Who has had the better career - Nick Symmonds or Clayton Murphy?

Neither they have to run HAHAHA

Symmonds got a world silver in 2013.

Silver > Bronze.

Oly bronze equal/better than WC silver

duhhh wrote:

Symmonds got a world silver in 2013.

Silver > Bronze.

In my mind they are dead to rights. One does it in one glorious year, the other grinds it out over a decade. Apples and oranges, yet they feel very equivalent. Good thread topic.

bored on a Sat night wrote:

Tale of the tape :

Olympic medals - 1 for Murphy, zero for Symmonds.

USA titles: 6 for Symmonds, 1 for Murphy.

NCAA titles: Symmonds won a ton but they were D3, Murphy won 800 indoors and 1500 outdoors this year.

PRs: Basically the same (1:42.95 symonds, 1:42.93 Murphy)

Nice job leaving out the best accomplishment of Symmonds, his world championship silver in 2013.

This is an interesting thread topic, but you're asking a couple questions as you phrase it "Who has had the better career" and "Which career would you rather have?" Not necessarily the same answer.

Who has had the better career if neither ever runs another step? Is anyone even seriously debating this question? 100% Symmonds. Murphy had an epic 2016 and you could argue it's better than any one year in Symmonds' career, but one season does not make a CAREER. Almost a decade on top with an impressive streak of US titles and a World silver makes for a better overall career than Murphy's one year in the sun.

Which career would I rather have? That's a little tougher because an Olympic medal is the epitome of our sport and Symmonds doesn't have one. It's matter of preference, but I'd go with Symmonds. I rather have a long career enjoying life at the top of the world than one glorious season and then never be heard from again. Plus if Murphy stopped now he'd always have to wonder what he "could have" done. Symmonds can rest easy knowing he got the best out of himself.

Not to mention Symmonds' career has been much more financially profitable than Murphy's so far.

People always seem to mention Symmonds WC silver. Being an international, I couldn't care less about his USA titles, but his WC medal is what put him on my radar as a good runner

Murphy is 21 so his career is just beginning, Symmonds will be 33 in a couple of months so he is towards the end of his career unless he winds up being like Lagat, or Johnny Gray who ran 1:43.36 at age 35.

Gray also broke 1:44 at age 36 and ran 1:45 at 39 maybe Symmonds will go after age records as 1:42.60 is probably out of reach for him, Murphy SHOULD be able to improve 4/10ths of a second So Murphy has a great shot at the AR as he will probably have 7-10 years of his prime, not a given though.

Argy Bargy wrote:

Oly bronze equal/better than WC silver

duhhh wrote:

Symmonds got a world silver in 2013.

Silver > Bronze.

In my mind they are dead to rights. One does it in one glorious year, the other grinds it out over a decade. Apples and oranges, yet they feel very equivalent. Good thread topic.

Oly not better than WC.

Rudisha was out the year Symmonds got Silver. But an Olympic medal is not significantly better than a world champs medal. And all of Symmonds other accomplishments blow away Murphy's. At this point its not even close, Symmonds career is way more impressive.

But this really isn't a fair comparison since Murphy is so much younger and just beginning his professional career. Over the next 4 or 5 years he will have the oppurtunity to add plenty of title and global medals so he may very well surpass Symmonds.

Does anybody know if the payout for Olympic and World's medals is the same? MUCH bigger audience for Oly's, and I have heard athletes imply that Oly's are the bigger prize.

If they never run another step.....

Symmonds, he has RunGum to provide an income outside of running.

Clayton is much easier to like and cheer for.

As others have said, Symmonds career is obviously better, to date, that Murphy's. Looking at single accomplishment, I'd rather have a WC silver than a Olympic bronze (and I'd rather have a WC gold than Olympic silver).

the German inquisition wrote:

If they never run another step.....

Symmonds, he has RunGum to provide an income outside of running.

Do you see how this has nothing to do with the question posed to you? It was not asked which one would make more money after their career is over, but something entirely different and nothing to do with that.

douglas burke wrote:

Murphy is 21 so his career is just beginning, Symmonds will be 33 in a couple of months so he is towards the end of his career unless he winds up being like Lagat, or Johnny Gray who ran 1:43.36 at age 35.

Do you see how this has nothing to do with the question posed to you? It was not asked which one would run fastest, or longest, or improve in the future, but something entirely different and nothing to do with that.

douglas burke wrote:

Gray also broke 1:44 at age 36 and ran 1:45 at 39 maybe Symmonds will go after age records as 1:42.60 is probably out of reach for him, Murphy SHOULD be able to improve 4/10ths of a second So Murphy has a great shot at the AR as he will probably have 7-10 years of his prime, not a given though.

Not anything to do with the question asked.

Primo Numero Uno wrote:

Rudisha was out the year Symmonds got Silver. But an Olympic medal is not significantly better than a world champs medal. And all of Symmonds other accomplishments blow away Murphy's. At this point its not even close, Symmonds career is way more impressive.

But this really isn't a fair comparison since Murphy is so much younger and just beginning his professional career. Over the next 4 or 5 years he will have the oppurtunity to add plenty of title and global medals so he may very well surpass Symmonds.

Do you see how this has nothing to do with the question posed to you? It was not asked which one is younger, or has more years left, or will add to his CV, but something entirely different and nothing to do with that.

why?murphy is hyper-arrogant in every interview i have seen. symmonds may be bro-ish, but he knows how to conduct himself professionally and is a great representative/voice for USA track & fieldMurphy said he wanted to go after the world record after winning his bronze......hahaha

From Seattle live wrote:

Clayton is much easier to like and cheer for.