T&FN Favourite Athletes THE RESULTS No1 Haile Gebrselassie

[donley2]

3rd (14 votes 156 points)

Michael Johnson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jo ... d_field%29
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FEh7hDp ... re=related

another with loads of votes and a relatively low score

Because great as he may be he's a spectacular misery guts.

Translation? OK. I googled it, but that is definitely the first time I have ever heard that phrase.

[Goatek]

All but two of mine are in, and those two are likely at the top (since they aren't otherwise on the list, and they owned their particular events while in their prime), although one of them is my #3 and the other is my #8.

This has been an interesting exercise - it reminded me of athletes who didn't make my list, and should have, but were victims of lousy memory. And if I were to do it all over again, several on my list would likely occupy different positions, since trying to separate favorites isn't a particularly easy task ("ok, what makes athlete number 13 better than number 14"), so I tended to simply group my favorites in relative, but probably not exact, order.

I only had 2 sprinters on my list - probably could have had a couple more
I only had one shot putter and one platter tosser
I only had 2 hurdlers on the list
Had 4 marathoners... (my #1 was Shorter)
That leaves 10 who were essentially 800 - 10K, most were milers (my #2 was Scott)
Only 2 females, both distance types... probably could have had a couple more (see below)

Jesse Owens should have been on my list, but since his accomplishments were way before my time, I got caught up in "who did I see and read about", rather than include those who blazed a trail for many more to come...
I can't believe I left Boston Billy off my list
I can't believe I had Ryun so low on my list
I can't believe I left Evelyn Ashford off my list - a class act...
I was in love with Katrin Krabbe for a while... ahh, but the affair didn't last
John Walker and his 3:49.4 didn't make my list... what was I thinking?

[bman]

My problem with Bolt is that he doesn't really have an obsession with the sport like many on this list. He is a good guy no doubt about it but I tend to admire passion over other qualities. Usain just happened to be really good from a young age and stuck with it for that reason. I don't get the sense that he is a PhD student of the sprints, or will have a long career. I feel like I relate more to guys like MJ, Carl, Ben, Ato, John Smith, Lee Evans, Steve Williams etc.

Despite what we may think, there are other things in life besides track

I think one of the things we have all learned through this thing is how hypocritical our selections and sentiments about our heroes are. I really admire guys who see the big picture and use their platform to be altruistic towards others. I would have voted Tommie Smith and John Carlos towards the top for this reason. Of course this clashes with what I just wrote. I think at the end of the day we are basically choosing people we like and forming reasons for liking them afterwords .

PhD student I assume that was big punch in the face to all Jamaica students who actually studied something. I hope no one here is serious about that.

What? I did not intend to punch anyone in the face.

[pakillo]

PhD student I assume that was big punch in the face to all Jamaica students who actually studied something. I hope no one here is serious about that.

What? I did not intend to punch anyone in the face.

I meant his honorary PhD in general, not you.

[bman]

I meant his honorary PhD in general, not you.

Oh he got an honorary degree, I see.

[mojo]

I agree bman."liking" an athlete is rather like liking a friend or mate-you just feel an attraction or positive feeling towards people-it can be hard to rational or even understand but it is what it is.
This is why I won't enter into debates about it, much as the tguys would like us/me to.

Most of us do not really know the athletes we picked-they culd be complete jerks or the nicest people in the world. They could be Olympic gold medallists or "also runs". I don't really know why for example Bolt is not one of my favs-he has many of the attributes I look for and he seems like a great guy. Still I like many others more.

For example,from many accounts Mary Slaney is not a nice person but I idolized her growing up and those positive (ahem ahem) feelings are still there. She takes me back to being 15 and wanting to be half as good as she was. I think I trained just a bit harder and ran abit gutsier with her as a role model.

Not gonna overthink it-as I said before if I wrote my list now it would the same for the most part but I bet I would add and delete names based on my feelings that day (and also who popped into my feeble mind).

[mojo]

Well I was brillant but no need to say it twice!

[TN1965]

I picked Dibaba and Felix as my top two because they are the "most beautiful runners to watch."

But my #3 is Zatopek. Talk about consistency... or lack thereof.

Of course, I didn't "see" Zatopek running, except in old film clips. So that might be the difference.

[mump boy]

So we're down to the final 2

Both are the undisputed GOAT in their event, both have 2 Olympic Gold, both, one has 4 world champs gold medals the other would have at least 4 if the world champs were held in their era. One has world ranked No1 9 times in the same event, one was ranks No1 12 times over 3 events. One won 122 consecutive races, one broke 27 world records.

They both got 17 votes on our poll

but who is

Track and Field News' Favourite Athlete of all Time ??









































http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itAOGRiYRLI
















































No2 (17 votes 191 Points)

Ed Moses
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Moses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01DaMyrys20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwr-Tnjt ... ature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlbmyLP9 ... ature=plcp

[Tuariki]

Ed Moses was my #12 and my last. Saw Moses compete a couple of times.
The 1976 silver medallist was Mike Shine who ended up replacing me as an assistant coach at USMA, West Point when my assignment at West Point was coming to an end.

