My guess is that the headline hasn't properly contextualised his statement (who would've thought?), and he means - in relation to British distance running...
We’ve discussed all of this ad nauseum here. Average elite turned unbeatable after moving from mottram’s group and training for years as a pro to Beaverton with Salazar and off grid training camps under the tutelage of Jama Aden. Multiple missed drug tests (with a claim of a faulty doorbell), lying about whereabouts and actually being dumb enough to post a picture, entitled actions at the airport, false claims of racism at the tube (when it was en vogue to declare everything under the sun as racist), fight at Geb’s hotel, fight with old man at London park, dipping out on the bill at Geb’s hotel, bizarre antics on an oversized treadmill 2 days before running the London marathon, and claims that he was trafficked as a slave to the uk. Had a foundation where an extremely small percentage was actually utilized for charity. Extra sauce goes to his wife that peaced out in Oregon and kept significant amounts of money from pre-paid clients at her spa after disappearing without warning.
Jeez Farah was good but he wasn't Geb, Bek, El G, Kipchoge, Zatopek, Bikila good. He was a sit and kick racer in a period with no stars; had no records.
Messi is right there with Pele. It's been amazing that Miami is still getting a very good Messi and not the Cosmos version of Pele and Franz.
My guess is that the headline hasn't properly contextualised his statement (who would've thought?), and he means - in relation to British distance running...
Here is the full quotes from an article that doesn't require a paywall.
He was illegally trafficked to the UK and he has become, in my view, Britain’s greatest ever sportsman or woman.
‘If you look what he has done, 10 global titles – six worlds and four Olympics – in a truly global sport. If you look at the countries on the map, they’ve all got 5,000m and 10,000m runners.
‘He is the Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi of our sport in this country. And we will never see his like again. If you look at the great athletes we have had in the past - Daley Thompson, Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, Steve Cram, Sally Gunnell, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Katarina Johnson-Thompson - Mo has won four Olympic golds and none of them have won more than two.
In my view, it’s not emotional to say he is the greatest. I am happy to have the debate. But he didn’t do it in a boat with three others, or on a bike in loads of different events. He didn’t do it in a team of 10 others or 14 others. He did it on his own.
If there was a summary, I would say he is a great guy and his career was built on his dedication and hard work.’
Many others, of course, will have a different summary of Farah’s career, given his relationship with Alberto Salazar. Farah’s former coach was banned for four years in 2019 for doping violations. But Foster says: ‘All I will say on that is - look at the programme on Saturday. I asked him the question, “Did you make a mistake with Alberto Salazar?”, and I will leave him to answer. I had to ask him. I couldn’t not.’
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY DAVID COVERDALE: Sir Mo Farah's send-off is now upon us, with thousands of fans set to line the 13.1-mile route from Newcastle to South Shields on Sunday.
I think Brendan Foster was the Last 3000 World Record Holder not from Africa, I Believe Rono broke Foster's record when Rono set the 3000, 5000, 10000 and Steeple Records all in 80 days, Henry Rono was an all time great in my opinion.
My guess is that the headline hasn't properly contextualised his statement (who would've thought?), and he means - in relation to British distance running...
Here is the full quotes from an article that doesn't require a paywall.
He was illegally trafficked to the UK and he has become, in my view, Britain’s greatest ever sportsman or woman.
‘If you look what he has done, 10 global titles – six worlds and four Olympics – in a truly global sport. If you look at the countries on the map, they’ve all got 5,000m and 10,000m runners.
‘He is the Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi of our sport in this country. And we will never see his like again. If you look at the great athletes we have had in the past - Daley Thompson, Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, Steve Cram, Sally Gunnell, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Katarina Johnson-Thompson - Mo has won four Olympic golds and none of them have won more than two.
In my view, it’s not emotional to say he is the greatest. I am happy to have the debate. But he didn’t do it in a boat with three others, or on a bike in loads of different events. He didn’t do it in a team of 10 others or 14 others. He did it on his own.
If there was a summary, I would say he is a great guy and his career was built on his dedication and hard work.’
Many others, of course, will have a different summary of Farah’s career, given his relationship with Alberto Salazar. Farah’s former coach was banned for four years in 2019 for doping violations. But Foster says: ‘All I will say on that is - look at the programme on Saturday. I asked him the question, “Did you make a mistake with Alberto Salazar?”, and I will leave him to answer. I had to ask him. I couldn’t not.’
