It isn’t mythical. They said the same thing about Komen’s 7:20. Most of the time the pros don’t go for a WR in the 3k. I think at least a few more guys could dip under 7:20 if they really wanted to. Aregawi ran 7:21 in the same race and he can’t even break 3:30 for 1500. Grant Fisher ran 7:22. I think several of the more 1500m types could run about that fast. The 7:17 looks more impressive than it is. Plus Jakob had wavelights and two pacers. Rudisha led the Olympics from start to finish and broke a barrier in the same race. Rudisha for the win!
If your entire argument is that it’s rarely run, then it’s a weak argument.
It’s not that it’s rarely run, it’s that most of the time nobody actually cares to go after the WR unless they feel they have something to prove.
People keep making these types of threads every half a year or so as if the answer is going to change. Now with news of Ingebrigtsen's achilles problems it seems another generation of runners is going to fail to take Bekele off his pedestal.
Bekele's GOAT status has lowered for me the past few years. His times aren't the best anymore and Kiplimo has pretty much matched his World XC success. It's a shame Jakob got injured because were he to take the 1500 and 5000m records and win a double it would no doubt be him based on sheer peak.
If we consider clean runners, Jakob Ingebrigtsen is probably the best - by far!
And not to be mentioned: He has transformed the way modern runners train with the norwegian model - wich has taken the sport to a new level and is adopted by most dominant runners from 1500 to HM these days. Invented by Marius Bakken - and made famous by Jakob.
The fact that he has transformed the sport in addition to be the best, is making him by far the best we have ever seen.
His 7.17 is by far det best record, and his 1500m time is by all means the fastest ever
Hopefully we will se him run 12.29 and sub 27 - and win multiple golds in the distance races in the future.
Not sure what the argument is for Bekele over Bolt, other than forum's distance running bias.
Bolt was more dominant than Bekele. From 2008 to 2016, he won all except one of the Olympic / World 100m / 200m, and that was the jumped start at the 100m in 2011. That's 6 doubles (and 1 single). Bekele has 2 doubles at 5000 / 10000. And 13 to 8 gold medals overall in these individual events in Bolt's favour.
It is also easier to be dominant in distance running. In sprinting, even if you are the best in a race by a reasonable margin, it's harder to win consistently, because there's more randomness in a short race, with a lot of emphasis on the start which is a big variable where things can go wrong.
Bolt still has his world records.
It's a shame Bolt never took on the 400m. A single gold there or the world record on top of his achievements would mean this wouldn't even be a discussion.
Yeah unfortunately there is a massive distance running bias on this forum, and this is why - despite the American bias - Noah Lyles is loathed around here.
If we consider clean runners, Jakob Ingebrigtsen is probably the best - by far!
And not to be mentioned: He has transformed the way modern runners train with the norwegian model - wich has taken the sport to a new level and is adopted by most dominant runners from 1500 to HM these days. Invented by Marius Bakken - and made famous by Jakob.
The fact that he has transformed the sport in addition to be the best, is making him by far the best we have ever seen.
His 7.17 is by far det best record, and his 1500m time is by all means the fastest ever
Hopefully we will se him run 12.29 and sub 27 - and win multiple golds in the distance races in the future.
Henrik get off the internet! No need to glorify your baby brother, its ridicolous at this point. He is nowhere near the goat (at least not yet).
Not sure what the argument is for Bekele over Bolt, other than forum's distance running bias.
Bolt was more dominant than Bekele. From 2008 to 2016, he won all except one of the Olympic / World 100m / 200m, and that was the jumped start at the 100m in 2011. That's 6 doubles (and 1 single). Bekele has 2 doubles at 5000 / 10000. And 13 to 8 gold medals overall in these individual events in Bolt's favour.
It is also easier to be dominant in distance running. In sprinting, even if you are the best in a race by a reasonable margin, it's harder to win consistently, because there's more randomness in a short race, with a lot of emphasis on the start which is a big variable where things can go wrong.
Bolt still has his world records.
It's a shame Bolt never took on the 400m. A single gold there or the world record on top of his achievements would mean this wouldn't even be a discussion.
Yeah unfortunately there is a massive distance running bias on this forum, and this is why - despite the American bias - Noah Lyles is loathed around here.
Cole Hocker on the other hand. God.
The forum and website were intended for distance runners and fans. The focus has always been on distance over sprinting. This GOAT thread was meant to discuss candidates for the greatest distance runner, not sprinter. They are different categories of performers. And Lyles is loathed because he’s a douche, not for being a sprinter.
If we consider clean runners, Jakob Ingebrigtsen is probably the best - by far!
And not to be mentioned: He has transformed the way modern runners train with the norwegian model - wich has taken the sport to a new level and is adopted by most dominant runners from 1500 to HM these days. Invented by Marius Bakken - and made famous by Jakob.
The fact that he has transformed the sport in addition to be the best, is making him by far the best we have ever seen.
His 7.17 is by far det best record, and his 1500m time is by all means the fastest ever
Hopefully we will se him run 12.29 and sub 27 - and win multiple golds in the distance races in the future.
Jakob is done. That Achilles is a career ender when it’s so bad you have to have multiple injuries. He had a great career. I think he will be a great coach. He’s not a serious contender for GOAT. I’d place him around 15th all time, but no higher.
I dont get why nobody ever mentions female runners. Faith Kipyegon is definately up there with 8 years of domination in one of the most competitive events - with her career still going. Chebet is making her way up the rankings too.
I think 100m is a bit too short, it has evolved to something more akin a gymnastics event, especially the start. Impressive yes but not necessarily the best runners in the world. A 100m sprinter that is truly a great runner would also be able to run very good at 400m and great 200m. So I prefer Van Niekerk among the sprinters considering his range. He would probably have been able to run a fast 800m as well.
It can't be if Wanyonyi nearly matched it in Paris with better competition. Nobody is close to 7:17. It's just one of those things that nobody is remotely close to and until it happens, it's seen as mythical.
It isn’t mythical. They said the same thing about Komen’s 7:20. Most of the time the pros don’t go for a WR in the 3k. I think at least a few more guys could dip under 7:20 if they really wanted to. Aregawi ran 7:21 in the same race and he can’t even break 3:30 for 1500. Grant Fisher ran 7:22. I think several of the more 1500m types could run about that fast. The 7:17 looks more impressive than it is. Plus Jakob had wavelights and two pacers. Rudisha led the Olympics from start to finish and broke a barrier in the same race. Rudisha for the win!
This is dreaming. Which 1500m types are running 7:20?