Forgot to mention, his 3k is actually the American record indoors as well. For the people saying American titles/records don't mean much; first of all, we're literally talking about being the American GOAT. So yes, they do matter. Second, I'll point you to his two Olympic medals, 3 marathon major wins, and 15th all-time ranking in the 10k. Indoor is weaker on the international stage, but he's still 9th in the mile, 7th in the 3k, 7th in the 2-mile, and 7th in the 5k all time. No American ranks higher than him all-time in an event longer than the mile, indoors, outdoors, or on the roads. 26:44 is the best American distance record by all-time ranking, by IAAF points, and by its gap on the 2nd-best time; 15 seconds, compared to 1 in the 3k, 2 in the 5k, 4 in the half, and 29 in the full (a race more than 4 times the length). He's been a medal threat every year for almost a decade, ever since he broke out with a 26:48 in 2011. Being the outright GOAT is arguable, but being a candidate is absolutely not. Who are you going to put ahead of him? Lagat? An all-time great, to be sure, but more middle distance focused, and clearly not competitive on the world stage at 10k+. Hall? Slightly better half, slightly worse full (if you count a downhill barely sub-2:05:00 you're just wrong), one more major win, no Olympic medals, and comparatively AWFUL times on the track. Hall spent his whole career in the marathon and Rupp is still dead even with him, and Rupp is light-years ahead on the track. Khannouchi? Like Hall, he's pretty much dead even with Rupp on the roads, and has no track times worth talking about. Ritz? 12:56 is his only superior PR, and he's got fewer international medals. No contest. Korir? Worse PRs, no international success. Abdirahman? Only has one more major marathon win (over a longer career) and has no international medals and worse PRs in every event. Meb? A ton of major wins, and an Olympic silver. He's in the conversation, but it's important to notice his PRs are nowhere near Rupp in any event. The guys from the 70s and 80s simply don't have the times to even be comparable, not to mention their international success is hardly even better. The truth is, in events 10k+, Rupp is already the GOAT, and the only thing stopping him from being the overall GOAT is Lagat's multiple WC golds (frankly, Lagat's American times of 3:29, 7:29, and 12:53 are really no better than 7:30i, 12:58, 26:44). I agree an Olympic gold in Rio would secure him as the overall GOAT, but he is still the distance GOAT without it.