Galen Rupp appeciation thread

xcfan2233 wrote:

Bad Wigins wrote:

I still don't understand why Rupp moved up from the distances where he was in the mix to be the best. He was world leader one year with a 26:44! His marathons, even a 2:06, just don't compare, even if they're worth more money.

Outside of London 2012, he never had the kick to medal and that wasn't going to get any better with age. Always in the lead pack with 400 to go and would finish 4-7th in pretty much every global final.

I think he has had just as much success on the roads, so I wouldn't say his results don't compare. Olympic bronze, two Oly trial wins, Chicago win, and a bunch of other top 3's at Boston and Chicago. He probably could have ripped off a 2:04 if he had gone to Berlin/London during his peak, but the dude is only interested in winning and competing, which I respect.

Texas Long Horn wrote:

L\'innoculateur wrote:

American with multiple American distance records and zero medals.
Strange era.

Tough crowd.

My guess is many from other countries who hold national distance records haven’t medaled at an Olympics or World Championships (if that is your only gauge of medaling). It is my strong feeling Fisher will medal at both of these most prestigious world events. He has the ability, drive and belief that he can.

2021 Fisher, like many US distance runners didn’t travel to Europe due to Covid and race schedule. Fisher made his first US Olympic team in two events (5k and 10k) and competed in both of those events at the Tokyo Olympics placing 5th in the 10k and 9th in the 5k (while battling an injured calf muscle). A fairly grueling combination of events. Based on those results he was invited to race in Europe but admitted he was mentally and physically tired and called it a season.

2022 Fisher, really showed his capability by setting four US records, all of which were times that put his name on lists with the all time greats. At Worlds he finished 4th in the 10k (an eyelash out of the medals) and it appeared he would have medaled in the 5k if it wasn’t for the mix-up with the Kenyan Krop. With a little luck he might have medaled twice at this years World Championships. He then went to Europe and raced (invite only) DL races (one tier under the prestige of an Olympics or World Championships) where he did medal (they don’t give out medals at DL races but for all intensive purposes placing 1 through 3 is medaling) placing 3rd in Monaco, 2nd in Brussels, 3rd In Zurich.

In my opinion, 2022 Fisher had the most amazing year for a US distance runner - ever.

WhatBro wrote:

Texas Long Horn wrote:

Tough crowd.

My guess is many from other countries who hold national distance records haven’t medaled at an Olympics or World Championships (if that is your only gauge of medaling). It is my strong feeling Fisher will medal at both of these most prestigious world events. He has the ability, drive and belief that he can.

2021 Fisher, like many US distance runners didn’t travel to Europe due to Covid and race schedule. Fisher made his first US Olympic team in two events (5k and 10k) and competed in both of those events at the Tokyo Olympics placing 5th in the 10k and 9th in the 5k (while battling an injured calf muscle). A fairly grueling combination of events. Based on those results he was invited to race in Europe but admitted he was mentally and physically tired and called it a season.

2022 Fisher, really showed his capability by setting four US records, all of which were times that put his name on lists with the all time greats. At Worlds he finished 4th in the 10k (an eyelash out of the medals) and it appeared he would have medaled in the 5k if it wasn’t for the mix-up with the Kenyan Krop. With a little luck he might have medaled twice at this years World Championships. He then went to Europe and raced (invite only) DL races (one tier under the prestige of an Olympics or World Championships) where he did medal (they don’t give out medals at DL races but for all intensive purposes placing 1 through 3 is medaling) placing 3rd in Monaco, 2nd in Brussels, 3rd In Zurich.

In my opinion, 2022 Fisher had the most amazing year for a US distance runner - ever.

So the guy won NOTHING - literally NOTHING - and had the most amazing year ever? Gotcha. What's the point of even having races with this logic?