JohnnyS wrote:
Your (lack of) reasoning clearly shows you have never been a real athlete. ”If he’s injured a lot he should do something about it”. What do you think he does? Sits on his ass and does nothing? Injuries are complicated and does not necessarily go away just because you want them to, even if you put in the work. Anyways, the discussion about that detail is pointless as Bekele despite this still has a track record far superior of that of Kipchoge.
Did you read the Kenenisa Reconstructed article where Jos Hermens explained how the NN running team intervened and brought Bekele to Netherlands to work with a nutritionist and physiotherapist to fix his muscle weaknesses, training program and weight that were causing his injuries? He just hadn't trained or lived like an athlete most part of the year, and apparently this had been going on for many years during his marathon career. It seemed like he eventually had to be pressured to do it (or he would be cut from NN team), they had tried to get him there in the past. I wouldn't say he "sat on his ass and did nothing" but certainly he wasn't doing what he should have, refusing help until his management forced the issue.
If he had lived and trained consistently like Kipchoge, maybe he would be much better? But he didn't, so he isn't. He certainly seems to be the more talented of the two, but not better.