seeing as this is a fantasy hypothetical, i'm changing my answer to asbel kiprop (with morceli's full on doping regime and ingebrigtsen's coaching/preparation) who takes the lead at 300m and cruises to 3:25 waving to the crowd for the last 80m.
Just because Kiprop got busted in 17 doesnt mean he was doping in 08
They all get tested and they caught the one doping on that occasion
If you think he was only doping when he was caught I have some real estate on the moon that might interest you.
For once I actually agree with you. Rumor was that Kiprop was doping a long time before he was caught. When he was eventually caught, he had a system for bribing testers, indicating that this was an established practice.
If you think he was only doping when he was caught I have some real estate on the moon that might interest you.
I think the only real way to do this exercise is to take doping (I agree a certainty for at least one of these champions) out of the equation. Despite potential pharmaceutical help, every single one had flaws in their CV in an unpaced championship. So it's fun to discuss unlike who would win a dream 200 (obviously Bolt). El Guerrouj has the best PBs but fell and got beat in his first two times out there. Morceli had probably the best championship record in his prime, but he did poorly in 1992. Kiprop had a dominant stretch, but tactically was erratic and never crossed the line first in the Olympics. So it's fun because the answer isn't obvious.
For once I actually agree with you. Rumor was that Kiprop was doping a long time before he was caught. When he was eventually caught, he had a system for bribing testers, indicating that this was an established practice.
The all-time bizarro world story is Nick Willis being happy that Makhloufi won in 2012 because he was happy Kiprop who he suspected was doping didn't win. Makhloufi was of course coached by Jama Aden and unnecessarily and suspiciously crushed his 1500 heat in 3:35.1 and faked an injury in the opening round of the 800 to get out of racing it (he was temporarily thrown out of the Games before producing a fugazi medical excuse). He was totally fine for the 1500 final where he smoked everyone the next day. Weird Nick Willis story all around.
I think the only real way to do this exercise is to take doping (I agree a certainty for at least one of these champions) out of the equation. Despite potential pharmaceutical help, every single one had flaws in their CV in an unpaced championship. So it's fun to discuss unlike who would win a dream 200 (obviously Bolt). El Guerrouj has the best PBs but fell and got beat in his first two times out there. Morceli had probably the best championship record in his prime, but he did poorly in 1992. Kiprop had a dominant stretch, but tactically was erratic and never crossed the line first in the Olympics. So it's fun because the answer isn't obvious.
I think what also makes this interesting is that it would be a one-off race. They wouldn't have an early round to sharpen up or feel each other out. 1500 is also the most interesting distance for this because, like you say, it's routinely not the fastest on paper who wins. Tactical decision making in this race would have to be on such a high level because the punishment for a wasted move or a bit too much extra distance running outside would be deadly.
But I would want John Walker to win. Walker's hair made him look like a horse flying down the track. Now in that same Olympics we had a guy who was nicknamed "The Horse"... and ran like a horse.... Well he ran like a horse wearing tube socks. How about that?
For once I actually agree with you. Rumor was that Kiprop was doping a long time before he was caught. When he was eventually caught, he had a system for bribing testers, indicating that this was an established practice.
The all-time bizarro world story is Nick Willis being happy that Makhloufi won in 2012 because he was happy Kiprop who he suspected was doping didn't win. Makhloufi was of course coached by Jama Aden and unnecessarily and suspiciously crushed his 1500 heat in 3:35.1 and faked an injury in the opening round of the 800 to get out of racing it (he was temporarily thrown out of the Games before producing a fugazi medical excuse). He was totally fine for the 1500 final where he smoked everyone the next day. Weird Nick Willis story all around.
I’m not actually speaking to doping at all, but I just want to point out that Makhloufi’s London Olympic final wasn’t as crazy impressive as it looks at first glance. ~57.6, 52.76 for the last 800 (1:50.3) of a 3:34.08 and it does look like he was starting to tie up in the last 100. Good obviously, but compared with Athens 2004, Abdi Bile ‘87 or some of Morceli’s finishes? The dominance was exaggerated by a relatively weak field for an Olympic final: Kiprop was injured and finished DFL, Kiplagat seriously underperformed in 7th, Henrik Ingebrigtsen finished 5th, Centro placed 4th having been recently hampered by injury, and Leo Manzano took the silver with a 3:34.79 season’s best, .7 behind Makhloufi and closing on him the last 100.
I’m not actually speaking to doping at all, but I just want to point out that Makhloufi’s London Olympic final wasn’t as crazy impressive as it looks at first glance. ~57.6, 52.76 for the last 800 (1:50.3) of a 3:34.08 and it does look like he was starting to tie up in the last 100. Good obviously, but compared with Athens 2004, Abdi Bile ‘87 or some of Morceli’s finishes? The dominance was exaggerated by a relatively weak field for an Olympic final: Kiprop was injured and finished DFL, Kiplagat seriously underperformed in 7th, Henrik Ingebrigtsen finished 5th, Centro placed 4th having been recently hampered by injury, and Leo Manzano took the silver with a 3:34.79 season’s best, .7 behind Makhloufi and closing on him the last 100.
It’s true but I guess the question is he was even close to all-out the last 200. Messy race a la ‘96.
In such a field a runner with a 3:27 ability (after heats and semis), high tactical IQ and a great finishing speed would win. Therefore it could only be one of these: El Guerrouj, Ingebrigtsen or Ngeny.
If you think he was only doping when he was caught I have some real estate on the moon that might interest you.
I think the only real way to do this exercise is to take doping (I agree a certainty for at least one of these champions) out of the equation. Despite potential pharmaceutical help, every single one had flaws in their CV in an unpaced championship. So it's fun to discuss unlike who would win a dream 200 (obviously Bolt). El Guerrouj has the best PBs but fell and got beat in his first two times out there. Morceli had probably the best championship record in his prime, but he did poorly in 1992. Kiprop had a dominant stretch, but tactically was erratic and never crossed the line first in the Olympics. So it's fun because the answer isn't obvious.
If you take doping out of the equation you're likely running a race somewhere in the early '60's. Slower but everybody now has a chance. Except Centro. He was a fluke.
If you take doping out of the equation you're likely running a race somewhere in the early '60's. Slower but everybody now has a chance. Except Centro. He was a fluke.