If Mo Farah's career were to end today, would he be a legend?

If he wins WC this year and is a factor in every race in 2014, 2015 and 2016...medals in 2016, runs about 12:40 and 26:30 on more than one occasion, then he is a legend.

Essentially, he needs to continue with what he is doing for another 3+ years. He can even have a slight drop off and still be a legend if he is consistently near or at the top. It doesn't have to be every race, but close to it.

Longevity is what differentiates a flash in the pan from legend. He falls somewhere in between right now. He will always be better than a flash in the pan, but may never reach legend status.

For those who say the fields were weak for the 2012 Olympics, you don't know your track and field very well. They were as strong as ever... as was the 1500, which people also like to dismiss as weak.

But don't let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Joe Doakes. wrote:

The fact that a white American won the silver in the 10,000 shows that race alone was sub-standard in terms of quality.

All the good Africans these days run the big prize money marathons.

Geb never closed any race as fast as Rupp/Farah closed London. He might have been able to stay with them, but it's not certain.

That 'White American' is one of the strongest and fastest distance runners in history.

Some people value winning more than times. I am sure most runners do. An Olympic gold, or world championship gold is more important than a fast time. So to that end, I doubt Farah seriously considers just going for a fast time to appease time hungry fans and risk peaking before what matters to him.

There is no doubt given his finishing ability, there has been plenty in reserve which would equate to faster times for him. But he does not give a shit what people think.

Farah is a legend for sure. Dethroning the GOAT in Bekele and being a double gold medalist and world champion.

He may be quickly be on the outside looking in after this year with Gebrihwet though.

More legendary than any of youse!

...no, not you, dear!

I seem to recall a 5000m race in which Geb blew by Komen and closed in 25.xx over the last 200m. It wasn't a slow race either, in the 12:4x range. Legend is a very subjective term. Even quantifying terms are subjective but at least they adhere to a more definable standard. Would Farah be Top 10 All Time? How about that question?

1. Kenenisa Bekele

2. Haile Gebrselassie

3. Hicham El Guerrouj

4. Paul Tergat

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

After #4 is where things get tricky but name I would still put above Farah are most definitely Daniel Komen, Noureddine Morceli, Lasse Viren, Seb Coe, Wilson Kipketer, Moses Kiptanui and even as short as his career has been, David Rudisha.

I'm not sure how deep the list for "Legend" status goes but as of today I don't see Farah in the Top 10.

I seem to recall a 5000m race in which Geb blew by Komen and closed in 25.xx over the last 200m. It wasn't a slow race either, in the 12:4x range. Legend is a very subjective term. Even quantifying terms are subjective but at least they adhere to a more definable standard. Would Farah be Top 10 All Time? How about that question?

1. Kenenisa Bekele

2. Haile Gebrselassie

3. Hicham El Guerrouj

4. Paul Tergat

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

After #4 is where things get tricky but name I would still put above Farah are most definitely Daniel Komen, Noureddine Morceli, Lasse Viren, Seb Coe, Wilson Kipketer, Moses Kiptanui and even as short as his career has been, David Rudisha.

I'm not sure how deep the list for "Legend" status goes but as of today I don't see Farah in the Top 10.

Goose23435 wrote:

He is nowhere close to legend status. 2 gold medals in the 5k and 10k at the weakest olympics in years means shit. Unless he repeats or lays down "legend caliber times" as in 12:40, 26:20 he'll be forgetten by 2020. He's terrific now don't get me wrong, but legend status? Come on, gimme a break. That term is reserved for the GOATS like Bekele, Geb, El G. Even Rudisha is sill solidifying his status as a legend, its a career process

You're an idiot. Tell it to the British public who consider him a legend. Tell it to the companies that sponsor him. The races that pay him massively. The newspapers that constantly do stories on him in the UK.

He's a legend.

And, anyone who doesn't think that any Olympian who won Double Gold, is not a legend, is an idiot.

The 10/5 Double Gold is always a Legend.

Mo could dine out in England for the rest of his life and never have to pick up a meal tab.

And, he has such a positive personality, and the "Mobot" think going -- he's well liked and loved in the UK.

Goose23435 wrote:

He is nowhere close to legend status. 2 gold medals in the 5k and 10k at the weakest olympics in years means shit. Unless he repeats or lays down "legend caliber times" as in 12:40, 26:20 he'll be forgetten by 2020. He's terrific now don't get me wrong, but legend status? Come on, gimme a break. That term is reserved for the GOATS like Bekele, Geb, El G. Even Rudisha is sill solidifying his status as a legend, its a career process

I do think he is somewhat overrated in the UK at the moment, e.g. Foster claims he is "the greatest runner we've ever produced", which is of course nonsense, but I'd like to make 2 salient points.

