His competition changed a lot over the years. Also, some bad luck here and there.
His competition changed a lot over the years. Also, some bad luck here and there.
It depends on which event one is referring to. He was slightly past his prime at 1500m but he was still the best. At 5000m he was very much in his prime.
Dicksiapper wrote:
It depends on which event one is referring to. He was slightly past his prime at 1500m but he was still the best. At 5000m he was very much in his prime.
Makes sense.
Why wasn't he able to win the 1500 in 2000 then? Wasn't he undefeated for years?
1998 was his best year in terms of fitness: 13 races, 13 wins, 2x3:26, ran the current 1500 world record, 5 sub 3:30s.
1999 was probably 2nd best: 10 wins in 10 races, mile WR, 2000 WR, 7:23 3k, 3:27 sb.
El G was still a beast a 2004, with 2 Golds and a 3:27 SB, but 6 wins in 8 races (excl. heats) Lagat actually had the fastest time in the world that year.
He peak for 4 years from 1998 to 2001.
Remember he run 3:26:12 in 2001 and it's only the pressure that got him in the final of the Olympic Games 2000.
Tim pipes wrote:
Dicksiapper wrote:
It depends on which event one is referring to. He was slightly past his prime at 1500m but he was still the best. At 5000m he was very much in his prime.
Makes sense.
Why wasn't he able to win the 1500 in 2000 then? Wasn't he undefeated for years?
Probably stress and mismanagement of the race. It happens to everyone, and he was under immense pressure
Noah NGENY was a prominent prodigy on his own that also peaked in 2000.
Noah NGENY still has the world record of the 1000m to this day.
But the season 2001, he got problems with Kenyan Federation and his level regressed before the car accident he got in November 2000.
Passant wrote:
He peak for 4 years from 1998 to 2001.
Remember he run 3:26:12 in 2001 and it's only the pressure that got him in the final of the Olympic Games 2000.
I thought it was Ngeny that got him in the final of the Olympic Games 2000.
El G was the perfect rabbit for the 3:43 miler stalking him the whole way.
I do agree that 1998-2002 was his peak.
2002 was amazing.
He ran 3:30 flat or better 8 times.
3:27 twice and 3:26 twice.
2000 was the sweet spot.