Mo Farah is one of the greats

Here is the thread from a few months ago:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=6352551

Like sports radio, the same topics come up and up again.

Here's a stat from our article earlier in the year:

# of sub-13 Performances

Kenenisa Bekele – 21

Haile Gebrselassie – 18

Mo Farah – 3

#sub-27:30 Performances

Haile Gebrselassie – 18

Kenenisa Bekele 15

Mo Farah – 5

Multiple championships, unbelievable range, and some very fast times. Truly one of the greats.

Editor's note: The LetsRun.com staff debated whether Farah could be considered as the GOAT (greatest of all time) back in February:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2015/02/the-letsrun-com-staff-civil-war-can-mo-farah-be-considered-the-goat-greatest-of-all-time/

Maybe, maybe not. We just saw Mo smoke a 1/2M guy who everyone touted as a good example of what you're talking about, and when it came to the finish, Kamworor wasn't in the same league as Mo. So I'm not sure it's as easy to make the claim as some think. Didn't Ben True just beat Mutai and Wilson Kipping over 10?

If you imagine Geb in the 5 in '96, you'd have to reasonably image Komen in it as well. And I don't think Geb would've beaten him. Maybe. But then the answer to the (weirdly worded) specific question you asked is Yes .. I DO not think he EASILY would have won the double in 96.

wtfunny wrote:

As for being "too young", hardly. I'm older than GB, if that helps.

What are you talking about .. Tergat challenged Geb right thru Sydney. Closest 10 000m final I've ever seen (thrilling race, I was there in Sydney, amazing race). So Tergat was still challenging him then. The next major championship, Geb was beaten by KB. So I'm not sure when this long period of time was that he had no competition. He broke Tergat's WR in 98.

I've watched plenty of Geb's races. I just think KB was better. And certainly his times at 5000m and 10 000m (their primary distances) were better. And if he stays healthy, I think he'll end up with a faster marathon PR as well.

Older than Great Britain? This would explain a lot... :-)

I was talking that the fight for the 10k-WR was done after Gebrselassies last WR in 1998. There has to be little doubt that he could have come back one more time if the others would have improved his time. Tergat was challenging Gebrselassie in Sydney, for sure. Both far away from there best, especially Gebrselassie. Bekele's times over 5000m and 10000m were better? Because his PBs are better? He came AFTER Gebrselassie. Nobody can say who would have ended faster while both competing during the same time in there prime.

Bekele faster in the Marathon? For sure we have to wait. But I would be hugely surprised if that happens. I think his career is over. (just for your information: I was more a fan of Bekele than of Gebrselassie.)

[quote]rojo wrote:

Farah is great but if you are talking about being the GOAT - greatest of all time - no freaking way.

The LetsRun.com staff discussed this at length earlier this year: I suggest you read what we wrote about it then as it was 3 to 1 against Mo being even considered for GOAT status.

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Yeah and this site is not biased! If he was American you would at least rate him higher

There is only one GOAT (Geb or Bekele so anyone else can be dismissed the same as Farah) ) in any case if you discussed him among the greats you would have to put alongside someone like Viren. After all his competitive record is similar and could be superseded. Viren only scraped one major WR and did not have the range of Farah

'""With a few more gold medals, Farah will have to be acknowledged as the best in terms of global track championship honors won. But in terms of overall status, Id put both Paul Tergat and (barely) Sileshi Sihine ahead of Farah. They didnt win any WC or OG golds, but their losses came to the two runners who are truly up for discussion as GOAT.......So far, Farah is nowhere near Geb and Bekele in terms of overall accomplishments. Hes going to need to win some more huge races and/or set some world records on the track and at least one other surface before he has his name thrown into the hat for GOAT runner."'

Complete nonsense 'with a few more Gold Medals' A joje they didn't win gold medals end of story. Who is to say Mo would not have beat Bekele - El G did him when the former ran a rubbish tactical race. That is debatable but Tergat was definitely done over by Geb. Silver Sihine are you frigging joking!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sileshi_Sihine

He's the dominant 5/10 guy of the era.

Maybe so, but if we compare across eras, the Mo era isn't a great one.

Therefore, he shouldn't really be in the discussion as "one of the greats" - he hasn't really beaten anyone worthwhile - not like the real greats.

ukathleticscoach wrote:

Viren only scraped one major WR and did not have the range of Farah

WR 5000m + WR 10000m + a fantastic WB over 2 Miles

rojo wrote:

Farah is great but if you are talking about being the GOAT - greatest of all time - no freaking way.