We’ve discussed all of this ad nauseum here. Average elite turned unbeatable after moving from mottram’s group and training for years as a pro to Beaverton with Salazar and off grid training camps under the tutelage of Jama Aden. Multiple missed drug tests (with a claim of a faulty doorbell), lying about whereabouts and actually being dumb enough to post a picture, entitled actions at the airport, false claims of racism at the tube (when it was en vogue to declare everything under the sun as racist), fight at Geb’s hotel, fight with old man at London park, dipping out on the bill at Geb’s hotel, bizarre antics on an oversized treadmill 2 days before running the London marathon, and claims that he was trafficked as a slave to the uk. Had a foundation where an extremely small percentage was actually utilized for charity. Extra sauce goes to his wife that peaced out in Oregon and kept significant amounts of money from pre-paid clients at her spa after disappearing without warning.
I'm not a fan of the guy but holy cow rent free man. Do you have a personal vendetta against the guy? Did he talk values with your mom or something?
It is clear that Foster did not say what you allege in the thread title so 'False' is the answer. I conclude that you aren't very good at reading.
His actual claim that Farah is Britain's most successful athlete (we only apply that word to track and field unlike in other countries where it might mean sportsperson) seems uncontroversial.
We’ve discussed all of this ad nauseum here. Average elite turned unbeatable after moving from mottram’s group and training for years as a pro to Beaverton with Salazar and off grid training camps under the tutelage of Jama Aden. Multiple missed drug tests (with a claim of a faulty doorbell), lying about whereabouts and actually being dumb enough to post a picture, entitled actions at the airport, false claims of racism at the tube (when it was en vogue to declare everything under the sun as racist), fight at Geb’s hotel, fight with old man at London park, dipping out on the bill at Geb’s hotel, bizarre antics on an oversized treadmill 2 days before running the London marathon, and claims that he was trafficked as a slave to the uk. Had a foundation where an extremely small percentage was actually utilized for charity. Extra sauce goes to his wife that peaced out in Oregon and kept significant amounts of money from pre-paid clients at her spa after disappearing without warning.
I'm not a fan of the guy but holy cow rent free man. Do you have a personal vendetta against the guy? Did he talk values with your mom or something?
All the above is fact. Seeing a sham get away with what he did is inexcusable. If it doesn’t bother you as well, then you’re either poorly educated on the subject or are a complicit part of the problem. Mother passed when I was 15, so moot point to your ridiculous attempt at a stupid and very unoriginal joke.
I would put Coe/Cram/Bannister above an obviously compromised and fairly shifty Mo. On sheer personality and purely as runners I would put Elliot/Jones/Peters/Ovett/Bedford above him as well. But that's just opinion and nothing more.
false claims of racism at the tube (when it was en vogue to declare everything under the sun as racist), fight at Geb’s hotel, fight with old man at London park, dipping out on the bill at Geb’s hotel, bizarre antics on an oversized treadmill 2 days before running the London marathon, and claims that he was trafficked as a slave to the uk. Had a foundation where an extremely small percentage was actually utilized for charity. Extra sauce goes to his wife that peaced out in Oregon and kept significant amounts of money from pre-paid clients at her spa after disappearing without warning.'
None of this has anything to do with doping.
I thought is was just one missed test with the doorbell?
My thought is that Salazar was dabbling in the grey area but Farah did most of his doping in Kenya with the rest of them. Interesting that Rupp did not go to Kenya as much and had a bit more of a linear progression. You are not going to get the Mo type improvement off Carotine or whatever he was fiddling with its EPO. When he ran 12.98 and 3:28 it was obvious he was doping. Coe and Ovett could run faster than that 100m over a ploughed field
Why did Farah come out so late (talking about Age) ? He was a normal/mediocre 5k-10k runner until 29 years of age then at around 29 started to dominate everything winning 10 golds (olympics+World's) in 6-7 years. How could you explain that? All the talented 5k-10k (Geb, Bekele, Cheptegei etc etc) were great since they were young.
Mate, it's a puff piece by the organiser of the Great North Run to promote Farah's last ever race, at the Great North Run. He's not stupid, he knows Bekele is the GOAT, but his job here is to to analyse, it's to pump up viewers for Sunday's race.