[mump boy]

I'm rather surprised with Ed Moses being so high, not because he doesn't deserve to be just because i didn't realise he was so popular, he's not someone you hear people talking about a lot. but i honestly can't think of anyone who is more deserving to be on this kind of list, absolute GOAT, lovely guy and a class act

[Flumpy]

That's exactly what I was going to say. I was shocked when I heard he'd ended up so high. Not that he doesn't deserve to be be just that despite his dominance his achievements seem to have been somewhat forgotten.

Obviously he was going to show up some where bjt he easily could have been in the 30's and I wouldn't have been surprised.

As it is I'm really glad to see him where he is.

The '87 WC race has got to be one of te greatest of all time in any event.

[mump boy]

mustn't forget that

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31ivI3djjsw

[26mi235]

Moses was one of mine (but list is home and I am at work so I cannot remember where). Following the link I also watched Koch's 47.60 -- from Lane 2.

[Marlow]

For the T&F fanatic, Edwin Moses is cherished not only for his records and championships won, but especially for the thoroughness of preparation. He studied the event and his own capabilities(13 all the way) like a law student for the bar exam - all in! You can't NOT admire a guy who 'appreciates' (in every sense of the word) what his event entails. He, like Jonathan Edwards, is a guy I tell my athletes about, in hopes that they come to understand what role preparation plays in an athlete's success.

[lonewolf]

I agree bman."liking" an athlete is rather like liking a friend or mate-you just feel an attraction or positive feeling towards people-it can be hard to rational or even understand but it is what it is.
This is why I won't enter into debates about it, much as the tguys would like us/me to.

mojo has it right.. there is no way to define and no need to defend personal favorites.

[pakillo]

I wasn't even born when Edwin Moses won his first World gold but I knew who he was from the early years I've been into this sport.

[preston]

I USED to be a huge Edwin Moses fan, but unfortunately what I remember MOST about him is that he seemed ungracious in defeat in '88. He also "implied" that he may have been beaten by PED's... Champions take their beatings and don't make excuses, it was such a letdown.

I want to believe that all that he did before that would occlude that moment but it doesn't, it really let the air out. But, he HAD mystique, he had dominance and he had the conqueror's headgear - but I'm not sure if it's that of a King or a Sorcerer.

[mump boy]

1st (17 votes 214 points)

Hailie Gebresellasie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haile_Gebrselassie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxuqiM7e ... re=related

[Vault-emort]

Yep.

And Geb (#5), Catherine (#3) and MJ (#15) combining - with a few others who were not on my list - to give me the greatest live session of athletics I have ever seen (and probably will ever see). I'm sure most of you know the date..

[dukehjsteve]

IT'S OVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AT LAST IT'S OVER !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Marlow]

IT'S OVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AT LAST IT'S OVER !!!!!!!!!!!!

And THAT post, dear friends, was the

1500th post!

a record, I presume.

[mump boy]

Am i world record holder ??

I couldn't have done it without you guys

[Pego]

Here is a complete list in the alphabetical orders. I tried to correct what I knew, but some errors clearly have to be there. This is probably as good as it gets without somebody's major expanse of time and energy.

