Haile Gebreselassie: How Many More World Records Will He Set And How Many More Gold Medals Will He Win?

I was never caught either, and I had better fashion sense than Geb.

The difference is, of course, that unlike FloJo, Geb's never taken any drugs.

You silly, sad people: somehow, Ryan Hall runs 59:41 and is the legit saviour of American distance running, and Geb runs 46sec faster, having demonstrated infinitely more talent throughout his entire career, and yet he can't be legit...

I think you mean the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, Germany. As for Geb: I think he can last till London 2012, he will be 39 by that time. Tergats 38 and still finishes high in some good marathons ( Ny 2006 3rd London 2007 6th I guess).

Geb can run past his 40's if he' still enjoying it... juste like Yifter did

Here's an interesting fact. Gebreselassie was working out with some 800 meter runners in Addis. He was doing speed work prior to the Athens games.

After the session.. they were talking to him and he asked all of them how old they were.

Everyone told there 'real' age... when it came to geb... he said he was 43!

I swear ... this is a true story that someone on the national team told me.

So... therefore. Geb is already 46! it seemed to high to me.

I think he is close to 40 right now. Maybe 38 already. If we give a range..he is anywhere from 34-40

I think he has only 2 years of quality running left. I am afraid that he will not factor after 2010.

Still, 17-18 years of world class running is remarkable. If he wins the Gold in Beiging then he is the greatest of all time PERIOD.

I doubt he will win @ the 08 olympics. and there will always be some sort of controversy over the designation of GOAT.

ST AAU wrote:

Here's an interesting fact. Gebreselassie was working out with some 800 meter runners in Addis. He was doing speed work prior to the Athens games.

After the session.. they were talking to him and he asked all of them how old they were.

Everyone told there 'real' age... when it came to geb... he said he was 43!

I swear ... this is a true story that someone on the national team told me.

So... therefore. Geb is already 46! it seemed to high to me.

Haile Gebrsellasie's birthdate has never been in doubt. He is not 46. He is not 40. He was born on April 18, 1973. He is 34 years old.

yeah because we all know Ethiopian birth records are accurate.

Yes, they are. It's not some 1st world technology to record the birthdate of someone. You understand that, right? He wasn't born in a cave. They actually have hospitals there, you know. And roads and cars. Even electricity.

Have you ever even been out of this country?

ST AAU wrote:

Still, 17-18 years of world class running is remarkable. If he wins the Gold in Beiging then he is the greatest of all time PERIOD.

I doubt he will win @ the 08 olympics. and there will always be some sort of controversy over the designation of GOAT.

He's already the greatest of all time.

Consider the track running a wash with Bekele; Geb's got the better 1500 and indoor resume plus the road running. Bekele's got the XC. If Kenenisa can pick up his 1500 time soon and then replicate Haile's road performances later on, he'll be the GOAT. Or if Haile could take the long course XC title next year, he'd lock the GOAT. Doubt he's considering. Probably the favorite for Oly marathon gold, though.

chronos wrote:

Yes, they are. It's not some 1st world technology to record the birthdate of someone. You understand that, right? He wasn't born in a cave. They actually have hospitals there, you know. And roads and cars. Even electricity.

Have you ever even been out of this country?

You're quite an ignorant f***. The town Geb was born in didn't even start to have ANY electricy til 1960, and he certainly didn't have a car. Just because 1% of the population has money and things, doens't mean all of Ethiopia did.

get a clue wrote:

chronos wrote:

Yes, they are. It's not some 1st world technology to record the birthdate of someone. You understand that, right? He wasn't born in a cave. They actually have hospitals there, you know. And roads and cars. Even electricity.

Have you ever even been out of this country?

You're quite an ignorant f***. The town Geb was born in didn't even start to have ANY electricy til 1960, and he certainly didn't have a car. Just because 1% of the population has money and things, doens't mean all of Ethiopia did.

In my country (Sweden) they started to keep records of births hundreds of years ago when they certainly didn´t have cars and electricity. It´s not exactly a complicated task.

8...but that 8 is sideways...

Blaze

historian wrote:

In my country (Sweden) they started to keep records of births hundreds of years ago when they certainly didn´t have cars and electricity. It´s not exactly a complicated task.

While it might not be a complicated task. Many wouldn't deem it a neccesary task in some cultures in the past. There really is no point to a birth Cirtificate in many african countries in the past. Why does a poor african from certain tribes, need a piece of paper saying who he is? We think it's nornmal, they only do it now because we say they need to.

I doubt he will win @ the 08 olympics. and there will always be some sort of controversy over the designation of GOAT.

I really don't see how anyone could ever argue against Geb being the greatest. I mean, he absolutely dominated the most competitive era in distance running history, and he would literally lap anyone from the 80's or prior in a 10k. The guy didn't lose a 10k for 8 years, and has two gold medals in his signature event. He is second all time in the indoor 1500 and first all time in the marathon. The only person who could even be whispered in the same breath is Bekele, and he has just been chasing Geb's marks. He has barely improved on his world records. His XC exploits are cool, but he hasn't even had a legit rival to compete against (Geb had Tergat and Komen). If Bekele wins 10k gold or double gold in Beijing and runs under 26:10 and close to 12:30, followed by a world record in the marathon, then he will be in the discussion along with Geb, but I can't see how anyone else is even up for debate.

dropout wrote:

[quote]ST AAU wrote:

Still, 17-18 years of world class running is remarkable. If he wins the Gold in Beiging then he is the greatest of all time PERIOD.

I doubt he will win @ the 08 olympics. and there will always be some sort of controversy over the designation of GOAT.

damn, I feel a bit dumb. all this time you guys were going on about Geb being the goat and I thought "He doesnt really look like one", but I've just clicked: Greatest of all time,

Must be a yank term though, or maybe even just a yank letsrun term. never seen it anywhere else. does save a lot of typing I guess

get a clue wrote:

While it might not be a complicated task. Many wouldn't deem it a neccesary task in some cultures in the past. There really is no point to a birth Cirtificate in many african countries in the past. Why does a poor african from certain tribes, need a piece of paper saying who he is? We think it's nornmal, they only do it now because we say they need to.

Dear Fool.

Haile Gebrsellasie is 34 years old.

No one of any intelligence disputes this. You are naturally excluded from such a group.

Thanks you for contributing. You may go now.

"they only do it now because we say they need to."

WOW! Your other post suggested that you were just ignorant but you are also quite stupid

If you think Geb is over 40, then you think he has run 2:04 and sub-27 in his 40s.

the teacher wrote:

get a clue wrote:

While it might not be a complicated task. Many wouldn't deem it a neccesary task in some cultures in the past. There really is no point to a birth Cirtificate in many african countries in the past. Why does a poor african from certain tribes, need a piece of paper saying who he is? We think it's nornmal, they only do it now because we say they need to.

Dear Fool.

Haile Gebrsellasie is 34 years old.

No one of any intelligence disputes this. You are naturally excluded from such a group.

Thanks you for contributing. You may go now.

You clearly are the one lacking intelligence. No where in my post did i say i didn't believe he was 34. All i did was comment on how ignorant the other poster was which is a fact. I don't think Geb is in his 40's, that would be less believable considering the achivements he's putting up.