So, this whole discussion is about whether Valby will make a US team again, or is she finished. My poorly worded opinion was that possibly Valby's circumstances and priorities have changed.
I gave Jim Ryun as an example of someone with talent walking away from the sport. It is true that he made appearances after his "retirement" at track meets, but it was clear that his heart and mind was not in the game for these paid appearances. I know because I personally attended a meet where he "raced" a 4:06 mile in 1973. He probably wasn't even in shape.
I was partially correct about Michael Jordan. He did in fact retire at 30, but came out of retirement 2 years later.
You might be right about Koufax, but obviously, his circumstances changed.
I mentioned Pat Tillman, not as a comparison, but as an example of changing priorities and walking away from a lucrative sports contract.
I am not comparing working in a law firm with being an Olympic athlete, but as an example of freeing oneself from golden handcuffs. Sometimes, fortune and accolades are not worth the sacrifice. Of course, to each their own. What good is fame and fortune if you are miserable? Including winning Olympic gold?
I guess the difference between us is you think being an elite runner is like wearing golden handcuffs. If I had had her talent, I would enjoyed every minute.
Financially, If Valby goes from good looking, star runner, to just good looking, her NIL income will decrease dramatically.
Hasn't hurt Alica Schmidt so I call BS on your comment.
I guess the difference between us is you think being an elite runner is like wearing golden handcuffs. If I had had her talent, I would enjoyed every minute.
Financially, If Valby goes from good looking, star runner, to just good looking, her NIL income will decrease dramatically.
Hasn't hurt Alica Schmidt so I call BS on your comment.
I meant that Valby will be competing against other good looking women and will have no other advantage. Schmidt has world class model looks and 5.5M followers on Instagram. According to Wikipedia, an Australian magazine anointing her as the world’s sexiest athlete, played a big part in her Instagram tally.
This has happened before. She ran 10:10 as a junior, went through injury problems, showed promise at NCAAs before fading to 22nd (but already with the will to win, putting it out there until she couldn't hack it anymore), improved, got injured, dominated until Tuohy ran her down at NCAA xc, got injured, came back limping to qualify at regionals in the 5k, then won NCAA 5000m in the heat and hammered everyone in xc and made the Olympic team before injuries early this year again. When she's fit again, the results will be there again. It's just a question of how long the training goes, because that 10000m team will be makeable every year for a sub-31 talent, and I bet she breaks 30 before her career is over. In the 5, it's going to take a 14:30s talent at least to make the team in the coming years with all the possible quick runners from Monson, Schweizer, Houlihan, Hedengren, and her pro teammate to Andrews and more, so she'll need major improvement there.
Monson will never make the Olympic team a comeback again is unlikely, Schweizer, Shelby and Andrews will be too old - only Hedengren is a viable candidate.
This has happened before. She ran 10:10 as a junior, went through injury problems, showed promise at NCAAs before fading to 22nd (but already with the will to win, putting it out there until she couldn't hack it anymore), improved, got injured, dominated until Tuohy ran her down at NCAA xc, got injured, came back limping to qualify at regionals in the 5k, then won NCAA 5000m in the heat and hammered everyone in xc and made the Olympic team before injuries early this year again. When she's fit again, the results will be there again. It's just a question of how long the training goes, because that 10000m team will be makeable every year for a sub-31 talent, and I bet she breaks 30 before her career is over. In the 5, it's going to take a 14:30s talent at least to make the team in the coming years with all the possible quick runners from Monson, Schweizer, Houlihan, Hedengren, and her pro teammate to Andrews and more, so she'll need major improvement there.
Monson will never make the Olympic team a comeback again is unlikely, Schweizer, Shelby and Andrews will be too old - only Hedengren is a viable candidate.
Truth. The Olympics are 3 summers from now! Let’s get real about anyone mentioned above except Jane
This has happened before. She ran 10:10 as a junior, went through injury problems, showed promise at NCAAs before fading to 22nd (but already with the will to win, putting it out there until she couldn't hack it anymore), improved, got injured, dominated until Tuohy ran her down at NCAA xc, got injured, came back limping to qualify at regionals in the 5k, then won NCAA 5000m in the heat and hammered everyone in xc and made the Olympic team before injuries early this year again. When she's fit again, the results will be there again. It's just a question of how long the training goes, because that 10000m team will be makeable every year for a sub-31 talent, and I bet she breaks 30 before her career is over. In the 5, it's going to take a 14:30s talent at least to make the team in the coming years with all the possible quick runners from Monson, Schweizer, Houlihan, Hedengren, and her pro teammate to Andrews and more, so she'll need major improvement there.
Monson will never make the Olympic team a comeback again is unlikely, Schweizer, Shelby and Andrews will be too old - only Hedengren is a viable candidate.
Why do forecast such a bleak future for Monson? She’s only 27 years old.
Monson will never make the Olympic team a comeback again is unlikely, Schweizer, Shelby and Andrews will be too old - only Hedengren is a viable candidate.
Why do forecast such a bleak future for Monson? She’s only 27 years old.
Not easy to have such a huge injury and surgery and rehab and come back faster especially since she will be 30 during the Olympics and has a long road ahead.
So you simply follow what other posters say. A blind conformist.
Actually, you are a liar and obsessed with what I post, as you show with your unending responses.
Trying to have the last word again? And you are the liar, Mr "I live in New Zealand".
Of course I won't have the last word. You have to respond to everything I post. You've just shown it again. As for where you think I live - or don't live - you are always wrong about everything.
Trying to have the last word again? And you are the liar, Mr "I live in New Zealand".
Of course I won't have the last word. You have to respond to everything I post. You've just shown it again. As for where you think I live - or don't live - you are always wrong about everything.
Valby had a notable weight fluctuating from college freshman/ Sophomore years to Junior / Senior years. That’s never lasts. She’s obviously back to the Freshman/ Sophomore year healthy weight. Good for her and she doesn’t need to be unhealthy anymore!
Why do forecast such a bleak future for Monson? She’s only 27 years old.
Not easy to have such a huge injury and surgery and rehab and come back faster especially since she will be 30 during the Olympics and has a long road ahead.
I’m surprised Ritz hasn’t brought more young talent into the group considering some of these runners will be out in the next few years and there are so many faster young runners out there turning pro.
Trying to have the last word again? And you are the liar, Mr "I live in New Zealand".
Of course I won't have the last word. You have to respond to everything I post. You've just shown it again. As for where you think I live - or don't live - you are always wrong about everything.
Not easy to have such a huge injury and surgery and rehab and come back faster especially since she will be 30 during the Olympics and has a long road ahead.
I’m surprised Ritz hasn’t brought more young talent into the group considering some of these runners will be out in the next few years and there are so many faster young runners out there turning pro.
Doesn’t Ritz have to compete with other coaches for recruiting faster young runners? I doubt there are many that have the ability needed to be successful as a pro.
I’m surprised Ritz hasn’t brought more young talent into the group considering some of these runners will be out in the next few years and there are so many faster young runners out there turning pro.
Doesn’t Ritz have to compete with other coaches for recruiting faster young runners? I doubt there are many that have the ability needed to be successful as a pro.
Plenty of young blood turning pro and getting pro contracts. And sorry but take a look at Norris. She was nothing special in college nor with Reebok and got a contract with On. He’s Probably waiting for his daughter- got her an On NIL deal and will get her on his team too. Nepotism or not.