Criag Mottram Documentary - Good stuff

Love this short documentary. Mottram, in his prime, was one of my favorites to watch. Maybe one of my favorite runners of all time. He was tough. He trained and raced hard. He wasn’t afraid to go for it. His Pre classic 2 mile in 2007 was unreal. He was in the best shape of his career in 07. His 5,000m victory in Ostrava shortly after Pre was another one ndicatir. He would have easily won worlds that year if he didn’t get injured. That began the spiral of injuries that subsequently ended his career.

How about that cameo appearance by Mo near the end. I always forget that they were in the same group before Mo became good.

A couple of thoughts -

1) what a beautiful runner in his prime, tremendously majestic.

2) well, Nic Bideau was wrong, "in 30-40 years Mottram will still have the 1500-5000m records"... looks like Gregson took down Mottram's 1500m record already.

3) Mottram was another Rupp, Ritz, Solinsky, Tegenkamp. White dude running 12:55's and not figuring out the kick like Rupp did with Salazar. Amazing Mottram's core work is identical to what Rupp/Mo do today.

4) Love how NIKE is always trying to sell SOMETHING, in this case the Free and now it's the 4%. Things don't change.

Never ceases to amaze how the one sport dominated by Africans causes such consternation, head scratching and analytics aimed at finding funding for science to help reduce their presence. The worst part is that it is often implied that the dominance is “bad for the sport” when no one raises a single question about swimming, cycling, tennis, white-water rafting, ping pong, kayaking, diving or any of the other 99% of sports dominated by white westerners.

I think Mottram’s and Salazar’s comments in that video were in bad taste.

Qwertu wrote:

How about that cameo appearance by Mo near the end. I always forget that they were in the same group before Mo became good.

I noticed the same thing. Kind of blows the theory that he didn't do any type of serious training before Salazar, doesn't it?

El Keniano wrote:

Never ceases to amaze how the one sport dominated by Africans causes such consternation, head scratching and analytics aimed at finding funding for science to help reduce their presence. The worst part is that it is often implied that the dominance is “bad for the sport” when no one raises a single question about swimming, cycling, tennis, white-water rafting, ping pong, kayaking, diving or any of the other 99% of sports dominated by white westerners.

I think Mottram’s and Salazar’s comments in that video were in bad taste.

I don't think it's to "reduce their presence", but more a question of "how do we compete with these guys?" Wouldn't matter if they were African or S. American or E. European.

One could just as easily look at the comments of the Kenyan guys about Mottram "in bad taste", if one were so inclined. And I'm sure some are. Mottram has nothing but respect for his rivals.

Ping pong is hardly dominated by white westerners. Nor is diving.

El Keniano wrote:

Never ceases to amaze how the one sport dominated by Africans causes such consternation, head scratching and analytics aimed at finding funding for science to help reduce their presence. The worst part is that it is often implied that the dominance is “bad for the sport” when no one raises a single question about swimming, cycling, tennis, white-water rafting, ping pong, kayaking, diving or any of the other 99% of sports dominated by white westerners.

I think Mottram’s and Salazar’s comments in that video were in bad taste.

I don't recall Salazar or Mottram making any disparaging comments about Africans. Both acknowledged Kenyan dominance without any apparent malice. Mottram did voice frustration over running sub 13 in a championship race but only getting a silver. And yes, mainstream journalists do question whether swimming, golf, tennis, and even baseball are too white.

El Keniano wrote:

Never ceases to amaze how the one sport dominated by Africans causes such consternation, head scratching and analytics aimed at finding funding for science to help reduce their presence. The worst part is that it is often implied that the dominance is “bad for the sport” when no one raises a single question about swimming, cycling, tennis, white-water rafting, ping pong, kayaking, diving or any of the other 99% of sports dominated by white westerners.

I think Mottram’s and Salazar’s comments in that video were in bad taste.

ping pong and diving is dominated by 99% white westerners?? Lol those are asian dominated sports.

Thanks for posting the video. Really enjoyed it.

People forget about Mottram because he wasn't a doper who was at the top for 10-15 years - he had a 4-5 year pocket of excellence where he broke 13:00 three (!) years in a row. 2005 Bronze in a tactical race and second only to Choge in the Comm Games 5K. Bauman was a doper and even still Mottram has medals against better competition.

