theunknownrunner wrote:
You don't think that Jesse Owens, or Bobby Morrow, or Bob freaking Hayes could have won multiple titles in the current environment?
That said, I'll take Bullet Bob Hayes.
This is a fair point. If we include that scenario, Tommie Smith 19.83 in 1968 with arms raised nearly 12 meters before the finish. Suspended from the rest of the games and next Olympics.
Otherwise, Carl Lewis. Yohan Blake is hard to leave out, he's losing to the greatest sprinter, but he's been amazing.
The numbers.
Carl Lewis has 9 gold medals,1 silver. (but 4 were in the LJ)
He has 10 WC medals, (3 were in the LJ)
he also held the WR in 1991 and held it for 3 years and anchored the 4X100M to a WR
The 1991 WC also featured his best LJ ever. 5 jumps over 28-5 and three jumps over 29-feet (2 were legal)
That '91 championship was crazy.
Bolt
It's Jesse Owens, and he was probably faster than Bolt. His times are slower, but he was running on a cinder track in primitive shoes. Give him a modern track, modern spikes and some time to get used to it and he beats Bolt.
My vote is for Michael Johnson, but some other names in consideration are lewis, van niekerk and yohan blake.
Lewis: multiple gold medals and WR, would be the clear winner if you included LJ as well.
Van Niekerk: WR in the 400, only man in history to be in the sub 10/20/44 club, needs to drop his 200 time a bit to be in the discussion for me.
Blake: #2 all time in both 100/200, never held an individual WR and only global title came when bolt false-started.
Also worth mentioning that only 2 sprinters are ranked in the top 100 AT rankings in 3 different events. Lewis (100/200/LJ) and Van Niekerk (100/200/400).
Ben Johnson
Sumdude wrote:
It's Jesse Owens, and he was probably faster than Bolt. His times are slower, but he was running on a cinder track in primitive shoes. Give him a modern track, modern spikes and some time to get used to it and he beats Bolt.
Jesse Owens ran 10.3 hand timed. Thats 10.55 ish auto timing. Bolt ran 9.58 and 9.63.
Thats nearly a second difference. I dont know that cinders are a sec difference. I think Bolt is faster
No serious discussion on this matter is complete without considering Tyson Homosexual.
Sirius wrote:
No serious discussion on this matter is complete without considering Tyson Homosexual.
hahaha
Brainy smurf wrote:
Michael Johnson. Simultaneously held 2 of the most impressive records in track.
Best sprinter should include significant performances and wins in the 100. This puts MJ further down the list.
The 400 is a Dash too-a controlled sprint!
I thought about Tyson, but for me he has a similar case as blake, but with slower times. That is why I gave blake the edge.
Screw you with your sexist rules.
Marita Koch
Jim Hines - first to break 10.00.
Yohan Blake #2 in the 100 and #2 in the 200 behind Usian
Best American Sprinter: Shawn Crawford
Best non-black Sprinter: Su Bingtian
Charley Paddock: The California Cannonball.
Sleepy wrote:
The 400 is a Dash too-a controlled sprint!
I neither stated nor implied the 400 is not a sprint. If you don't break 10 for the 100 or maybe even 9.9 in the 100, you're definitely not one of the top 5 sprinters of all time.
I agree
The best sprinter of all time can't suck at the 100
That's a no for Michael Johnson
I’m a D2 female runner. Our coach explicitly told us not to visit LetsRun forums.
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