Ackerman Rosie - T333
Adams Russel - T223
Adams-Villi Valerie - T47
Akabussi Kris - T296
Alekna Virgilius - 59
Antyukh Natalya - T366
Aouita Said - 65
Armstrong Dylan - T236
Arron Christine - T144
Ashford Evelyn - 7
Attlesey Richard - T191
Augusto Jessica - T393
Austin Charles - T62
Baala Mehdi - T202
Babakova Inga - T296
Bailey Donovan - T313
Banks Willie - 101
Bannister Roger - T144
Barnes Steve - T418
Barras Romain - T260
Barrios Yargelis - T348
Batten Kim - T366
Baumann Dieter - T175
Beamon Bob - T296
Beatty Jim - T115
Beatty Jim - T168
Bekele Kenenisa T141
Benhassi Hasna - T251
Benoit Joan - 57
Berutti Livio - 162
Bikila Abebe - 33
Blank Peter - T348
Blankers-Koen Fanny - 56
Board Lillian T185
Boit Mike - T348
Bolding Jim - T168
Boldon Ato - T134
Bolt Usain - 4
Bondarchuk Anatoliy - T175
Borgia Lazaro - T333
Boston Ralph - 69
Boysen Auden - T209
Bragg Don - T260
Branch Ricky - T418
Brasher Chris - T251
Brehmer Anke - T366
Breuer Grit - T175
Brewer Jim - T223
Brown Phil - T348
Browning Ross - T366
Brumel Valeriy - 22
Bubka Sergey - 38
Cabbler Monica - T418
Cacho Fermin - T418
Calhoun Lee - T131
Cameron Bert - T118
Campbell Milt - T348
Campbell-Brown Veronica - T115
Cantello Al - T366
Carlos John - T333
Carr Dennis - T393
Carr Henry - T236
Carter Mike - T380
Cassidy Quentin - T296
Chambers Dwain - T296
Chi Cheng - T393
Christie Linford - 105
Christie Linford - T159
Chudina Alexandra - T185
Clark Ron - 45
Clay Brian - T120
Coe Seb - 16
Coghlan Eamon - T141
Collins Kim - T151
Conley Mike - T273
Connolly Harold - T273
Corbey Ted - T380
Courtney Tom - T366
Cram Steve - T141
Cram Steve - T260
Crawford Shawn - T333
Cruz Joaquim - T125
Cuthbert Betty - T296
da Silva Fereira Adhemar - T418
Davenport Willie - T348
Davies Lynn - T333
Davis Glenn - 74
Davis Otis - T236
Deal Lance - T131
Defar Meseret - T418
Delis Luis - T418
Devers Gail - 31
Diagana Stephen - 126
Dial Joe - T260
Dibaba Tirunesh - 75
Didrikson Babe - T149
Diemer Brian - T168
Dix Walter - T380
Donkova Jordanka - T168
Dragila Stacy - T67
Drayton Jerome - T348
Drayton Paul - T273
Drechsler Heike - 19
Duplantis Mondo - T348
Dyaldin Maxim - T218
Eaton Ashton - T134
Edwards Jonathan - 40
El Guerrouj Hicham T96
Elliot Herb - 30
Ennis Jessica - 21
Ereng Paul - T366
Evans Lee - T218
Ewell Norwood - T418
Ewry Ray - T418
Famiglietti Antony - T418
Farah Mo - 51
Farmer-Patrick Sandra - T159
Faust Joe - T236
Favor-Hamilton Suzy - T236
Felicien Perdita - T380
Felix Allyson - 64
Fenton Lorraine - T348
Feuerbach Al - T141
Fibingerová Helena T218
Fikotová-Connolly Olga - T260
Fosbury Dick - T418
Foster Bridget - T366
Fraser-Price Shelly Ann - T155
Fredericks Frankie - 76
Freeman Cathy - 8
Fucci Drew - T236
Fukushi Kayoko - T393
Galfione Jean - 142
Gataulin Rodion - T175
Gatlin Justin - T313
Gay Tyson - T91
Gebresellasie Hailie - 1
George Emma - T366
George Walter - T236
Gill Jacko - 103
Glenn Brianna - T218
Godina John - T185
Göhr Marlies - 54
Green Charlie - T125
Green Joe - T418
Griffiths-Joyner Florence - 29
Gunnell Sally - T366
Günthor Werner - T313
Halberg Murry - T366
Hanson Asha - T418
Harper Dawn - T218
Harry Armin - T380
Harting Robert - T313
Hassay Jordan - T333
Hattestad Trine - T418
Hayes Bob - 55
Heine Jutt - T348
Hemmings Dionne - T366
Henkel Heike - 160
Herbert Llewelyn - T333
Hingsen Jürgen - T251
Holm Stefan - T84
Holm Uwe - T146
Holmes Kelly - T26
Hooker Steve - T251
Hudson Shiela - T251
Hutson Kylie - T273
Idowu Phillips - T333
Isinbayeva Yelena - 100
Jackson Colin - T149
James Larry - T131
James Larry - T191
Jarnvin Kip - T348
Jarrett Tony - T296
Jenner Bruce - T209
Jerome Harry - T223
Jimoh Fumni - T209
Johnson Allen - 41
Johnson Jan - T333
Johnson Michael - 3
Jones Hayes - T333
Jones Lolo - T236
Joyner-Kersee Jackie - 5
Juanterena Alberto - 49
Kaiser-Brown Natasha - T296
Kallur Susannah - T98
Kaniskina Olga - T313
Keino Kip - 34
Kennedy Bob - T348
Kilpatrick Charles - T418
King Leamon - T380
Kingdom Roger - T191
Kipchoge Eliud - T209
Kipketer Wilson - 32
Kiptanui Moses - T202
Klüft Carolina - 36
Koch Marita - 43
Kolosa Marion - T393
Komen Daniel - T251
Korzeniowski Robert - T273
Kotlyarova Olga - T185
Kotova Tatyana - T393
Kozakiewicz Vladislav - T333
Krabbe Katrin - T273
Kraenzlein Alvin - T251
Kratochvílová Jarmila T131
Kristiansen Ingrid - T418