Mottram = GOAT white guy at 5000 meters.

El Keniano wrote:

Never ceases to amaze how the one sport dominated by Africans causes such consternation, head scratching and analytics aimed at finding funding for science to help reduce their presence. The worst part is that it is often implied that the dominance is “bad for the sport” when no one raises a single question about swimming, cycling, tennis, white-water rafting, ping pong, kayaking, diving or any of the other 99% of sports dominated by white westerners.

I think Mottram’s and Salazar’s comments in that video were in bad taste.

Some of the comments by the Africans were in bad taste and overtly racist.

Mottram actually denied the cliche that Kenyan boys run to school and back.

African dominance is bad for sport, especially when it's been achieved largely through doping. Just compare videos of Bislett etc from 30 years ago with today and you'll see how bad it's been for the sport.

And yes, Europeans created and built our sport, Africans have almost killed it.

El Keniano wrote:

Never ceases to amaze how the one sport dominated by Africans causes such consternation, head scratching and analytics aimed at finding funding for science to help reduce their presence. The worst part is that it is often implied that the dominance is “bad for the sport” when no one raises a single question about swimming, cycling, tennis, white-water rafting, ping pong, kayaking, diving or any of the other 99% of sports dominated by white westerners.

I think Mottram’s and Salazar’s comments in that video were in bad taste.

The NBA is dominated by African Americans but the sports is doing just fine. Of course, people still wonder where the white players are.

Have you seen ping pong (table tennis) at the Olympics? The finals are always China vs China!!

"The Big Mazungo", up there as one of the greatest non-africans ever. Watch the 2006 Commonwealth games 5000m final to see Buster in the form of his life.

cera baby

Jgjndh wrote:

Love this short documentary. Mottram, in his prime, was one of my favorites to watch. Maybe one of my favorite runners of all time. He was tough. He trained and raced hard. He wasn’t afraid to go for it. His Pre classic 2 mile in 2007 was unreal. He was in the best shape of his career in 07. His 5,000m victory in Ostrava shortly after Pre was another one ndicatir. He would have easily won worlds that year if he didn’t get injured. That began the spiral of injuries that subsequently ended his career.

why is it that runners who never win at the olympics or world champs are described as tough and unafraid? I guess all those guys who won were afaid to go for 3rd? or were just too tough for 2nd?

Qwertu wrote:

How about that cameo appearance by Mo near the end. I always forget that they were in the same group before Mo became good.

Yes, I noticed that. Well behind. A massive change has occurred.

ppiper wrote:

El Keniano wrote:

Never ceases to amaze how the one sport dominated by Africans causes such consternation, head scratching and analytics aimed at finding funding for science to help reduce their presence. The worst part is that it is often implied that the dominance is “bad for the sport” when no one raises a single question about swimming, cycling, tennis, white-water rafting, ping pong, kayaking, diving or any of the other 99% of sports dominated by white westerners.

I think Mottram’s and Salazar’s comments in that video were in bad taste.

ping pong and diving is dominated by 99% white westerners?? Lol those are asian dominated sports.

Don't be too hard on him. The average IQ in his country is very low.

Metallic Mottram wrote:

"The Big Mazungo", up there as one of the greatest non-africans ever. Watch the 2006 Commonwealth games 5000m final to see Buster in the form of his life.

Watch that same race and see a 23 year old Mo Farah finish 9th and lose to two no name Tanzanians. Thats before he found his magic elixir

ppiper wrote:

El Keniano wrote:

Never ceases to amaze how the one sport dominated by Africans causes such consternation, head scratching and analytics aimed at finding funding for science to help reduce their presence. The worst part is that it is often implied that the dominance is “bad for the sport” when no one raises a single question about swimming, cycling, tennis, white-water rafting, ping pong, kayaking, diving or any of the other 99% of sports dominated by white westerners.

I think Mottram’s and Salazar’s comments in that video were in bad taste.

ping pong and diving is dominated by 99% white westerners?? Lol those are asian dominated sports.

He was wrong about tennis, too. Yes, almost all of the dominating players are white, but Western... not so much.