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RomanceNovelCoverModel wrote:
Perhaps I've introduced significant bias in singling out one runner, but, how do you rank Wilson Kipketer among the greatest men's 800m runners?
Impossible to give an ultimate answer.
The candidates for the nr. 1 position over 800m (and the complete podium) seem to be: Rudolf Harbig, Mal Whitfield, Peter Snell, Sebastian Coe, Joaquim Cruz, Wilson Kipketer, Juri Borzakovskiy and David Rudisha.
Everyone from this group has some arguments on his side I would say and it's impossible to give an (serious) ranking.
But the first I would sort out is Mal Whitfield, who didn't come close to Harbig's wonderful decade old WR. Two Olympic titles is great, but you have to excel also against the clock at the highest level to be in the absolute top.
The next one might be Juri Borzakovskiy, who has a great championship record over a long period of time, but also couldn't come really close to the WR. Has some great times, also indoors, yes, but not close enough, not even to Coe's well over 20 years old mark.
What to do with Harbig? Wonderful record in 1939! European champ. But his period at this level might have been too short, also definitely his career was heavily affected by the war. Absolutely wonderful athlete, but for some reasons which are not suggestible by him he probably can't be in the top 3. But in any case he deserves a special mention.
Peter Snell also was a wonderful athlete, and his fantastic WR on grass and two Olympic titles and one Commonwealth title might be enough for some. But to me his domination just was too short. The reason why he stopped competing is not important for the question. He could have cometed well into the 1970s without having the same success anymore. And then?
Coe has these wonderful records on his side, but beside this, his domination at the absolute top just was also too short. "Just" two seasons where he clearly was the world nr. 1 isn't enough to me. Also "just" two Silvers (one even in relatively strong boycott affected competition) in global competition out of five oportunities is too weak.
Cruz has this wonderful '84 season on his side. Great times also in '85 and Bronce and Silver in '83 and '88. But he might have lost too many seasons because of injuri.
So, if I continue, there might be NO survivor at all...
But since David Rudisha is just in the middle of his career, I think Wilson Kipketer really has the strongest arguments for the nr. 1 spot on his side.
Total domination of the event for 3 seasons (with almost unique level until then in two of them). 3 WC Golds, Silver and Bronce from the OG as well as 1 Gold and two more medals from World Indoor Champs. And we all know that in '96 he really was close to unbeatable, while not allowed to compete in Atlanta. Also over a decade at, or very close to, the top. So, his record also is far from "perfect" but I think looking on all the aspects he has the strongest arguments on his side.
But for sure we also should never forget the Coe - for example - during the greatest part of his career has had an almost equel 2nd event, whilest Kipketer (and most of the others) concentrated solely on the 800m.
But as said, I really don't want to give an ultimate answer to the question. It's unanswerable.