WR Holders--Are They Necessarily the Greatest of All Time?

WTF Mate? wrote:

OP - I am astonished that you posted something so long.

You need to get out more.

I know! It did take a while.

Captain Oblivious wrote:

All that research and yet you're not sure if Kipketer has Olympic Gold?

1/10

Heh, yeah. I didn't really start the research portion till I got to the women's side, I won't lie.

eieio, I said eieio wrote:

dear op, I just want you to know I appreciate you putting all that time and effort into posting that. I found it very interesting!

Thank you, eieio and history fan!

100m GOAT = Owens

Deca GOAT = Thorpe

No question.

Why is this thread over a page long? The answer is "no" and the OP made a lot of glaring errors in his analysis so that's not really worth discussing.

Ronaldo da Costa was truly an outlier. His marathon time is impressive and he was never able to run anything as impressive in any other race or any other distance. So, no, definitely a big no, this guy isn't the best there ever was.

Ezekiel Kemboi has to be considered for the Steeplechase GOAT. He is very close to the WR and has won far more medals than anyone else. When it matters Ezekiel has always been there. In a sport where phenoms come and go he has been the dominant steeple force for over a decade.

Hicham ran under 3:30 33 TIMES

Under 3:27 FOUR TIMES

Had the fastest time in the world 8 STRAIGHT YEARS

Has 4 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GOLDS

Has OLYMPIC GOLD in his event

Holds the WORLD RECORD for 1500 and mile

How the fvck is it hard to argue with this? Kill yourself OP.

snoreville wrote:

Why is this thread over a page long? The answer is "no" and the OP made a lot of glaring errors in his analysis so that's not really worth discussing.

If you read my post closely, you would notice that I said I wasn't an expert and looked forward to hearing from others correcting any of my mistakes.

Saying I'm wrong, but then not supporting that statement doesn't add much to the discussion on here.

Hicham El theGOAT wrote:

Hicham ran under 3:30 33 TIMES

Under 3:27 FOUR TIMES

Had the fastest time in the world 8 STRAIGHT YEARS

Has 4 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GOLDS

Has OLYMPIC GOLD in his event

Holds the WORLD RECORD for 1500 and mile

How the fvck is it hard to argue with this? Kill yourself OP.

I don't think I'll kill myself...yet.

I said he was the GOAT. I said it's very challenging to argue that he's NOT the GOAT. Please read more closely before telling someone to kill themselves.

Thank you, come again!

Canova>God wrote:

Ezekiel Kemboi has to be considered for the Steeplechase GOAT. He is very close to the WR and has won far more medals than anyone else. When it matters Ezekiel has always been there. In a sport where phenoms come and go he has been the dominant steeple force for over a decade.

Good call. I'd forgotten about him. He also has a sweet victory dance, no? That's got to be worth some points.

Hicham El theGOAT wrote:

Hicham ran under 3:30 33 TIMES

Under 3:27 FOUR TIMES

Had the fastest time in the world 8 STRAIGHT YEARS

Has 4 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GOLDS

Has OLYMPIC GOLD in his event

Holds the WORLD RECORD for 1500 and mile

How the fvck is it hard to argue with this? Kill yourself OP.

What a comment! The stupidity of some people is beyond belief.

Just for your information stupid letsrun child: the OP clearly has said that El Guerrouj is his choice for GOAT in the 1500m.

What's wrong with you to write something like that? Really, think about it.

said88 wrote:

Hicham El theGOAT wrote:

Hicham ran under 3:30 33 TIMES

Under 3:27 FOUR TIMES

Had the fastest time in the world 8 STRAIGHT YEARS

Has 4 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GOLDS

Has OLYMPIC GOLD in his event

Holds the WORLD RECORD for 1500 and mile

How the fvck is it hard to argue with this? Kill yourself OP.

What a comment! The stupidity of some people is beyond belief.

Just for your information stupid letsrun child: the OP clearly has said that El Guerrouj is his choice for GOAT in the 1500m.

What's wrong with you to write something like that? Really, think about it.

Haha, thanks for pointing this out. Telling someone to kill themselves because they can't even read something clearly. Classic LetsRun....

GoldenMiles wrote:

snoreville wrote:

Why is this thread over a page long? The answer is "no" and the OP made a lot of glaring errors in his analysis so that's not really worth discussing.

If you read my post closely, you would notice that I said I wasn't an expert and looked forward to hearing from others correcting any of my mistakes.

Saying I'm wrong, but then not supporting that statement doesn't add much to the discussion on here.

Agreed that my post doesn't add to the discussion. Why should I waste my time fixing so many oversights? Posting something, and admitting it is going to have faults (in this case, many) isn't any more contributory than my complaints. Your contribution was essentially asking for anyone's thoughts on the GOAT for every event.

snoreville wrote:

GoldenMiles wrote:

If you read my post closely, you would notice that I said I wasn't an expert and looked forward to hearing from others correcting any of my mistakes.

Saying I'm wrong, but then not supporting that statement doesn't add much to the discussion on here.

Agreed that my post doesn't add to the discussion. Why should I waste my time fixing so many oversights? Posting something, and admitting it is going to have faults (in this case, many) isn't any more contributory than my complaints. Your contribution was essentially asking for anyone's thoughts on the GOAT for every event.

Yes, you're correct. That was my contribution. It's a discussion board. I was seeking discussion on a subject I'm interested in. If you're not interested, I'm sorry, but you don't have to post anymore.

snoreville wrote:

Why is this thread over a page long? The answer is "no" and the OP made a lot of glaring errors in his analysis so that's not really worth discussing.

And yet, here you are, having posted at least twice on this thread.

After going fast through all the (standard) events again, I think I can add another event where there is a clear GOAT

Womens

400m Marita Koch

She was at the top for such a long time that it's almost out of question that she deserves the Nr. 1 spot. Even when she had a equal competitor in Jarmila Kratochvilova for some seasons. But the fact that at the end she could better Kratochvilova's record by a significant margin makes it clear in my opinion. Also, the record is unchallenged for 29 years now... (and yes, I'm well aware that probably not only good training was the reason for her performances... same as for most of her competitors). She still was an phenomenal athlete.

And this topic is not about doping at all - for good reasons.

How about looking at some world record holders that may not be the best ever.

No way Aries Merritt is the best, though he had the best single year ever. But that's all he has.

Roger Kingdom, Allen Johnson and Collin Jackson are in the conversation above Merritt.

I pick Allen Johnson, but he never had the world record - missed it by .01.

I'd argue Geb over Bekele in the 10,000.

They have the same amount of golds (2 Oly and 4 WC) but Geb also has a Silver and a Bronze and has broken the WR three times to Bekele's two.

said88 wrote:

After going fast through all the (standard) events again, I think I can add another event where there is a clear GOAT

Womens

400m Marita Koch

She was at the top for such a long time that it's almost out of question that she deserves the Nr. 1 spot. Even when she had a equal competitor in Jarmila Kratochvilova for some seasons. But the fact that at the end she could better Kratochvilova's record by a significant margin makes it clear in my opinion. Also, the record is unchallenged for 29 years now... (and yes, I'm well aware that probably not only good training was the reason for her performances... same as for most of her competitors). She still was an phenomenal athlete.

And this topic is not about doping at all - for good reasons.

Yeah, reading about her was very insightful. I can't believe she ran a 22.6 or something 200 split in her 400! That's considered a damn good 200M time on its own nowadays.

Lowering the record from something like 49.1 to 47.6 is astonishing. She was a phenomenal sprinter (first under 22 in the 200). Plus, didn't she run a sub-11 100? That's great range.