Ghirmay Ghebreselassie waving goodbye: Baller Move Of The Year (BMOY)

Steve Ovett did this in dozens of races.

I saw that too. Dropped him and waved! Adios Rotich!

I am more partial to Eliud Kipchoge's "Don't worry, I am not going yet" at a water stop in the Rio marathon before blasting the wheels off the joint a few miles later.

That was down the final straight of the mile. This was with miles to go in a marathon. Not even in the same zip code in brashness. This kid will be one of the all-time greats. We need photo/video for those that missed it.

are you ventolin? wrote:

Steve Ovett did this in dozens of races.

is the wave at 1:27:50+ on this clip?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhw_XYBsO30

He has awkward form, which just goes to show you how little the "look" of it matters. Rotich looks much smoother and appears to have less "wasted" motion. But you see the result.

YES!! 1:27:53 to be exact. Watch Rotich...bares his teeth in pain and frustration! Incredible, surreal moment, with bicyclists, male runners, a female runner, a para-athlete and motorcycles strewn about...

songsta wrote:

is the wave at 1:27:50+ on this clip?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhw_XYBsO30

I've noticed that the smaller the runner, the "noisier" the form can be. At 5'4", Ghirmay has plenty of leeway on this. Wilson Kipsang, at 5'10", has much quieter and smoother form. And of course, Rudisha at 6'3" is smooth as silk.

The Overexplainer wrote:

He has awkward form, which just goes to show you how little the "look" of it matters. Rotich looks much smoother and appears to have less "wasted" motion. But you see the result.

As we explained in our race recap, Ghebreselassie at the press conference after said he actually wanted Rotich to stay with him when he gestured with his hand.

Ghebreslassie said of the hand gesture, "We were helping each other before he dropped back. Then after I look back once and he was a little bit far from me, and I was really a little bit angry with him because we were helping each other. I was thinking maybe others from behind can catch him (and conceivably Ghebreslassie).”

More here:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2016/11/ghirmay-ghebrselassie-wins-new-york-abdi-abdirahman-us-third-five-americans-top-10/

I also thought it was cool when they high fived on the course after Gheb won, grabbed his flag, and was doing a celebration on the course, as Rotich was still coming the other way to the finish.

are you ventolin? wrote:

Steve Ovett did this in dozens of races.

...all of which were against weak non-African competition.

For sure wejo! The gesture in question from 1:27:50 was hardly a gesture. A fraction of a second while the runners were very busy, with quick cadence, really working hard. Wasn't really a wave as we westerners would understand it.

But that high five was awesome! Classy

rupp-certified salaadbar wrote:

are you ventolin? wrote:

Steve Ovett did this in dozens of races.

...all of which were against weak non-African competition.

Yeah, when Ovett ran in the 1980 Olympics he only competed against the previous (and also future) 800m/1500m/Mile WR holder (Coe), the current 1500m/Mile WR holder (himself), and the future 1500m/Mile/2000m WR holder (Steve Cram).

Who else has ever had to compete against such a weak field? Nobody ever in history had a field that set 17 outdoor WRs over 800m, 1000m, 1500m, Mile and 2000m.

Weak indeed!

Before EPO, only Aouita was able to break a British WR and he only did it in the 1500m.

Dastardly Deed wrote:

That was seriously one of the most impressive things I've seen in 45 years of running. Just crushed it.

You're reading too much into that hand gesture. That wasn't a wave.

are you ventolin? wrote:

Steve Ovett did this in dozens of races.

Like this?

The Overexplainer wrote:

rupp-certified salaadbar wrote:

...all of which were against weak non-African competition.

Before EPO, only Aouita was able to break a British WR and he only did it in the 1500m.

Aouita also broke Moorcroft's 5000m WR.

This was the Olympic 800 champion a week or so later running a world class 5000!! How many other 800 runners had the same range?

That's how you feel when you timed your EPO shots just right.

Dastardly Deed wrote:

That was seriously one of the most impressive things I've seen in 45 years of running. Just crushed it.

Dastardly Deed wrote:

That was seriously one of the most impressive things I've seen in 45 years of running. Just crushed it.

Talk about an extreme over-reaction. That wasn't a wave - not even close.

great wave, but it was so great when Rotich held his hand out for a hi-five and they just both looked so happy finishing.

Big payday for both I suppose