Gerry Lindgren. In '64 he got 9th in the Tokyo 10,000 on a badly sprained ankle. Billy Mills later said he believed a healthy Lindgren would've won gold. I also wonder what he might have done in the 68 Olympic trials. It's a misconception that he was burned out by the later 60s, but I compiled quite a few of his races, and he remained incredibly consistent throughout the decade. The problem was he was racing so much, doubling in many races, week after week. With a more measured competition schedule, and more rest, I think he had a damn good chance to win the Trials in both the 5000 and 10,000.
On the women's side: Mary Decker Slaney. What if she hadn't tripped in '84? Would she have won the 1500 - 3000 double like she did the year before at Helsinki?
And along with Mary Cain, I'll always wonder about Jordan Hasay. What she could've done if she hadn't been coached by a megalomaniac who was hell bent on reliving his own failed Olympic ambitions in his proteges by turning them into marathoners. What if she had focused on the mile and 5000? I think she would today be a veteran of multiple Olympics, instead of nearing the end of her career having never punched her card.
He won the 5000m at age 18 at the 1993 world championships, beating Gebresellassie who was 2 years older.
He repeated the feat in 1995.
This was an era when agents exploited Kenyan runners by making them run in too many races. Kirui was finished by age 21. Geb went on to be an all time great.
His brother Richard Chelimo also set the 10,000m record at age 23 then succumbed to injuries.
He may have some terrible ideas these days, but he was still just a kid when he got hit by a truck.
He wasn't hit by a truck, he hit a gravel patch on a curve while biking on a mountain road. He skidded out and slammed the guard rail. And he wasn't an idiot for trying triathlon. IIRC, he was the World Junior Champion in triathlon--probably a higher accolade than anything he achieved in running.
But yes, he was a truly great runner, probably my top candidate for U.S. high-schooler "what if", along with Obea Moore and Michael Granville, each of whom have their own fascinating stories.
Definitely Andrew Wheating. 3:30 at 22 in his first European 1500m. A 25 close in a 3:40 race. Coaching, seriousness, and racing tactics were just not there after that.
Yes, & honestly... anyone who joins Bowerman. Yes, a lot of those guys ran fast but didn't have any longevity in the sport. The guys/girls who left saved their careers.
He won the 5000m at age 18 at the 1993 world championships, beating Gebresellassie who was 2 years older.
He repeated the feat in 1995.
This was an era when agents exploited Kenyan runners by making them run in too many races. Kirui was finished by age 21. Geb went on to be an all time great.
His brother Richard Chelimo also set the 10,000m record at age 23 then succumbed to injuries.
Kirui lied about his age lol. Just LOOK at him when he won the worlds. Even TAFNEWS, notorious for avoiding controversy ran an article asking “how old are these guys” because of old man Kirui.
Definitely Andrew Wheating. 3:30 at 22 in his first European 1500m. A 25 close in a 3:40 race. Coaching, seriousness, and racing tactics were just not there after that.
It's not a 'What if?' in his case if he just didn't have what it takes.
Maybe Pre, Wanjiru, Kiptum. What if the dopers weren't popped? What if the majority of dopers that weren't popped like Mo Farah, got popped instead?
You list three guys who were all likely doped, the last two most certainly, then mention Mo.
The biggest what if for me is if EPO had come out 20 years earlier.
Would Africans have dominated the late 70's and 80's with crazy WRs?
Or maybe if EPO had never been available or there had been an effective test from the start.
Individual wise, the biggest What if is surely Herb Elliott. If he hadn't retired at age 21 and competed seriously for another decade. Hell, even if he had been successfully entered into the Rome Marathon, possibly beating Bikile in a WR, that would still have changed athletics history.
Henry Rono would be distance running GOAT if not for a series of misfortunes.
The biggest misfortune he had was that his country boycotted the 1976 Olympics when hundreds of students were killed in the Soweto student uprising. Then in 1980 again USA convinced Kenya and many other countries to boycott. So he missed the two Olympics that happened when he was in his prime. There is nothing that can destroy a runners motivation than missing big events.
The second misfortune is that he ran in the amateur era when their was no prize money. So he had to waste his talents running in the NCAA which is a huge hindrance to talent development because coaches tend to overwork their ace runners. Thirdly there was a dearth of competition. There was no World Championships. The European circuit was not active as it is today.
He says these missed opportunities are what led to his clinical depression and to him becoming an alcoholic and at one point homeless.
Still he broke four world records: 10,000 m (27:22.5), the 5000 m (13:08.4), the 3000 m steeplechase (8:05.4), and the 3000 m (7:32.1); an achievement unsurpassed.
Yet he is rarely ever mentioned in discussions about GOATs
What if he was running today with Super-shoes, wavelights and what if his career was not ruined by missed events ?