America will never see another distance medal.....

Most of it is true. The only way the Americans would have a chance to medal is if they were on the same drug programs as the East Africans, or if the East Africans were off drugs for a few years.

Right now, the odds of the US winning a medal at anything over 1500 or as low as the odds of the British ever winning the World Cup of Soccer. Practically nil.

Just get your constructin companies over to Africa, build lots of new roads and give everyone a free car, plus a playstation and make McDonalds breakfast compulsory for everyone.

No worries.

P.S. England are going to win the World Cup in 2010.

:)

You take everyone off of drugs and the US still would not medal. You can argue drugs all you want when speaking of world records, but when it comes to competing against each other the only difference between a juiced Kenyan racing an American and a clean Kenyan racing an American is the distance by which the Kenyan wins.

Americans will just have to wait until enough talented immigrants come in and then they will be considered americans. Just as Torres is a real american(and I'm not saying he isnt)

The only true "Americans" are the indian types that met the May Flower. That comment about Kalid is really a bunch of bunk!

S. Dvorak wrote:

The only true "Americans" are the indian types that met the May Flower. That comment about Kalid is really a bunch of bunk!

No, the "Indians" came over from Russia around 10,000 years ago. This "true American" stuff is ridiculous. Anyone who lives in America and wants to be called an American can be so - who is anyone else to be the judge of such things?

Not so wrote:

You take everyone off of drugs and the US still would not medal. You can argue drugs all you want when speaking of world records, but when it comes to competing against each other the only difference between a juiced Kenyan racing an American and a clean Kenyan racing an American is the distance by which the Kenyan wins.

Heheehe. Tell that to Pre, Liquori, Ryun, Padilla, Salazar ... you know, back before PC white college boys were brainwashed into believing even the most outrageous claims of any third worlder ... hurry up and go kiss some more of that Soc professor's behind ....

Take a final bow to the distance medalists of yore. There won't be any more. Thanks to the men and the two women (Samuelson and Jennings). We know you worked and focused and raced like champs. There won't be any Oly medals out of the current crop.

americans are tested more than the elites of any other country, and what's more tested out of competition randomly all year long.

Americans will win medals again.

If she runs the marathon, Deena has a decent chance to pick up a medal at Athens. Not a great chance, but a chance.

American women are a lot better, relative to the rest of the world, than the men. Perhaps this argument was only referring to men?

I believe an American man will eventually come along and contend at 1500. Above that, you are right, chances are slim and none.

onepoint wrote:

americans are tested more than the elites of any other country, and what's more tested out of competition randomly all year long.

True. The sprinters get a lot of leeway, but Americans are under the gun, with officials bending over backward to show the world how honest and tolerant they are. The federations in E. Africa are under no such illusions, and will allow their runners and coaches to use any means necessary for success.

although i dont like him, webb has a decent chance. Especially in an unpredicatable race the mile (or, do i dare, 5k?)

core blime wrote:

Don't talk about Khalid, because A)hes not even a 'true'american by birth, B) he is a one and only and C) he, like all of americas greats is on drugs.

NO AMERICANS are "true" Americans by birth, you dip. This is a country of immigrants... yes, that's right! People actually want to come and live here.

Heheehe. Tell that to Pre, Liquori, Ryun, Padilla, Salazar ... you know, back before PC white college boys were brainwashed into believing even the most outrageous claims of any third worlder ... hurry up and go kiss some more of that Soc professor's behind ....--funny stuff

To be fair, though, those guys only had to face a small fraction of the African talent that is around today. Still, I'd have to say there is no reason Americans can't have a world beater at 1500. Some of the best milers of the past--Walker, Coe, Ovett, Cram, Ryun, and on and on, were just your typical Western specimens. And some of those guys ran times that would still be competitive to this day.

America will get one sat in the womens 1,500

2 words for you mate! Alan Webb.

US might get that exception here and there but the genetics are on the side of the Africans. And so is the payoff for great performance. Yep. They train hard, but there have been European/US runners train with the Africans. The Europeans/Americans get overtrained and/or hurt, the Africans get FAST. They are fast so they can train fast and get FASTER.

They can do it. We can't. Its like asking a 5'4" collegiate wrestler to dunk a basketball. All the training in the world ain't gonna make it happen. The ceiling is very real. 12:57 for last 5km of a 10 km, We AIN'T close and won't be.

Well, boys ... I haven't a thing to say.

Played a great game...all of you. Great game.

(tries to smile.)

I guess we just can't expect to win 'em all.

(pauses and says quietly.)

I'm going to tell you something I've kept to myself for years --

None of you ever knew George Gipp.

It was long before your time.

But you know what a tradition he is...

(There is gentle, faraway look in his eyes as he recalls the boy's words.)

And the last thing he said to me -- "Rock," he said -"sometime, when the team is up against it -- and the breaks are beating the boys -- tell them to go out there with all they got and win just one for the Gipper...

(eyes become misty and his voice is unsteady as he finishes.)

I don't know where I'll be then, Rock", he said -

"but I'll know about it - and I'll be happy."

NO AMERICANS are "true" Americans by birth, you dip. This is a country of immigrants... yes, that's right! People actually want to come and live here.

anybody born in america is a true american