Kuch Johnny - T260
Kumbernuss Astrid - T273
Kuts Vladimir - T209
Lagat Bernard - 28
Landy John - T333
Lannerman Sonia - 109
Lavillenie Renauld - T313
Lebedeva Tatyana - T82
Lehocká-Glesková Eva - T296
Lemaitre Christophe - T155
Lewis Carl - 6
Lewis Denise - 81
Lilaak Tina - T223
Lindgren Gerry - T94
Liquori Marty - T134
Little Kevin - T313
Litvinov Sergei - T380
Lomong Lopez - T380
Long Dallas - T418
Lowe-Howard Chaunte - T296
Lusis Janis - T251
Macey Dean - T62
Maree Sydney - T366
Marsh Mike - T260
Masterkova Svetlana - 111
Mathias Bob - 102
Mathias Bob - T149
Matson Ollie - T202
Matson Randy - T251
Matzdorf Pat - T191
May Fiona - T82
Mbango Francoise - T236
McKinley Herb - T313
Melinte Doina - 90
Mesnil Romaine - 93
Milburn Rob - T366
Miles Jearl - 152
Miller Inger - T273
Mills Billy - T141
Mimoun Alain - T313
Mirra Jonni - T209
Moro Gerry - T218
Morrow Bobby - 53
Moses Ed - 2
Mottram Craig - T418
Murer Fabiana - T236
Murofushi Koji - 104
Mutola Maria - 13
Myers Lawrence - T296
Myricks Larry - T418
Nehemiah Renaldo - 35
Nelson Adam - T120
Nix Sunder - T333
Noolo Erki - T141
Nurmi Paavo - T26
Obergföll Christina - T175
Obikwelu Francis - T380
O'Brian Dan - 38
O'Brien Perry - 79
Oerter Al - 14
Ogunkoya Falilat - T202
Ohourogu Christine - T202
Oldfield Brian - 46
Olijars Stanislaw - T122
Olmstead Doug - T251
O'Sullivan Marcus - T380
O'Sullivan Sonia - 161
Ottey Merlene - 9
Ovett Steve - 15
Owens Jesse - 25
Packer Anne - T296
Paivarinta Pekka - T185
Pascoe Alan - T273
Paulino Tina - T185
Pearson Sally - 106
Pedroso Ivan - T91
Perec Marie-Jose - T67
Perlov Andrei - T333
Peters Mary - T60
Phillips Dwight - T313
Pirie Gordon - T251
Plaatjes Mark - T380
Plachý Jozef - T218
Plummer Adolf - T296
Potapovich Igor - T185
Powell Asafa - T296
Powell Mike - T87
Prandzeva Iva - T296
Prefontain Steve - 24
Price-Smith Connie - T155
Privalova Irina - 66
Pukstys Tom - T393
Quarrie Don - 58
Quirot Anna - 20
Radcliffe Paula - 10
Rand Mary - T122
Ratty Seppo - T115
Reese Brittny - T393
Reynolds Butch - T236
Rhimes Jen - T273
Rhoden George - T296
Ribeiro Fernando - T236
Richards Sanya - T202
Richardson Mark - T393
Robles Dayron - T251
Rono Henry - 48
Rose Nick - T202
Rosenthal Heidi - T313
Rudolph Wilma - 71
Ryun, Jim - 17
Sacramento Carla - T175
Saladino Irving - T273
Salazar Alberto - T366
Samaria Agnes - T366
Samolenko Tatyana - T159
Sanchez Felix - T141
Sanderson Tessa - T87
Saneyev Viktor - T118
Savigne Yargelis - T251
Schmidt Kate - T251
Schmidt Wolfgang - T202
Schull Bob - T296
Schult Jürgen - T296
Scott Steve - 112
Seagren Bob - T96
Šebrle Roman - 37
Sedykh Juriy - T333
Semenya Caster - T146
Shaheen Saif Saaed - T223
Sheaffer Skip - T380
Shelton Ernie - T218
Shorter Frank -23
Silver Ruis - T333
Sime Dave - 110
Simon Lydia - T313
Simpson-Barringer Jen - T296
Sjoberg Patrick - T273
Skobla Jiří - T348
Slaney Mary - 42
Slijkhuis Wilem - T209
Slupianek Ilona - T313
Smith Calvin - T98
Smith John - T313
Smith Kim - T185
Smith Rutger - T348
Smith Tommie - 44
Snell Peter - 18
So Shingeru - T418
Solinsky Chris - T366
Song Kee-Chong -T348
Sotherton Kelly - T191
Sotomayor Javier - T393
Southern Eddie - T333
Stanciu Anisoara - T333
Stewart Jessie - T313
Stone Dwight - T151
Strickland Shirley - T168
Sturrup Sandra - T236
Suhr Jenn - T296
Szabó Gabi - T168
Szewinska Irena - 28
Taylor Christian - T380
Tergat Paul - T84
Thompson Daily - 12
Thompson Kemal - T418
Thorkildsen Andreas T77
Thorpe Jim - T60
Thränhardt Carlo - T313
Tirlea Ionela - T296
Tollefson Carrie - T260
Torrence Gwen - T77
Tosa Reiko - T418
Tulu Derartu - T144
Usha PT - T118
Van Langen Ellen - T251
Van Zyl L.J. - T418
Vigneron Thierry - T202
Viren Lasse - 50
Vlašić Blanka T87
Vriesde Leatitia - T191
Waitz Grete - 52
Walker John - T125
Wang Junxia - T202
Wanjiru Sammy - T418
Wariner Jeremy - 86
Watts Quincey - T380
Wessinghage Thomas - T393
Wheating Andrew - T273
Whitfield Mal - T175
Wilkinson Mac - T94
Williams Jeff - T218
Williams Lauren - T366
Williams Percy - T313
Williams Steve - T185
Williams Ulis - 156
Wilson Paul - T393
Wint Arthur - T333
Wockel Barbel - T393
Wolhuter Rick - T296
Woods George - T418
Wottle Dave - T296
Xanthou Nikki - T333
Xiang Liu - 47
Yashchenko Vladimir - T202
Yifter Miruts - T260
Zátopek Emil - 11
Zátopková Dana - T202
Železný Jan - 70

