Winning the WC normally means you are best in the world at your event and this year will not mean the same. No Jakob Ingebrigtsen, no Cole Hocker, no Yared Nuguse.
This is not the fault of the eventual champion but it just feels different. It is not fair for the eventual champion but it will not carry the same amount of clout as it would on most years.
those 3 you mention have done nothing this year to suggest they are the best in the world
Do you feel bad for March Madness champions when some of the favorites get knocked out early on? The qualification and rounds are part of the sport.
There's always a good about of attrition. Take a look below. Only three finalists from 2022 returned in 2023. Does that make Josh Kerr's gold in Budapest less impressive?
2024 (5 of 12 make next year's final)
Cole HOCKER
Josh KERR Yared NUGUSE
Jakob INGEBRIGTSEN
Hobbs KESSLER
Niels LAROS Narve Gilje NORDÅS
Pietro ARESE
Stefan NILLESSEN
Neil GOURLEY
Timothy CHERUIYOT
Brian KOMEN
2023 (7 of 12 make next year's final)
Josh KERR
Jakob INGEBRIGTSEN
Narve Gilje NORDÅS
Abel KIPSANG
Yared NUGUSE
Mario GARCÍA
Cole HOCKER
Reynold Kipkorir CHERUIYOT
Neil GOURLEY
Niels LAROS
Azeddine HABZ
Isaac NADER
2022 (3 of 12 make next year's final) Jake WIGHTMAN
Jakob INGEBRIGTSEN
Mohamed KATIR
Mario GARCÍA
Josh KERR
Timothy CHERUIYOT
Abel KIPSANG
Teddese LEMI
Stewart MCSWEYN
Michał ROZMYS
Ignacio FONTES
Joshua THOMPSON
2021 (8 of 13 return for next year's final)
Jakob INGEBRIGTSEN
Timothy CHERUIYOT
Josh KERR
Abel KIPSANG
Adel MECHAAL
Cole HOCKER
Stewart MCSWEYN
Michał ROZMYS
Jake HEYWARD
Jake WIGHTMAN
Oliver HOARE
Charles GRETHEN
Ignacio FONTES
Pogi wrote:
those 3 you mention have done nothing this year to suggest they are the best in the world
One of them set the indoor WR in the 1500, and two of them set the indoor WR in the mile.
That might suggest a thing or two.
Not the same wrote:
...It is not fair for the eventual champion...
What exactly is not fair about this? They all had the chance to make the final. Some of them did, some of them didn't. The ones that ran well will make it, the ones that didn't won't.
For example Yared Nuguse didn't make the team. He cannot be defined as the best in the world if he didn't even get past the national level. He's not in the race because he's not the best in the world. There is nothing unfair about this.
I’m sorry if I didn’t present myself well. I don’t feel sorry for anyone that is not in the finals. I feel sorry for whoever wins because the win will be perceived as less than normal years. It just feels different. The story is more about who is not in the race than who wins.
I see what you mean, but the winners achievement isn't lessered than the fact that:
1. Jakob Ingebrigtsen has been injured for months.
2. Cole Hocker pushed his way through the pack to get through (forget what you think of this, those are the facts). He's got a copy of the rules just like everyone else.
3. Yared Nuguse didn't make the team.
Not the same wrote:
I’m sorry if I didn’t present myself well. I don’t feel sorry for anyone that is not in the finals. I feel sorry for whoever wins because the win will be perceived as less than normal years. It just feels different. The story is more about who is not in the race than who wins.
My point is already being made as there are 2 threads currently on the front page.
1. Should we boycott watching the 1500 final
2. Is this the worse 1500 final ever
This is disrespectful to those competing and will shape the perception of the medalists to many.