Honestly, I have another good one (in terms of sprints at least)
Michael Norman.
I think he is the most underrated sprinter in history (though understandably so)
Norman is probably one of, if not the most talented sprinter ever. If there was any one person who would be capable of sub 43, sub 19.3, and even sub 9.8, it would be him.
What he, Fernandez, and Alan Webb all have in common is possessing arguably the most talent that the world has ever seen, yet achieving so little and never fully living up to their potential.
Norman undoubtedly had the ability to shatter the 43 second barrier and even become the next MJ by being the next 200/400 WR holder and the next man to have an Olympic double gold in those events.
I mean, the dude literally ran 9.86 wind legal at some random, super low key meet during the pandemic with absolutely zero audience and almost no competition. That time alone would have won him gold in almost any global final, and that's not even his main, let alone secondary event.
Also running 43.45 at MT Sac as an opener in 2019, 19.70 to overtake Lyles at a DL meet months later, and as a 21 year old. His ceiling was 19.2 and 42.9 minimum
It's a shame he never quite seemed to get his headspace right and we may never get to see him achieve such feats. I hope he can maybe be a standout by LA28 but it may be too late for that.
In the 2016 Olympic 1500 semis, Robby Andrews advanced, then was DQed for stepping off the track to pass. If he stays in the final, at the pace that was run, he could have won the gold.
Honestly, I have another good one (in terms of sprints at least)
Michael Norman.
I think he is the most underrated sprinter in history (though understandably so)
Norman is probably one of, if not the most talented sprinter ever. If there was any one person who would be capable of sub 43, sub 19.3, and even sub 9.8, it would be him.
What he, Fernandez, and Alan Webb all have in common is possessing arguably the most talent that the world has ever seen, yet achieving so little and never fully living up to their potential.
Norman undoubtedly had the ability to shatter the 43 second barrier and even become the next MJ by being the next 200/400 WR holder and the next man to have an Olympic double gold in those events.
I mean, the dude literally ran 9.86 wind legal at some random, super low key meet during the pandemic with absolutely zero audience and almost no competition. That time alone would have won him gold in almost any global final, and that's not even his main, let alone secondary event.
Also running 43.45 at MT Sac as an opener in 2019, 19.70 to overtake Lyles at a DL meet months later, and as a 21 year old. His ceiling was 19.2 and 42.9 minimum
It's a shame he never quite seemed to get his headspace right and we may never get to see him achieve such feats. I hope he can maybe be a standout by LA28 but it may be too late for that.
Good post!
He really struggled in 2023 (10.3, 20.6, no mark in the 400), but got back to 44.10 in Paris 2024...
Though it was odd as he ran 44.1 in the heats (fastest runner!), 44.2 in the semis, and 45.6 for 8th in the final!