[SQUACKEE]

I'm glad the athlete who deserved no.1 got it! Athough Pre would have been a great choice as well.

[preston]

I'm glad the athlete who deserved no.1 got it! Athough Pre would have been a great choice as well.

Deserved? That wasn't part of the exercise. This was about personal favorites. The #1 pick and #10 pick are nearly equal in my eyes.

[Daisy]

Here is a complete list in the alphabetical orders. I tried to correct what I knew, but some errors clearly have to be there.

This is the final list I have. Our position numbers do differ a bit.

1st (17 votes 214 points)
Haile Gebrselassie

2nd (17 votes 191 Points)
Edwin Moses

3rd (14 votes 156 points)
Michael Johnson

4th (14 votes 124 points)
Usain Bolt

5th (13 votes 189 points)
Jackie Joyner Kersee

6th (13 votes 186 points)
Carl Lewis

7th (13 votes, 149 poiints)
Evelyn Ashford

8th (11 votes 148 points)
Cathy Freeman

9th (11 votes 146 points)
Merlene Ottey

10th (11 votes 138 points)
Paula Radcliffe

11th (11 votes 134 points)
Emil Zátopek

12th (11 votes 129 points)
Daley Thompson

13th (10 votes 120 points)
Maria Mutola

14th (10 votes 112 points)
Al Oerter

15th (9 votes 117 votes)
Steve Ovett

16th (9 votes 108 points)
Seb Coe

17th (9 votes 106 points)
Jim Ryun

18th (9votes 91 points)
Peter Snell

19th (9 votes 82 points)
Heike Drechsler

20th (8 votes 107 points)
Ana Quirot

21st (8 votes 71 points)
Jessica Ennis

22nd (7 votes 110 points)
Valeriy Brummel

23rd (7 votes 108 points)
Frank Shorter
Steve Prefontaine

25th (7 votes 98 points)
Jesse Owens

26th (7 votes 82 points)
Kelly Holmes
Paavo Nurmi

28th (7 votes 81)
Bernard Lagat

29th (7 votes 79 points)
Irena Szewinska

30th (7 votes 78 points)
Florence Griffiths Joyner

31st (7 votes 72 points)
Herb Elliot

32nd (7 votes 67 points)
Gail Devers

33rd (7 votes 66 points)
Wilson Kipketer

34th ( 6 votes 87 points)
Abebe Bikila

35th (6 votes 74 points)
Kip Keino

36th (6 votes 72 points)
Renaldo Nehemiah

37th (6 votes 70 points)
Carolina Kluft

38th (6 votes 63 points)
Roman Sebrle

39th (6 votes 62 points)
Dan O'Brien
Sergie Bubka

41st (6 votes 56 points)
Jonathon Edwards

42nd (6 votes 54 points)
Allen Johnson

43rd (6 votes 45 points)
Mary Slaney

44th (5 votes 88 points)
Marita Koch

45th (5 votes 85 points)
Tommie Smith

46th (5 votes 62 poiints)
Ron Clark

47th (5 votes 58 points)
Brian Olfield

48th (5 votes 50 points)
Valerie Adams

49th (5 votes 47 points)
Lui Xiang

50th ( 5 votes 46 points)
Henry Rono

51st (5 votes 41 points)
Alberto Juanterena

52nd (5 votes 39 points)
Lasse Viren

53rd (5 votes 38 points)
Mo Farah

54th (5 votes 32 points)
Greta Waitz

55th (4 votes 67 points)
Bobby Morrow

56th (4 votes 60 points)
Marlies Gohr

57th (4 votes 58 points)
Bob Hayes

58th (4 votes 56 points)
Fanny Blankers Koen

59th (4 votes 54 points)
Joan Benoit

60th (4 votes 51 points)
Don Quarrie

61st (4 votes 50 points)
Virgilijus Alekna

62nd (4 votes 47 points)
Jim Thorpe
Mary Peters

64th (4 votes 46 points)
Charles Austin
Dean Macey

66th ( 4 votes 44 points)
Allyson Felix

