events but I'll still hold out hope for the 5000. I think I'm most disappointed about Brazier not making it. I was really pulling for him since he had a bad injury and has made a great comeback. Also, if Nuguse had done what he needed to do to get the the WCs I believe he would have thrived and Hocker, had he not had the DQ, would have also competed well in the 1500 final. Can't look at would have & should have, though. It is what it is.
I think there's generally a different feeling this time around about a poor showing in this meet because we have such a massive group of athletes who are actually among the best in the world. It used to be that we'd hope to overperform in slower, championship races, snagging a few medals to mask how far behind we were on the world lists and in the Diamond League. Now it's like, yeah, we underperformed in a particular competition, but there's no question we're on the right track overall.
One thing that has really changed this year is that there's so much more elite talent from the rest of the world. It used to be that in distances, it was the Africans, then the US right behind, without much competition from elsewhere. Europe has really stepped up recently, which only makes it harder to snag medals.
According to the Stasi archives, Koch took steroids - there's not much of a "doubt" about it. Her 47.60 does have a what if - what could she have run that day from a better lane than 2?
Koch prepared at home with a 21.56 200m time trial before leaving for Canberra. She ran a relay and a 200m the day before the 400m WR was set. Different kettle of fish entirely. You can do that on a steroid programme, taking testosterone throughout the event. SML is in a different league; a once in a lifetime female talent. Koch (on the drugs you can get away with taking these days) couldn't hope to compete with her (or Paulino).
If Koch was on what Sydney is on she would run 46.9.
400h and 100h are basically completely different events. 400m and 200m are much more similar and have been dominated by the same athlete at times in the past (not that it's easy).
Since 1985 training has advanced, tracks are faster and superspikes are in. I bet just technology is around 1 second in a 400M.
I would be SHOCKED if sydney is doping. She's been a star since day 1. Among the most talented T&F athletes ever.
I'm 100% convinced FloJo doped. I also think Kersey almost certainly runs a clean club these days. Doping in 2025 is just very difficult to get away with. Sure, it can be done. But it's hard to do and you basically have to have a PhD in biochemistry. Even if someone dopes today, it is worlds apart from soviet doping in the 1980s where athletes were basically chewing on raw testosterone.
My main dissapointment is that Sydeny didn't try to double in the 400H and 400 flat. She could have run both, even with the horrible scheduling.
There's a reason why she's in USADAs top ten most tested athletes...target testing, based on evidence (either discrepancies in results or human intelligence)