I think Beijing '08 was Wanjiru's duel in the sun. Though some bright spots flashed after that, I think it irreparably damaged his body. What he did that day, in that kind of heat, was insane. It undoubtedly broke him down in ways the body can't handle.
Yes undoubtedly. Until he comes back and smokes some major marathon field. And then you will all again be talking about how soon it will be before he smashes the marathon world record, trying to pretend you were never talking about how he was "done".
joho wrote:
Athletes are rarely content with one good performance. If he is, fine for him but it is definitely not the norm. Especially among American athletes.
Has a pitcher ever thrown a no hitter and then give up baseball while still young?
While it's true that the Olympic marathon is one performance, this is a terrible comparison. To be equivalent to winning the Olympic Marathon for a marathoner, a pitcher would probably need to win the Cy Young award and have his team win the World Series.
And by one good performance, do you realize what Wanjiru did in his first 5 marathons, including 2 that came after the Olympics.
1. Won Fukuoka in 2:06 (debut marathon)
2. 2nd London, outkicked by Lel in 2:05
3. Won Olympics in 2:06
4. Won London in 2:05 (course record)
5. Won Chicago in 2:05 (course record)
I really hope that he keeps doing well, but the pessimist in me has some doubts.
He was talking about sub 2h marathon in the near future at the time when he was running the by a few seconds 2:05 course records in London and Chicago. That's great, but he was not even in the ballpark of challenging the world record. Lately I have not seen a quote from him say anything about WR, let alone sub 2.
Again I hope he keeps doing well and even if there is some truth to the negative speculations he is young enough that in a few years he can wake up and say, I'd like to be who I was before.
"Henry Rono please answer the blue courtesy telephone"
"Paging Henry Rono"
yes he is
he did not race with cojones...he raced with his legs...
...and lots and lots of EPO
correcto wrote:
he did not race with cojones...he raced with his legs...
...and lots and lots of Japanese-instilled discipline
FTFY.
Also a couple of posts higher, the Fukuoka win in 2:06 was the CR as well as his debut.
Wanjiru is 30. Stop talking about Wanjiru is young. The time for him to correct his mistakes is now or else he will be history like William Sigei.
Wa Kiragu wrote:
Wanjiru is 30. Stop talking about Wanjiru is young. The time for him to correct his mistakes is now or else he will be history like William Sigei.
He's 23 (he'll be 24 this year).
Oh, okay. This is probably a reference to the fact that Kenyan's lie about their age. Gottit.
Nothing is free wrote:
Yes undoubtedly. Until he comes back and smokes some major marathon field. And then you will all again be talking about how soon it will be before he smashes the marathon world record, trying to pretend you were never talking about how he was "done".
True.
yes wrote:
yes he is
Yes, sadly, Wanjiru is done...
I agree. This is very sad, gone too soon, far too soon.