67th (4 votes 43 points)
Said Aouita

68th ( 4 votes 40 points)
Irina Privalova

69th (4 votes 39 points)
Marie Jose Perec
Stacy Dragila

71st (4 votes 38 points)
Ralph Boston

72nd (4 votes 33 points)
Jan Zelezney

73rd (4 votes 16 points)
Wilma Rudolph

74th ( 3 votes 55 points)
Glenn Davis

75th (3 votes 48 points)
Tirunesh Dibaba

76th (3 votes 47 points)
Frankie Fredericks

77th (3 votes 44 points)
Andreas Thorkildsen
Gwen Torrence

79th (3 votes 42 points)
Parry O'Brien

80th (3 votes 40 points)
Kathy Cook

81st (3 votes 38 points)
Denise Lewis

82nd (3 points 37 points)
Fiona May
Tatyana Lebedeva

84th (3 votes 36 points)
Paul Tergat
Stefan Holm

86th (3 votes 35 points)
Jeremy Wariner

87th (3 votes 33 points)
Blanka Vlasic
Mike Powell
Tessa Sanderson

90th (3 votes 31 points)
Doina Melinte

91st (3 votes 30 points)
Ivan Pedroso
Tyson Gay

93rd (3 votes 29 points)
Romain Mesnil

94th (3 votes 28 points)
Gerry Lindgren
Mac Wikinson

96th (3 votes 26 points)
Bob Seagran
Hicham El Guerrouj

98 - (3 votes 25 points)
Calvin Smith
Susannah Kallur

100 (3 votes 21 points)
Yelena Isinbyeva

101 (3 votes 18 points)
Willie Banks

102nd (3 votes 16 points)
Bob Mathias

103rd (3 votes 14 points)
Jacko Gill

104th (3 votes 12 points)
Koji Murofushi

105th (3 votes 10 points)
Linford Christie

106th (3 votes 5 points)
Sally Pearson

109th (2 votes 40 points)
Sonia Lannerman

110th (2 votes 32 points)
Igor Ter Ovanesyn

111th (2 votes 31 points)
Dave Sime

112th (2 votes 30 points)
Svetlana Masterkova

113th (2 votes 29 points)
Steve Scott

114th (2 votes 28 points)
Jim Beatty
Seppo Ratty
Veronica Campbell Brown

117th (2 Votes 27 points)
Bert Cameron
PT Usha
Viktor Saneyev

120th (2 votes 25 points)
Adam Nelson
Brian Clay

122nd (2 votes 24 points)
Mary Rand
Staņislavs Olijars

124th (2 Votes 23 points)
Charlie Green
Joaquim Cruz
John Walker

127th (2 votes 22 points)
Stephan Diagana

128th (2 votes 21 points)
Harrison Dillard
Jarmilla Kratochvilova
Lance Deal
Larry James
Lee Calhoun

133rd (2 votes 20 points)
Ashton Eaton
Ato Boldon
Marty Liquori

136th (2 votes 19 points)
Al Feuerbach
Billy Mills
Eamon Coghlan
Erki Nool
Felix Sanchez
Kenenisa Bekele
Steve Cram

143rd (2 votes 18 points)
Jean Galfione
Rafer Johnson

145th (2 votes 17 points)
Christine Arron
Deratu Tulu
Roger Bannister

148th (2 votes 16 points)
Caster Semenya
Uwe Holm

150th (2 votes 14 points)
Babe Didrikson
Bob Richards
Colin Jackson

153rd (2 votes 13 points)
Dwight Stone
Kim Collins

155th (2 votes 12 points)
Jearl Miles

156th ( 2 votes 11 points)
Christophe Lamaitre
Connie Price Smith
Shelly Anne Fraser Price

159th (2 votes 10 points)
Ulis Williams

160th (2 votes 9 points)
Sandra Farmer Patrick
Tatyana Samelenko

162nd (2 votes 8 points)
Heike Henkel

163rd (2 votes 6 points)
Sonia O'Sulivan

164th (2 votes 4 points)
Livio Berruti

165th (1vote 20 points)
Brian Diemer
Gabo Szabo
Jim Bolding
Shirley Strickland
Yordanka Donkova

170th (1 vote 19 points)
Anatoly Bonderchuk
Carla Sacramento
Christina Obergföll
Dieter Baumann
Grit Breur
Mal Whitfield
Radion Gataullin