1) He won double Olympic gold at 5 & 10k in the same Olympics, which is an incredible (and certainly not "easy" or "common") feat, regardless of the fact it's been done before. Moreover, he beat who was there on the day. It isn't his problem if a certain athlete/s were not there at their best. Bekele's best years are some time ago now, and there is no guarantee that he would still be up to the same form in London without the injury from the previous year. You can't fault an athlete for not beating someone who wasn't there.

2) I agree that he needs to set faster times, but what if ( and many one here claim it to be on a regular basis) the times set by Bekele, Geb, Komen, etc were enhanced by EPO, as I myself am inclined to believe. In which case, how on earth would Farah be expected to get near those marks?

I personally think somewhere in the region of 12:47/26:30 is where the clean WR should be.

Felix is never going to break the 100, 200 or 400 records, but many consider her to be a legend based on the medals she won.

Pre is considered a legend, but he didn't break any world records or win any golds on a global scale.

So if you're going to talk about legends, then the criteria needs to be consistent.

Mo Farah is like that kid in races who dogs you till the last 100m and then sprints past you in the end and acts 'all tap' instead of racing for himself. (See London 2012) And for all the "He's a winner and not a timer I don't see Hagos G. sitting back and those are low key meets!

As for his Moscow hopes & Legend Chasing, I hope he's ready to hurt if Kenenisa and Hagos choose to play "King of Addis Ababa"

martin pennell wrote:

I seem to recall a 5000m race in which Geb blew by Komen and closed in 25.xx over the last 200m. It wasn't a slow race either, in the 12:4x range. Legend is a very subjective term. Even quantifying terms are subjective but at least they adhere to a more definable standard. Would Farah be Top 10 All Time? How about that question?

1. Kenenisa Bekele

2. Haile Gebrselassie

3. Hicham El Guerrouj

4. Paul Tergat

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

After #4 is where things get tricky but name I would still put above Farah are most definitely Daniel Komen, Noureddine Morceli, Lasse Viren, Seb Coe, Wilson Kipketer, Moses Kiptanui and even as short as his career has been, David Rudisha.

I'm not sure how deep the list for "Legend" status goes but as of today I don't see Farah in the Top 10.

Yep

You're an idiot. Tell it to the British public who consider him a legend. Tell it to the companies that sponsor him. The races that pay him massively. The newspapers that constantly do stories on him in the UK.

You don't get to be a legend as a shill for a bunch of corporations - you get to be a legend by what you do on the track. And, sadly, Farah hasn't done it, IMO. And as for the "British public", I'd be willing to bet that 95% of wouldn't be able to pick him out of a lineup. The public have moved on; don't kid yourself that he is EVER going to be a household name like Seb Coe.

GenericID wrote:

You're an idiot. Tell it to the British public who consider him a legend. Tell it to the companies that sponsor him. The races that pay him massively. The newspapers that constantly do stories on him in the UK.

You don't get to be a legend as a shill for a bunch of corporations - you get to be a legend by what you do on the track. And, sadly, Farah hasn't done it, IMO. And as for the "British public", I'd be willing to bet that 95% of wouldn't be able to pick him out of a lineup. The public have moved on; don't kid yourself that he is EVER going to be a household name like Seb Coe.

Wrong, he's a big celebrity here now and most people who know nothing about the sport would still recognise him.

He will definitely go down as a legend of British running unless he's involved in a drug scandal.

I'm in the UK too, and you are simply wrong. Why else has every media campaign that he featured in been dropped? Even Lucozade aren't using him! You can't get a more key demographic than an energy drink's customers.

deanouk wrote:2) I agree that he needs to set faster times, but what if ( and many one here claim it to be on a regular basis) the times set by Bekele, Geb, Komen, etc were enhanced by EPO, as I myself am inclined to believe. In which case, how on earth would Farah be expected to get near those marks?

idiot

kennster ran 26'25 on a windy in eugene in '08

that wouda been ~ = wr on a windless day

he on epo that day ???

I personally think somewhere in the region of 12:47/26:30 is where the clean WR should be

try 12'37/26'17

Letsrun. Where (bad) runners come to hate on (great) runners. Unbelievable that anyone could doubt someone who achieved the rare 5k/10k golden double - and at their HOME games, under massive pressure and expectation.

Mo Farah is a legend, and he\\\'s not done yet. Wake up FFS.

Break time, Legend Adjudicating Panel. Help yourselves to coffee and biscuits.

Next on the agenda: What must Rupp do to become a national/international legend?

Hate? Truth isn't hate - he's not a legend, get over it.

Truth? Subjective you mean. It's an opinion, you can't quantify 'legend'. you're doing a fine job quantifying 'idiot' tho.

For me, 2 distance golds in 1 games = Legend.