greatest runner without an olympic gold medal?

I doubt any American would be in the top 5. Definitely not any of the ones you listed (Ryun would be the highest American). My vote, however, goes to Wilson Kipketer.

Paul Tergat

Upon actually reading your post I have realized you are a troll and I'm mad at myself for even responding.

Henry Rono

Mary Cain

-can run with the big girls

-has not had the Olympic experience

-needs more time

your list

1- "the harder I work the more luck I have" Thomas Jefferson paraphrased

2- not genetically gifted? Really?

3- respect Ryan for not training with a coach/ in a group that could help him?

Sileshi Sihine

5 silvers (all to kenenisa) and a bronze (1 kenenisa, 2 geb) in wc/oly

I agree Sileshi Sihine and Paul Tergat top my list. They both would have won countless medals if not for Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie who beat them every time and without their presence they would have won easily.

ron clarke

daniel komen

george bush jr.

barrack kiplobama

steve prepofontaine

Gym Class Shuffle wrote:

I agree Sileshi Sihine and Paul Tergat top my list. They both would have won countless medals if not for Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie who beat them every time and without their presence they would have won easily.

They weren't even the best of there era. Kipketer WAS the best of his era, and the 2nd best of all-time, and still didn't win an OG. Tergat/Sihine are not the 2nd best of all time.

Ryun has to be the top American.

or Lagat I suppose.

Jim Ryun--1:39, 3:24

:P

Adrian peterson in the 100m

Lebron in long jump [quote]Xfitter543 wrote:

KOMEN.

No contest.

yup...ryun is up there with his 1-39

no doubt

steve cram too with his projected 3-20 on epo

Judging from your list I suspect you lack a world view of and an historical understanding of our sport.

How many of the 15ish guys with a shorter 10,ooo PR than Rupp lack OG medals?

Plus he is a half lap back of the WR I would not say that is close

Komen over Clarke? 17 WRs for Clarke, a career that spanned over 3 Olympics, and the most dominant distance runner over 5k/10k (at least in 1964) and no gold, only one bronze. Interestingly, no Commonwealth golds either. My 2nd vote would be Rono.

shakiraquan tgif carter wrote:

KOMEN.

No contest.

please stop using the irritating phrase "NO CONTEST"

it seems to imply everybody else should shut up and stop posting

worse than that other letsrun favourite "BINGO" which has similar connotations

Paula Radcliffe- statistically the best world record of any distance, man or woman.

ok

sihine tergat radcliffe komen clarke so far

there's one big one not yet on the list....

i'll come back in 10 mins if no-one has guessed it by then..