177th (1 vote 18 points)
Alexandra Chudina
Igor Potapovich
John Godina
Kim Smith
Lillian Board
Olga Kotylarova
Pekka Paivarinta
Steve Williams
Tina Paulino

186th (1 Vote 17 points)
Kelly Sotherton
Leatitia Vriesde
Pat Matzdorf
Richard Attlesey
Roger Kingdom

191st (1 vote 16 points)
Christine Ohourogu
Dana Zatopekova
Falilat Ogunkoya
Mehdi Baala
Moses Kiptanui
Nick Rose
Ollie Matson
Sanya Richards
Thierrry Vigneron
Vladimir Yashchenko
Wang Junxia
Wolfgand Schmidt

203rd (1 vote 15 points)
Auden Boysen
Bruce Jenner
Eliud Kipchoge
Fumni Jimoh
Jonni Myrra
Vladamir Kuts
Wim Slijkhuis

210th - (1 vote 14 points)
Briana Glen
Dawn Harper
Ernie Shelton
Gerry Moro
Helena Fibingerova
Jeff Williams
Joseph Plachy
Lee Evans
Maxim Dyaldin

219th (1 vote 13 points)
Harry Jerome
Jim Brewer
Russel Adams
Saif Saaed Shaheen
Tiina Lillak

224th (1 vote 12 points)
Butch Reynolds
Chandra Stirrup
Drew Fucci
Dylan Armstrong
Fabianna Murer
Fernando Ribiero
Francoise Mbango
Henry Carr
Joe Faust
Lolo Jones
Otis Davis
Suzie Favor Hamilton
Walter George

237th (1 Vote 11 points)
Alvin Kraenzlein
Chris Brasher
Daniel Komen
Dayron Robles
Doug Olmstead
Ellen Van Langen
Gordon Pirie
Hasna Benhassi
Janis Lusis
Jeurgen Hingsen
Kate Schmidt
Randy Matson
Shiela Hudson
Steve Hooker
Yargelis Savigne

252nd (1 Vote 10 points)
Carrie Tollefson
Don Bragg
Jo Dial
Johnny Kuch
Mike Marsh
Miruts Yifter
Olga Fitova Connoly
Romain Barras

260th (1 Vote 9 Points)
Alan Pascoe
Andrew Wheating
Astrid Kumbernuss
Harold Connelly
Inger Miller
Irving Saladino
Jen Rhimes
Katrin Krabbe
Kylie Hutson
Mike Connelly
Patrick Sjoberg
Paul Drayton
Robert Korzeniowski

273rd (1 Vote 8 Points)
Adulf Plummer
Anne Packer
Asafa Powell
Betty Cuthbert
Bob Beamon
Bob Schull
Chante Howard
Dave Wottle
Dwain Chambers
Eva Glescova
George Rhoden
Inga Babakova
Ionel Tirlea
Iva Prandzeva
Jen Barringer
Jenn Suhr
Jeurgen Shult
Kris Akabusi
Lawrence Myers
Natasha Kaiser Brown
Quentin Cassidy
Rick Wolhouter
Tony Jarret

296th (1 Vote, 7 Points)
Alain Mimoun
Carlo Thranhart
Donovan Bailey
Dwight Phillips
Heidi Rosenthal
Herb McKinley
Illona Slupienek
Jessie Stewart
John Smith
Justin Gatlin
Kevin Little
Lydia Simon
Olga Kaniskina
Percy Williams
Renauld Levellanie
Robert Harting
Werner Gunthur

313th (1 Vote, 6 Points)
Andrey Perlov
Anisora Stanciu
Arthur Wint
Eddie Southern
Hayden Jones
Jan Johnson
John Carlos
John Landy
Jordan Hassay
Lazaro Borgia
Llewlyn Herbert
Lynn Davies
Nikki Xanthou
Phillips Idowu
Rosie Ackerman
Ruis Silver
Sean Crawford
Sunder Nix
Vladislav Kozakiewicz
Yuriy Sedyk

333rd (1 Vote, 5 Points)
Bob Kennedy
Glenn 'Slats' Hardin
Jerome Drayton
Jiri Shobla
Jutt Heine
Kip Javonin
Lorraine Fenton
Mike Boit
Milt Cambell
Mondo Duplanis
Peter Blank
Phil Brown
Rutger Smith
Sohn Kee-chung
Willie Davenport
Yerelis Barrios

349th (1 Vote, 4 Points)
Agnes Samaria
Al Cantello
Alberto Salazar
Anke Behmer
Bridget Foster
Browning Ross
Chris Solinsky
Dionne Hemmings
Emma George
Kim Batten
Lauren Williams
Murry Halberg
Natalya Antyuk
Paul Ereng
Rob Milburn
Sally Gunnell
Sydney Maree
Tom Courtney

