Agree or disagree? Jessica Ennis-Hill's coach thinks she's "the greatest British athlete of all time"

Maybe not the greatest, but Paula is definitely up there. Her WR will be untouchable at least for 30 years

Criticising anyone failing to win medals for not competing in an event because of injury or illness is ridiculous.

Farah has probably the most advanced physiological, health and training set up of any athlete in history. Certainly there wasn't that sort of back up in the early 80's to detect injuries and health issues in advance.

With your philosophy, Lillian Board must have been a failure for succumbing to cancer in her early 20's and dying!?

You cherry pick Farah's races. If you're going to include races Coe didn't contend due to not being there, then at least afford the same stupid criteria for Farah. He was eligible to have run in last 3 Olympics, possibly 4, and at least 6 World Championships, many of which he didn't medal in at all.

When Farah was running against the likes of Bekele he came nowhere. All his success has been in an era where there is less competition. His doubles are comprised of a 1 off 10k, no rounds like Viren or Yifter had to run, and just a heat before a 5k final. Viren ran a heat, semi and final.

Farah has zero WRs in any event and isn't in the all time top 10 for either of his main events. Coe broke 8 outdoor WRs in 4 events, and is still in the ALL time top 3 in 2 of them! And he was competing 30+ years ago.

rojo wrote:

He admits he's biased but objectively what do you think when he says this, "People will say I am biased but to my mind Jess is the greatest British athlete of all time."

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/oct/13/jessica-ennis-hill-grandad-fiver-pb-became-skint

NAnd when he says that does athlete simply mean track and field athlete? Or can it be any sport? What do you think?

Who should be ranked ahead of her?

Part of being a great athlete is being great at precisely the RIGHT TIME. Jessica Ennis-Hill singularly captured the British imagination coming into the 2012 London Olympics and basically became its poster child -- dealing with the pressure with apparent grace and appropriately British humility. Then she delivered the goods with a whole nation hanging on her every event.

Is she the greatest in pure terms? Of course not -- but can you name a British athlete whose success meant more than Ennis's did at the time?

Thompson always said that the Decathlon was one event and it was a sprinting/jumping/explosive event. It may have 10 component parts but he always insisted that the way to look at it is as one event.

Personally, I like Ovett's comment on the decathlon (Daley says that that he gave it to Ovett!); nine easy events followed by one hard one and they're all useless at that! Same applies to Heptathlon!

mark b wrote:

Thompson always said that the Decathlon was one event and it was a sprinting/jumping/explosive event. It may have 10 component parts but he always insisted that the way to look at it is as one event.

Personally, I like Ovett's comment on the decathlon (Daley says that that he gave it to Ovett!); nine easy events followed by one hard one and they're all useless at that! Same applies to Heptathlon!

Didn't he call it, "Ten Mickey Mouse events and a 1500!"

I think Ovett originally nicked the quote from Ian Stewart.

I'd put Ennis in top 4 for women, along with Gunnell, Radcliffe and Holmes. If I had to pick 1 then I'd give it to Gunnell, as she's the only one of them to have won an Olympic title and set a WR.

In terms of all UK track and field athletes, she might just get in the top dozen, but not top 5.