what pr1ck would take away the chance for someother runner to go to the olympics for a feeble attept at a double. lets be honest, to win a medal at just one event is extremely difficult why would you attempt 2. pick your best event focus all of your time on it, and give a chance to the other guys to go to athens. that is what they(alan and dan) seem to be doing...so good for them
Zatopek was Czech, not American. 'Nuff said.
Thats part of the problem right there! Qualifying and running in the olympics cannot be the aim of our top athletes. It must be about competing for medals.
Your 'blazer culture' is indicitive of the lack of belief amongst western athletes today who are too often just 'along for the experience'.
Treacy had never even started a marthon before 1984 yet he won silver. If you had your way he wouldn't have toed the line. Clearly some doubles are silly but stepping down to allow another come along for the experience is not in the best interest of the nation.
Bazza - you're dead right and I like those African 1984 stats!
JonnyO wrote:
BILLZEEBUB wrote:Come on guys! These are serious professional athletes that you are talking about. They will be looking for the best way of attaining the best possible position in their chosen event. They wont be sat there saying, "yeah, back in 1984....", because they have never even performed to olympic medal standard at this level in one race yet.....not one, not never! So don't heap pressure on them to double, when they should be looking to prepare for the race of their lives.
If these athletes double up, then you are more likely tosee them write off any chance of a marathon medal than anything else. There is no way that they would medal over 10k if we are realistic, but over the marathon, if they are allowed to concentrate on it 100% and have a bit of luck on the day, then there is always a chance .....if they are in very very best form of their careers.
Just remember, times have changed guys. Western athletes aren't exactly the force that they used to be in distance running as the sport has been taken to another level by the Africans. Remember too that there were no Ethiopians in the 1984 olympics Bazza, not that this would have stopped Treacy i doubt......but this year it will quite possibly play a huge factor on the medal prospects of others.
Dave
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let me try that again, this paragraph was mine;
Thanks for adding a bit of common sense to the discussion Dave.
Even if the 10000 is a straight final, nine days before the Marathon, it's not the best preparation. It might be good preparation for some, but only if they were not in their ideal 10k shape to begin with.
Perhaps some runners will do the double, but they won't be top 5 in both events. This is 20004, not 1976.
WHAT THE **** HAPPENED HERE? the third paragraph is mine;
JonnyO wrote:
BILLZEEBUB wrote:Come on guys! These are serious professional athletes that you are talking about. They will be looking for the best way of attaining the best possible position in their chosen event. They wont be sat there saying, "yeah, back in 1984....", because they have never even performed to olympic medal standard at this level in one race yet.....not one, not never! So don't heap pressure on them to double, when they should be looking to prepare for the race of their lives.
If these athletes double up, then you are more likely tosee them write off any chance of a marathon medal than anything else. There is no way that they would medal over 10k if we are realistic, but over the marathon, if they are allowed to concentrate on it 100% and have a bit of luck on the day, then there is always a chance .....if they are in very very best form of their careers.
Thanks for adding a bit of common sense to the discussion Dave.
Even if the 10000 is a straight final, nine days before the Marathon, it's not the best preparation. It might be good preparation for some, but only if they were not in their ideal 10k shape to begin with.
Perhaps some runners will do the double, but they won't be top 5 in both events. This is 20004, not 1976.
Just remember, times have changed guys. Western athletes aren't exactly the force that they used to be in distance running as the sport has been taken to another level by the Africans. Remember too that there were no Ethiopians in the 1984 olympics Bazza, not that this would have stopped Treacy i doubt......but this year it will quite possibly play a huge factor on the medal prospects of others.
Dave
OOPS Sorry guys posted the same thing twice.
just ignore me
My main was, if you're Dan Browne, and you decide on the 10K. Why not stay entered in the Marathon? I guess it would come down to the choice of which was the first priority--the 10K or the Marathon. If DB's (or Meb's) choice was the former, he might as well stay entered in the Marathon (and roll the dice).
Let's be realistic. Meb nine days after an Olympic 10k is still going to outperform a Verran/Briney in a Marathon 97 times out of 100.