367th (1 Vote, 3 points)
Armin Harry
Christian Taylor
Francis Obikwelu
Leamon King
Lopez Lomong
Marcuss O'Sullivan
Mark Plaatjes
Mike Carter
Perdita Felicien
Quincy Watts
Sergie Litvinov
Skip Sheaffer
Ted Corbey
Walter Dix

381st (1 vote, 2 points)
Barbel Wochel
Bob Deines
Brittany Reece
Chi Cheng
Dennis Carr
Javier Sotomayer
Jessica Augusto
Kayoko Fukushi
Marion Kolosa
Mark Richardson
Paul Wilson
Tatyana Kotova
Thomas Wessinghage
Tom Pukstys

395th (1 Vote 1 Point)
Adhemar Ferreira da Silva
Anthony Famiglianni
Asha Hanson
Charles Kilpatrick
Craig Mottram
Dallas Long
Dick Fosbury
Fermin Cacho
George Woods
Ingrid Kristiansen
Joe Green
John Pennel
Kemal Thompson
Larry Myricks
Lj Van Zyl
Luis Delis
Meserat Defar
Monica Cabbler
Norwood Ewell
Ray Ewery
Reiko Tosa
Ricky Branch
Sammy Wanjiru
Shingeru So
Steve Barnes
Trine Hattestad

[Tuariki]

I'm glad the athlete who deserved no.1 got it! Athough Pre would have been a great choice as well.

Deserved? That wasn't part of the exercise. This was about personal favorites. The #1 pick and #10 pick are nearly equal in my eyes.

Just as well for the Pre fans that this was a ranking of your favourite athlete and therefore no standards of performance required. If a minimum qualification of:

* A world championship; or
*A world record; or
* An Olympic championship

was a requirement to be on the list then of the top 25 athletes in the list only Prefontaine would miss out. I knew Pre, although not particularly well, but did have a couple of drinks with him a few times. Our paths crossed a number of times between 1970 - 1974 as WSU and Oregon were often competing together. The man has been turned into a legend. He was a very very good runner. But he never achieved greatness as his untimely death took away that possibility.

[Marlow]

69th (4 votes 39 points)
Stacy Dragila

I missed this. So what you're saying here is that there's only 3 other sane people who voted?
This planet would be in sorry hands if y'all were left in charge!!!!

[Tuariki]

What was the greatest surprise in the favourites listing for me?

It was the fact that the most favoured athlete only got votes from 17 out of 50 people who voted. Or 17 out of the 1,000 possible votes - given we all effectively had 20 votes. The 33 who did not vote for Gebreselassie had 660 chances to vote for him.

With mump allowing us to vote for 20 athletes I find it quite astonishing that given the way he has transformed TnF that Usain Bolt could only get votes from 14 of the 50 people who voted. Which means 36 voters had 720 opportunities to vote for Bolt but didn't.

This is just me musing after 4 long months.

[DecFan]

What was the greatest surprise in the favourites listing for me?

It was the fact that the most favoured athlete only got votes from 17 out of 50 people who voted.

This turned out to be the unexpected beauty of the exercise: Reading about how a group of serious t & f fans have remarkably different lists of favorite athletes - especially learning about those favorite athletes of whom I had never heard. I'm glad our lists were so diverse.

[SQUACKEE]

I'm glad the athlete who deserved no.1 got it! Athough Pre would have been a great choice as well.

Deserved? That wasn't part of the exercise. This was about personal favorites. The #1 pick and #10 pick are nearly equal in my eyes.

What should be obvious is I meant deserved to be personal favorite, ya big silly!

[Conor Dary]

In the end this seems pretty anti climatic. This thread went on for eons and in the end the WINNER got 17 votes. Let's have a parade!

[26mi235]

I had the top two, as well as seven others in the top 25
5 more in the 26-100
0 in the 100s
3 in the 200s
3 in the 300s

This was not a surprise, as three of mine were sure to be at the bottom, with low votes from me, and 3 others had higher votes from me as their only ones; the rest of mine had at least 4 votes and almost half had 7 or more.

[TN1965]

What was the greatest surprise in the favourites listing for me?

It was the fact that the most favoured athlete only got votes from 17 out of 50 people who voted. Or 17 out of the 1,000 possible votes - given we all effectively had 20 votes. The 33 who did not vote for Gebreselassie had 660 chances to vote for him.

With mump allowing us to vote for 20 athletes I find it quite astonishing that given the way he has transformed TnF that Usain Bolt could only get votes from 14 of the 50 people who voted. Which means 36 voters had 720 opportunities to vote for Bolt but didn't.

This is just me musing after 4 long months.

Given the wide range of choice we have (male and females atheltes in so many different events that span over a century), I am not surprised that "only" 17 of 50 people voted for the most popular choice. Actually, it was remarkable that over one-third of people picked the same athletes (two of them). If this poll were on the favorite distance runners, of course far more people would pick Geb, including myself.