I recall a training log from wottle in 1972 where he had to limit his workouts for much of the year because of injuries. his workouts still were incredible and the results great, but without the injuries, he might have been sub 1:44. He clearly left it too close. Running in last place and then bringing the full kick only in the last 50m is not smart. The pace he was going at the end illustrates that he could have gone earlier. But he won and that's all that counts.
To Set a few things straight wrote:
Wish to remain anon wrote:Wottle knew exactly what he was doing....despite what he may have said afterwards...and moved when the guy he knew was his only competition moved. He remained in good position throughout the race.
I don't disagree with Malmo that DW may have made the race a little more dramatic with his post-race words.
I do believe him, rather than anon., when he said he was "not" always in good position.
malmo and I agree pretty much with each others points so I'm not sure where you would differentiate our opinions.
I thought he blew it when he got hung up a bit in traffic around 200 to go after covering Arzhenov's backstretch move. As any 800 runner will concur, it is very difficult to reaccelerate which DW had to do. It shows me that he was still within himself at that point.
Considering this is not what occurred I'm not sure why you would have thought he blew it. He basically accelerated with Arzanhov from about the 300meter out point, stayed outside and then kicked down the stretch. Arzanhov made that made dash down the backstretch in every race I saw him run and Wottle was ready for it.
jonesjonesjones wrote:
I recall a training log from wottle in 1972 where he had to limit his workouts for much of the year because of injuries. his workouts still were incredible and the results great, but without the injuries, he might have been sub 1:44. He clearly left it too close. Running in last place and then bringing the full kick only in the last 50m is not smart.
Again...it's incredible that the link to the race is posted and you guys can't get it straight. Wottle was rockin' and rollin' from about 150m out.
Wish to remain anon wrote:
Again...it's incredible that the link to the race is posted and you guys can't get it straight. Wottle was rockin' and rollin' from about 150m out.
There you go again, trying to bring those facts into it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwGxLfWSnEMLook at where Arzhanov and Wottle are with 400m to go. Look where they are with 350 to go. It looks like the hunter stalking his prey.
Wish to remain anon wrote:
malmo and I agree pretty much with each others points so I'm not sure where you would differentiate our opinions.
Considering this is not what occurred I'm not sure why you would have thought he blew it. He basically accelerated with Arzanhov from about the 300meter out point, stayed outside and then kicked down the stretch. Arzanhov made that made dash down the backstretch in every race I saw him run and Wottle was ready for it.
Sorry to bring up other perspectives. I differentiate your opinions on the word(s) of the athlete who ran the race.
Wottle himself is the guy who told me to noitce how his momentum was impeded a bit at 200 to go after covering Arzhenov and that he had to reaccelerate at 150 to go. After receiving this insight and looking for it, I can definitely see what he is talking about in the video.
I thought that Wottle had said that he had gone out so slowly simply because of how nervous he was. Considering that, his recovery should have been expected. My favorite race ever .....
Some Coach wrote:
I thought that Wottle had said that he had gone out so slowly simply because of how nervous he was. Considering that, his recovery should have been expected. My favorite race ever .....
Right on! In combination with feeling flat, he lost perspective of just how far back he was.
That's weird. Usually when I'm too nervous I go out too fast.
Wottle had caught the field by the bell. He was a stride behind Arzanhov at 450m. At 500m Arzanhov starts to sprint the backstretch. Wottle moves at the same point although Arzanhov pulls away a bit by 600m. Wottle was always on the outside and it's possible that Kupczyk might have impeded him slightly...Kupczyk had a rep as a rough and tumble guy....but Wottle never loses any rhythm at all. With 150 to go Wottle takes off and runs everyone down.
Wish to remain anon wrote:
Wottle had caught the field by the bell. He was a stride behind Arzanhov at 450m. At 500m Arzanhov starts to sprint the backstretch. Wottle moves at the same point although Arzanhov pulls away a bit by 600m. Wottle was always on the outside and it's possible that Kupczyk might have impeded him slightly...Kupczyk had a rep as a rough and tumble guy....but Wottle never loses any rhythm at all. With 150 to go Wottle takes off and runs everyone down.
There you go, with the exception that "Dave Wottle" said it broke his rhythm "somewhat".
why does he have a cap on?
To Set a few things straight wrote:
To no one in particular:
Wottle and Arzhanov were co-favorites. Wottle called Arzhanov the heavy favorite due to his win streak(his words), but what would you expect?
Wottle did not intend to run the way he did. He came off the line extremely flat, lost a bit of focus, and was embarrassed & near panic at 300. He simply tried to finish (not last). Again, his words. In his mind he was never in control. He was thinking top 6 at 150 to go. He didn't think he could medal until 100 to go and then wasn't sure. He didn't think 'Gold' until 3-4 strides to go. He was hurt going into the games, after the OT. The injury scrapped the idea of focusing on the 1500 rather than the 800.
Wottle and a few other teammates always wore hats in training and racing. On the awards stand, he was so used to having it on that it felt natural and forgot to take it off. His mother was upset at this.
From seeing a documentary, and also speaking directly with Wottle a year ago, this is the most accurate post on here. This is pretty much what he told me. He didn't go out in last place tactically, he was just nervous and feeling very flat. From then on out it was just a struggle to finish respectably. That turned out pretty well :)
And I love that the first thing his mother says to him after the race isn't congratulations, but "Why didn't you take off your hat form the anthem?"