Has LetsRun nation lost its mind? Jenny Simpson is currently beating Joan Benoit in the voting for Greatest American Ever.

It's ok to argue that an Olympic Gold outweighs other medals, but then you also have to factor in that the 1984 Olympics were boycotted by 18 nations, including the whole Eastern Bloc.

Ok, so Benoit was the dominant marathoner of the time, but we all know that in the marathon especially, runners have often come from seemingly nowhere to pull an upset. Yes it's an Olympic Goid, but it's an Olympic Gold with an asterisk *

ready made wrote:

dont care what yall think wrote:

Wouldn’t this be like election tampering?

Exactly. Rojo is putting his thumb on the scale

Didn't read the whole thread and won't. I wonder how many are posting what I'm thinking - probably quite a few. Anyway, I haven't voted and won't. Don't you all realize the finals is pre-determined? It's going to be Rupp vs. Joanie. Are there some of you for whom this is not obvious? Getting rid of Jenny and Shorter assures that whoever wins it all will have done so wearing the swoosh. If there are 2 standing who have never worn a non-Nike shoe - not even tried one on - then the head-to-head is set. This is an interesting thought experiment and I enjoy reading the profiles on everyone, but it is an election inthe same way 'Buy Now' on E-Bay is an auction.

Boycotts wrote:

It's ok to argue that an Olympic Gold outweighs other medals, but then you also have to factor in that the 1984 Olympics were boycotted by 18 nations, including the whole Eastern Bloc.

Ok, so Benoit was the dominant marathoner of the time, but we all know that in the marathon especially, runners have often come from seemingly nowhere to pull an upset. Yes it's an Olympic Goid, but it's an Olympic Gold with an asterisk *

The Eastern bloc women sucked at the marathon in 1984 due to no EPO yet, and apparently were shy about transfusions.

george oscar bluth wrote:

kmaclam wrote:

"A longer career"?! Get outta here. You dismissing what Joanie's been able to accomplish over the last 11 years??? Come on yourself.

Yes. Sorry I thought “world class” career was implied, not age groupers.

How much more "world class" do you want??? Look at her performances over the last 11 years please. Or just continue in your ignorance.

kmaclam wrote:

george oscar bluth wrote:

Yes. Sorry I thought “world class” career was implied, not age groupers.

How much more "world class" do you want??? Look at her performances over the last 11 years please. Or just continue in your ignorance.

I'm very familiar with her performances over the last 11 years. Nothing world class.

Hall Pass wrote:

ready made wrote:

Exactly. Rojo is putting his thumb on the scale

Didn't read the whole thread and won't. I wonder how many are posting what I'm thinking - probably quite a few. Anyway, I haven't voted and won't. Don't you all realize the finals is pre-determined? It's going to be Rupp vs. Joanie. Are there some of you for whom this is not obvious? Getting rid of Jenny and Shorter assures that whoever wins it all will have done so wearing the swoosh. If there are 2 standing who have never worn a non-Nike shoe - not even tried one on - then the head-to-head is set. This is an interesting thought experiment and I enjoy reading the profiles on everyone, but it is an election inthe same way 'Buy Now' on E-Bay is an auction.

Uhhh Rupp and Joanie have both been eliminated, brother.

Let’s Run is not a nation and you are not a ruler.

george oscar bluth wrote:

kmaclam wrote:

How much more "world class" do you want??? Look at her performances over the last 11 years please. Or just continue in your ignorance.

I'm very familiar with her performances over the last 11 years. Nothing world class.

She just set another 'World' record last year at Boston, the very definition of world class. Why not denigrate Whitlock & Dykes while you're at it?

kmaclam wrote:

george oscar bluth wrote:

I'm very familiar with her performances over the last 11 years. Nothing world class.

She just set another 'World' record last year at Boston, the very definition of world class. Why not denigrate Whitlock & Dykes while you're at it?

