Komen is one of the best runners of all time. He was dirt poor even for some of the poverty stricken areas of Kenya, and started running to make money for him and his family. He had an amazing form and has World Records that will NEVER be beat. For the stent he ran, he is the greatest of all time. If he would of ran for the amount of time Geb, or Bekele and the other considered greats; he would be the GOAT. Sadly, we will never know what else he could of done! He beat Geb near his prime 5K shape and went on a run of setting world leading times and near world records for a couple years. Over a course of literally a couple weeks he ran insanely fast times with extremely short recovery compared to how it is now! He solo ran records and then left when he had the money to live a comfortable life. I consider him the best ever considering what he did in such a short time. No one will get his 3K or 2 mile times, especially indoors. PRs of Distance
1500 Meters 3:29.46 16 August 1997 Monaco
1 Mile 3:46.38 August 1997 Berlin
2000 Meters 4:51.30 5 June 1998 Milano
3000 Meters (outdoor) 7:20.67 World Record 1 September 1996
3000 Meters (indoor) 7:24.90 World Record 6 February 1998 Budapest
2 Miles 7:58.61 World Record 19 July 1997
5000 Meters 12:39.74 22 August 1997
10,000 Meters 27:38.32 30 August 2002
ALL IN THE COURSE OF 1996-1998!!!except 10K, NO ONE CAN MATCH HIM
Komen is one of the best runners of all time. He was dirt poor even for some of the poverty stricken areas of Kenya, and started running to make money for him and his family. He had an amazing form and has World Records that will NEVER be beat. For the stent he ran, he is the greatest of all time. If he would of ran for the amount of time Geb, or Bekele and the other considered greats; he would be the GOAT. Sadly, we will never know what else he could of done! He beat Geb near his prime 5K shape and went on a run of setting world leading times and near world records for a couple years. Over a course of literally a couple weeks he ran insanely fast times with extremely short recovery compared to how it is now! He solo ran records and then left when he had the money to live a comfortable life. I consider him the best ever considering what he did in such a short time. No one will get his 3K or 2 mile times, especially indoors. PRs of Distance
1500 Meters 3:29.46 16 August 1997 Monaco
1 Mile 3:46.38 August 1997 Berlin
2000 Meters 4:51.30 5 June 1998 Milano
3000 Meters (outdoor) 7:20.67 World Record 1 September 1996
3000 Meters (indoor) 7:24.90 World Record 6 February 1998 Budapest
2 Miles 7:58.61 World Record 19 July 1997
5000 Meters 12:39.74 22 August 1997
10,000 Meters 27:38.32 30 August 2002
ALL IN THE COURSE OF 1996-1998!!!except 10K, NO ONE CAN MATCH HIM
Bump
I’d say if Jakob goes sub 12:45, he will have surpassed Komen’s range
I tend to think winning specifically an Olympic gold is overrated and a more interesting question would be the best athlete to win neither Olympic nor World Championship gold medal (individually - ignore the relays), since they are essentially interchangeable.
It would be strange to see him run for Kenya in the middle of those two years.
And I don't think he could have run for Kenya.
I don't believe Kipketer was allowed to represent any country in 1996.
It’s Kipketer. Winning 3 straight Worlds bracketing an Olympics and having that year be undefeated is an unimpeachable argument. 2000 he probably should’ve won but he was starting to decline a bit.
I believe there are quite a number including Wilson Kipketer. Both Komen and Kipketer were the favorites in their respective events for 1996 Olympics but both didn't make it to the games.
Kipketer is the answer.
Back to back to back at the World Championships in the most competitive event in all of track and field - the mens 800m. Also easy to forget he's still a two-time medalist (of any color) in back to back OG's which in itself is incredibly difficult as only Rudisha, Cruz, Coe, Snell have done that in the modern era of 800m running (no offence intended but I made that cut-off at 1960).
The WR he ran back in 97 is still 2AT and he was ridiculously dominant in this era which was truly a great one. (probably the lat great 800m era prior to the one we are entering now).
Komen was a great runner but not on the same plateau as Willson.