Do you people realize that Jesse Owens would have finished FIFTH in the long jump at this years Olympics?

I actually think with modern training and technology he could have gotten gold today.

Seriously crazy. For reference, Jack Lovelock of New Zealand also won gold at the 1936 Olympics and also set a WR in the final. He did it in the 1500, and he ran 3:47. Nowadays that may not even get you into the fast heat at HS nationals. 5th place this year would've had him running 3:28-3:29.

Linford Christie's 1992 winning time would have left him 0.05 behind last place in this year's final.

Michael Johnson's time in 2000 would have snuck him 5th place in this year's 400m.

Bol's capitulation in the 400mh was with a time that would have easily won every final except 2020 and 2024.

What do you mean, “you people?”

What do YOU mean, “you people”?

Note that Owens ran on a cinder runway, so on Mondo runway, he likely would have been able to run faster.

That is amazing, wow. Maybe Owens was just a true anomaly.

I wonder how he would have done in the 100 with modern training. I think he would be dang close to Bolt. He probably wouldn't even have done the long jump in modern times, which may partially explain why his distance then could still do so well at the Olympics.

ryun would have won the 1500...what is your point?

His measurement, not him! If hed have been here doing and having what theguys have today, hed have been in the top tier!

Or it would have won him the Gold in Rio.

But Owen's LJ record stood for 25 years so it was a strong record.

18" behind the board would have pushed it out there even further.

They didnt have parkour back then or maybe things would be different now, eh?

So embarrasing. How many dudes just walking around today that could jump further than what we've produced lately. Lewis, Myricks, Powell, Conley, etc....Where are these guys (successors) today?

Yaa. And Bob B would have won every OG ever with his 1968 winning jump. Actually Bob B would have won every long jump comp in world history with that jump except for one.

Can we get exhibition races to have top athletes of today run their races in 2008 spikes?

That’s a great question. I would go so far as to say that the event has regressed. Maybe the sprints are so dominant in peoples minds that young men and women who could jump really far end up just running. maybe there are more scholarship opportunities for runners and jumpers. Not sure.

Pretty sure Jesse Owens would not have finished 5th given he's been dead for 44 years

Eh, Bob Beamon’s jump was good but not earth shattering. It was done at altitude with a gale force wind at his back that went away right after his jump. In fact, I have read that a couple of his competitors jumped further than the existing world record during warm-ups.

You have read? Citation please.

There may have been something going on with the wind gauge readings. The triple jump WR was broken 5 times at the 1968 games as well and the readings were 0.0, 0.0, 2.0, 2.0 and 2.0.