Ezekiel Kemboi 5th straight major win

I agree with the write-up's assertion that Kemboi is the greatest of all time.

I do not agree with its claim that we are "embarrassing ourselves" if we criticize aspects of Jager's race today.

Jzs wrote:

Note he points to his head; he knows how to win. At the proper (intelligent racing)

I interpreted that as he has a strong mind.

LetsRun.com wrote:

vxcv wrote:

2009 WC Gold

2011 WC Gold

2012 Oly Gold

2013 WC Gold

2015 WC Gold

He is the greatest of all time without any doubt.

We agree he's the GOAT but there can always be doubt.

Our race recap calling him the GOAT is here:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2015/08/ezekiel-kemboi-cements-status-as-greatest-of-all-time-evan-jagers-medal-hopes-come-up-short/

His body may not have lasted the distance, but Shaheen/Cherono has got to be considered the best. He won majors, won head to head against Kemboi, has the world record, has loads of fast times, won in various types of races.

Okay, there are definitely scenarios where the world record holder isn't considered the "greatest" due to someone else's overall achievements (Bubka>Lavillenie, Lewis>Powell, Moses>Young) but this isn't one of them.

(Kiptanui is somewhere in the conversation too.)

The greatest of all time is relative, and if that is relative to championships, the yes obviously. But if that is relative to on the circuit, maybe maybe not. Since 2012, kemboi has won 6 races. 3 of those wins were championships. This means that ezekiel bas won only 3 circuit races in 4 seasons. Since 2012, kemboi has raced 17 times and won 6 of them. In those 17, he was top 3 10 times. Just the facts, so saheen/kiprono is probably the best overall, and he beat.kemboi at worlds in 03 and 05.

The greatest of all time is relative, and if that is relative to championships, the yes obviously. But if that is relative to on the circuit, maybe maybe not. Since 2012, kemboi has won 6 races. 3 of those wins were championships. This means that ezekiel bas won only 3 circuit races in 4 seasons. Since 2012, kemboi has raced 17 times and won 6 of them. In those 17, he was top 3 10 times. Just the facts, so saheen/kiprono is probably the best overall, and he beat kemboi at worlds in 03 and 05.

Kemboi obviously doesn't care about circuit races. He peaks for the championships and there is no one better in unpaced races after a round.

He has been dominating the championships since gold in 2004, adding 2012, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015. Viren was among those in the past to do nothing outside of championships.

seb wrote:

The greatest of all time is relative, and if that is relative to championships, the yes obviously. But if that is relative to on the circuit, maybe maybe not. Since 2012, kemboi has won 6 races. 3 of those wins were championships. This means that ezekiel bas won only 3 circuit races in 4 seasons. Since 2012, kemboi has raced 17 times and won 6 of them. In those 17, he was top 3 10 times. Just the facts, so saheen/kiprono is probably the best overall, and he beat kemboi at worlds in 03 and 05.

I agree, seb. Greatest of all time? Only if we accept championships in just one event, the steeplechase. There are others who have held world records simultaneosly in multiple events. Kemboi doesn't have one of those, despite his greatness. Greatest steeplechaser of all time? Only if we somehow overlook that the guy who holds the world record in the steeple ran it faster than anyone ever has. The most championships is really, really impressive. Durability and consistency weigh very heavily when comparing the great ones, as does repeatedly beating the best in the world. However, without the fastest time ever in your event, you really can't be considered the greatest ever. A world record weighs more heavily than anything else, and when someone has held--and especially CURRENTLY holds--a world record or multiple world records, that is, in my opinion, the ultimate factor. Now, if you want to compare world record holders from different eras, such as Ryun vs. El Guerroj for example, as is often argued on this forum, you have a better argument.

just no.. wrote:

Michael Johnson's is arguably the greatest

Achievement at a single event,400m

4 straight world titles

2 Olympic gold

Not even close to

Edwin Moses, 400H

Three olympics, two gold, one bronze. Missed out on a third gold due to boycott. Did not lose at all for nearly ten years, including two WC and three world cups.

Bad Wigins wrote:

Gebrhiwet can beat Mo if he's in position

Then it's a good thing for Mo that he's a savvy enough racer to never let another runner get a jump on him and get into position without making a move of his own, isn't it.

I hate to rain on the parade, but didn't they say a rather large amount of medals from kenya were tainted with suspicious blood reports, and they did pretty much nothing about it.

voda wrote:

The only man that can take down Mo. Get him in the 5k in Rio

Oh my God, yes. +1 googleplex. Somebody PLEASE beat Mo. I don't care who. Train EVERY 1500m guy to be a 5000 guy if need be, just somebody beat Mo.