If you look above I already acknowledged that I don't consider competing with age groupers to be the same as competing at a world class level. By your standard there wouldn't even be a competition because Lagat has like 50 kmaclam "world records" and is the winner by default.

This is shaping up to be a big scandal, and probably on purpose to get clicks.

rojo wrote:

Currently Simpson leads 54 % to 46%.

Really?

Does anyone else find this shocking?

Or am I just biased because I was 11 when Jonanie won and sort of remember it as being a very big deal.

UPDATE. Rojo has written an article saying why he thinks Joanie had the better career. You can still vote up until 12 midnight.

https://www.letsrun.com/news/2020/04/who-had-the-better-career-joan-benoit-samuelson-or-jenny-simpson/

Not more shocking than Houlihan losing to Huddle

Boycotts wrote:

It's ok to argue that an Olympic Gold outweighs other medals, but then you also have to factor in that the 1984 Olympics were boycotted by 18 nations, including the whole Eastern Bloc.

Ok, so Benoit was the dominant marathoner of the time, but we all know that in the marathon especially, runners have often come from seemingly nowhere to pull an upset. Yes it's an Olympic Goid, but it's an Olympic Gold with an asterisk *

Baloney. Every great marathoner of the time was there: Waitz, Mota, Kristiansen. It was a "dream" marathon, and Joan dominated it. Winning by over a minute. It was one of those performance of a lifetime type events. Like Kip Keino in 68. Except in this case, Joan might have been considered the favorite. Or at least a co-favorite with Waitz.

What happened here is most of you weren't there. You have not memory of the time. Marathoners did not have (and still don't have) medal chances except every 4 years. Comparing medal counts between a marathoner and a track runner is stupid. Except, of course, a dominating Olympic marathon win still trumps a WC 1500 win (when the favorite trips), and a bunch of seconds, and 3rds.

Look, no doubt, Simpson is one of the all time great "American" runners. Joanie is one of the all time great marathon runner. Due to injury and just the nature of marathoning, her peak did not last long, but it was bright. She'll be remembered for a long time. Simpson...not so much. She's the Steve Scott of women's 1500.

Simpson is the American collegiate record holder in the 1500, still. Her HS, college and pro career (3 xc state champ in Florida, only girl to win Footlocker South champs twice, Fifth ave mile winner 8 times) were a bigger career than Joan. Also ran 2:00.45 in the 800, 4:17 mile, and 9:12 in the steeple. Bigger range than Joan. She's the rightful winner.

And she is still competing at a high level, which is important. Her career is still alive, and thriving. Joan's is not.

HS kids wrote:

And she is still competing at a high level, which is important. Her career is still alive, and thriving. Joan's is not.

This is irrelevant when having a debate on GOAT.

blatter2 wrote:

She's the Steve Scott of women's 1500.

The guy has one global silver and did nothing outside of the 1500m/mile. GTFOH, Simpson’s career crushes his.

blatter2 wrote:

Baloney. Every great marathoner of the time was there: Waitz, Mota, Kristiansen. It was a "dream" marathon, and Joan dominated it. Winning by over a minute. It was one of those performance of a lifetime type events. Like Kip Keino in 68. Except in this case, Joan might have been considered the favorite. Or at least a co-favorite with Waitz.

Agreed. Although LA was the first Olympics I followed pretty closely, I was still very young (12) and don't remember many details (and Lewis and the decathlon more than the distance running), it clearly was a rather unique historical event and it was a high class race, not only important because it was the first women's marathon at Olympics.

It's a little unfair because there is almost nothing Simpson could have achieved to equal winning such a historic event. No 1500m race in the last 20 years would have the stature of the great marathon performances of Benoit.

Simpson is still running and building her resume. That is relevant to GOAT determination. Isn't LeBron's stint in LA relevant to his possible GOAT status over MJ?

I learned from a close friend that Wejo congratulated Rojo for manipulating this thread for as many clicks as possible. Wejo is so proud of his idiot brother.