I was too young to follow Centro at his peak. My first Olympic cycle was 2020/2021, but the rivalry between him and Hocker leading into the Trials was easily the most exciting storyline to follow. I watched them race that B heat 5k in December 2020 (only because the A heat was stacked). 13:30.0 for both of them if I recall. Hocker went on to be on fire for the next 8 months. I remember completely discounting Centro all the way up until a few weeks before the trials because of some lackluster results, but he ended up almost winning. He wasn’t just a championship performer, he was probably the best we’ve ever had.
3rd at Worlds after his junior year in college (behind a convicted doper btw, he has silver in my book). 4th in 2012 Olympics in his first year as a pro (behind a convicted doper btw, he has bronze in my book). 2nd in 2015 (behind a convicted doper btw, he has gold in my book). Gold in 2016 in a race he led from wire to wire with a 3:26 guy in the field (convicted doper btw). A ton of national titles. His record speaks for itself.
Some people discount his gold because he won in 3:50, but the way I see it, that one race was so influential that we haven’t seen a slow WC or Olympic final since. And Nuguse has shown us that even if you can run 3:43, it doesn’t mean you’ll medal in a fast race. Centro was the ultimate tactical racer, but don’t forget that until this week, he had the Olympic Trials record, and until last year he had the nationals record, along with a 3:30 that made him one of the fastest Americans ever. He also held the Millrose record until the last year or two I think.
He competed at the highest level for his whole career. From high school when he was one of the best in the country, to an NCAA title and a 3:35-6, to a national title and a world medal before graduating, to an Olympic champion.
I don’t know how anyone could bash him. I can only hope that I’ll get to watch one of the massive talents that we have now have the kind of career that he did.