In the OP's defense, the OP is NOT talking about Greatest of All Time.

Just "one of the greats" (subject line)

So by saying he's great does that mean one of the greats?

My argument has been that the greats compete against the clock AND beat the competition in the field.

And Mo has never run away from the field to pursue the clock in a 5 or 10.

said88 wrote:

ukathleticscoach wrote:

Viren only scraped one major WR and did not have the range of Farah

WR 5000m + WR 10000m + a fantastic WB over 2 Miles

I will ignore the 2 mile WB as I said a major WR and 2 mile is seldom run & I'm ignoring the indoor WR of Farah

He knocked .2 of a second off the 5,000m world record. How did I miss that!

He knocked 1 second off the 10,000m world record. I'll grant you he did fall over but we are looking at times here not iffs & buts & he did take out one of his main competitors for gold - MG

Both the above records were relatively soft adn sonn to be demolished

Compare Virens European record to Mo's,. What did Viren do outside the Olympics.

A lot has been said of Farah's weak opposition. Well in close races he has beaten them with exceptionally fast finishes and often on a wind up for a few laps out not just the 200m sprint Geb & Bekele could get away with. He has also beaten all comers some who have superior times.

As I said Geb & Bekele tie for GOAT

Tergat set track & road world records but never won one world title. You say his opposition was better. Well Komen ran Geb into the ground and Bekele got turned over by a miler. Who is to say Mo would not have done the same thing at least in the odd champs. Tergat proved he was a definite 2nd best to Geb on the track

American's love fast times because bye and large they have won sweet FA in terms of world champs or Olympics in living memory. Good times is all you have and not much to shout about there.

If Mo wins even one gold this summer he moves into 3rd on GOAT list behind Geb & Bekele at least in modern times

If you go back further I would put Zatopek in 3rd as he smashed WR's and revolutionised the sport. Viren was an exceptional championship performer who did not move the sport on in terms of times

wtfunny wrote:

If you imagine Geb in the 5 in '96, you'd have to reasonably image Komen in it as well. And I don't think Geb would've beaten him. Maybe. But then the answer to the (weirdly worded) specific question you asked is Yes .. I DO not think he EASILY would have won the double in 96.

Komen? Komen couldn't have beaten Haile because he wasn't in the Olympics. Haile was there, was entered in both but didn't come back for the 10k as itw was run in scorching Atlanta on a rock hard track.

But I guess we both are making the same point - you need to consider who is and isn't in the races.

You know who I"d like to see race Farah at 5k - Souleiman.

Maybe Hollywood follows you around and writes movies based on your life.

Me and Earl and the dying girl

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2qfmAllbYC8

rojo wrote:

Farah is great but if you are talking about being the GOAT - greatest of all time - no freaking way.

The LetsRun.com staff discussed this at length earlier this year: I suggest you read what we wrote about it then as it was 3 to 1 against Mo being even considered for GOAT status.

Why would you even go to the trouble of discussing whether he is GOAT? No one on this thread even suggested he was. The only two credible choices among 5 and 10 guys are Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele.

rojo wrote:

...

But I guess we both are making the same point - you need to consider who is and isn't in the races.

You know who I"d like to see race Farah at 5k - Souleiman.

Yes, that's the point, ultimately .. what folks did achieve/accomplish, versus what they did not; there's always a myriad different reasons why someone didn't accomplish something or other.

I thought the same thing about Souleiman after this last 1500m. Not only is he a great athlete, Souleiman seems to be a pretty savvy racer, as well.

For those who talk about Mo racing weaker talent .. in the 5000m he raced the folks from the fastest 5000m ever, Paris 2012, and he beat them comfortably.

For those who talk about Mo racing weaker talent .. in the 5000m he raced the folks from the fastest 5000m ever, Paris 2012, and he beat them comfortably.

Yes Mo Farah is one of the greats for sure. Double Olympic Gold Medallist at the London Games 2012. That's the only credential he needs to be on the list of greats. Winning the 5K/10K double at the Olympics is an incredible achievement. I hope he does well at Rio.

wtfunny wrote:

For those who talk about Mo racing weaker talent .. in the 5000m he raced the folks from the fastest 5000m ever, Paris 2012, and he beat them comfortably.

Those guys weren't in the same shape when they raced Farah. Don't try to use this as an Argument. It's like calling Ritz a 12:5x guy. No, he was a 12:5x guy for a very short time.