On this week's Track Talk podcast, I had an epiphany. Think about who supposed to be in the women's 5000 field for a moment.
Letesenbet Gidey - 10,000 gold last year.
Sifan Hassan - 4 global golds 1,500, 5000, 10k x 2. Last gold in 2021.
Gudaf Tsegay - 5000 gold last year.
Faith Kipyegon -4 global golds at 1500. Last gold in 2022.
Those are all global gold medallists who have legitimate shots to win. My question to you, has this ever happened before?
I'm not even sure if there has been races before with 4 gold medallists in it before. I imagine there has but it likely included several past their prime people like saying an aging 38-year-old and an in prime 22-year-old.
So historians, what say you? What track races have had 4 global gold medallists in it? Have there been any where all 4 still had a legit shot at winning and where they'd all won a gold in the previous two years.
And lastly has it ever happened in a distance race before?