excellent...let's also include Tom Courtney's 800....two or three surges in the final 200m...he nearly ran himself into unconsciousness. Heck, Bones and the stolen 1948 100, Lindy in the stolen 1952 100, Lee and the 20 yr WR in the 400m from Mexico City, Tommie's two-hour icing job between the 100 semi and the WR final. Wottle's brilliant tactics and homestretch gallop when everyone else tied up. And Jenner's 1500m in 4:12 will always be amazing.
juiced. When's the last time a guy 190 pounds ran 1:43?
That sounds about right wrote:
rooak wrote:1988 5000. Ngugi was not to be fvcked with.
YES- gutsiest track race in Olympic history, hands down
This is immediately what came to my mind, Ngugi's breakaway with 4200m to go in the 1998 5,000m. He drops a 59-61 to put 6 seconds on the field and runs the whole thing solo. With 2K to go Castro (Portugal) breaks from the field and starts reeling in Ngugi. 5 seconds at 1600, 4 seconds at 1000 to go, with Castro in second with a 5 second lead over the trailing pack. At the bell: 12:10, 12:15, 12:20. Castro got a bear on his back in the last 200, and is passed in the last 10m by an East and West German.
Also, my tie breaker between 2008 and 2012 100m is for 2008. Bolt won so decisively and broke the record by so much, plus his celebration at the end contributed to the sense of how phenomenal it was.
Last time Americans won 5,000 and 10,000 meters
Bob Schul---... running in the rain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1zYmckCaO8
Billy Mills-1964 Tokyo...major upset
CHEIKHA wrote:
1996 : 100m: Christie, Fredericks, Mitchell, Boldon, Bailey...........
The 1988 Olympic 100m final is the most disgraceful since almost everyone was a known doper
To those who are not delusional, almost everyone was a known doper in the 100m finals since way before '88.
800 On Pure Hate wrote:
CHEIKHA wrote:1996 : 100m: Christie, Fredericks, Mitchell, Boldon, Bailey...........
The 1988 Olympic 100m final is the most disgraceful since almost everyone was a known doper
To those who are not delusional, almost everyone was a known doper in the 100m finals since way before '88.
The first sub 9.8 was incredible to watch. You should not let science ruin it for you. We never saw a faster time for a really long time.
trackfan. wrote:
the 100 is always doped
they were probably more doped 10 years later
By this logic then you can dismiss every race and render this thread pointless.
Fact: The 1988 100m race is considered the dirtiest in history because all the medalists subsequently tested positive. ESPN even did a documentary on it.
By contrasts, none of the medalists from the 1996 100m final tested postive. Maybe they doped. But we have no proof
CHEIKHA wrote:
trackfan. wrote:the 100 is always doped
they were probably more doped 10 years later
By this logic then you can dismiss every race and render this thread pointless.
Fact: The 1988 100m race is considered the dirtiest in history because all the medalists subsequently tested positive. ESPN even did a documentary on it.
By contrasts, none of the medalists from the 1996 100m final tested postive. Maybe they doped. But we have no proof
Relying on formal proof is incredibly naive and delusional.
Lots of good picks.
I have to say that the first race that I thought of was the first race that you listed.
For 7 straight years El dominated the 1500. He held the 1500 and mile records for years. He would go long stretches of being undefeated. He won four world championship titles.
But he didn't have the Olympic Gold.
And in 2004, Lagat was having a great year. Wound up ranked #1 and beat El G in Zurich with the world leading time of 3:27 and change.
Slow first 2 laps just under 2:02 but El G takes over and drops a 53s third lap to string out the field.
Lagat stays glued to him.
Coming off the last turn Lagat swings wide and starts to come up on El G and actually begins to pass him.
El G was hiding a tiny bit of reserves and pushed on to fend off Lagat's challenge and holds on to win with a 1:46 last 800 for the both of them.
That's a race.
2008 men's marathon when Wanjiru took the lead pack through halfway only 5 seconds off world record pace in sweltering heat.
I'm agreeing with all of these, this article has them all too:
http://runreporter.com/olympics/the-greatest-olympic-races-of-all-time/
Rudisha in 2012 has to be number one for me, front running a WR in a middle distance event without a pacemaker is almost unheard of!
Rudisha FTW wrote:
I'm agreeing with all of these, this article has them all too:
http://runreporter.com/olympics/the-greatest-olympic-races-of-all-time/Rudisha in 2012 has to be number one for me, front running a WR in a middle distance event without a pacemaker is almost unheard of!
Rudisha's 2012 WR was awesome. Even tugged along many PBs behind him including Amos's 1:41.73 WJR, tying Coe's and Kipketer's former WR.
1976 - Men's 100m.
1972 - Men's 400m.
1984 - Men's 400m.
2004 Mens 1500m El G AMAZING race
2008 mens 5000m, Bekele Olympic record put on a CLINIC probably the greatest 5000m race of all time.
http://www.letsrun.com/2008/5k0824.php
He slammed the last 100m and broke 13:00 with ease in 12:57.82, crushing the old Olympic record of 13:05.59. Kenyans Kipchoge (2nd in 13:02.80, also under the old Olympic record) and Soi (13:06.22 for bronze) ran like champions as well, and were rightly rewarded with medals.
But there was no way they were getting gold tonight. They would have needed to have a 53.86 up their sleeves if they wanted gold, because Bekele had a 53.87 up his. That's right! A 53.87 last lap which produced a 2:25.30 last 1k. Yes, the last kilometer was 2:25.30. The last 1,600m? 3:57.01. That's a sub-3:59 last mile, folks. The last 2k of 4:56.97 and last 3k of 7:35.53 are each world class performances themselves. Absolutely unbelievable; the crowning not just of a great - the crowning of the greatest ever in perhaps his greatest-ever race.
1.4 billion people would say that it has to be Athens 2004 110M hurdles with Liu Xiang taking the gold
Montreal 5000 for me. Spellbinding how that played out. Replayed that final lap zillions of times.
1972 5000 final with Prefontaine. He said he might not win, but whoever did, was going to have to bleed. Well, that's exactly what happened.
Geb/Tergat in 1996 was much better than Geb/Tergat in 2000. They absolutely crushed the last 5000 in 1996 - something like 13:12 or something like that. It was unreal. MJ's 19.32 in 1996 was also pretty spectacular.
Another vote for 1972 800m. I still don't expect Wottle to catch them all. Come to think of it, I am going to watch it now.
Vivalarepublica wrote:
You really have to break this down by event to do it justice.
800M: 1972 and 2012 both were amazing.
5000M: the double by El G in 2004, absolutely legendary.
1500M: Ngeny with the upset in 2000, what a shocker.
10000M: Geb/Terget in 2000, Mills in 1964
And plenty of other close exciting races, with runners not as well known.
5000 in 64. Schul last lap was awesome