Ho Hum wrote:
Is former double world champ Bernard Lagat getting better with age when he outkicks a bunch of Americans in a slow 3k? No. Is the man who once closed the last 800 of a 1500 in 1:46 now a better kicker? No.
There is zero argument that he is better than in his prime. Zero. If you want to say his decline is too slow, then stick with that argument. But he is absolutely declining.
I think the OP obviously meant that Lagat is not "getting b etter" as compared to 3:26, but as compared to recent post-Osaka years, which has been up and down, and not a straight line of decline.
When Lagat won double gold outdoors in Osaka in 2007, I was blown away back then, as, I might hazard as safe to say, many others. I felt he was getting quite old even back then, and what a time to be looking so fabulous!
Then, the 2008 Olympic showing was a bit depressing, but there was the knowing hand on the shoulder of Ramzi (I have that recorded) (in the 1500m rounds) and then the injury explanation of falling off the pace late in the 5k final (off the three leaders).
THEN, in Berlin, he gave Bekele a serious run for his money in the 5k final, looking even more down to the wire than the 1500m 2004 final.
And since then, at least internationally speaking,* Lagat has not displayed his 2007 and 2009 greatness in full form--sometimes, he's lagged a bit, but sometimes, he's up there in medal contention, etc.
I don't have an opinion--yet--on doping as it pertains to an aged Lagat, but this stubborn national excellence on the verge of international greatness resuming where he left off in 2007 and 2009
(*notwithstanding that worlds indoors medal since),
leaves me feeling teased. It is an unusual continual suspense. Has he got one more silver or even a gold left in the tank, after which he'll throw in the towel?