T&FN Favourite Olympic Moment Poll Results No1 David Rudisha

[KDFINE]

If you have the time and inclination it might be interesting to show how voters from the USA polled as opposed to the rest of the world (or any regions or countries that you receive a bunch of replies from). Please indicate how many participants you garnered.

[mump boy]

Thanks everyone for your entries

I have 26 correct (with a few clarifications i've PM people about)

I also have 3 incomplete entries one with 10 one with 5 and one with 1 !!

is there any objection if i just add these in with the rest ? or does it mess up the scoring ?

Also this is going to take longer than anticipated to add up some are quite complicated so don't hold your breathe for Wed

[bobguild76]

Thanks everyone for your entries

I have 26 correct (with a few clarifications i've PM people about)

I also have 3 incomplete entries one with 10 one with 5 and one with 1 !!

is there any objection if i just add these in with the rest ? or does it mess up the scoring ?

Also this is going to take longer than anticipated to add up some are quite complicated so don't hold your breathe for Wed

Awesome work, mump boy! Better to be well done on Thu (or later) than hurried on Wed. We're all looking forward, but take your time.

[Flumpy]

I also have 3 incomplete entries one with 10 one with 5 and one with 1 !!

is there any objection if i just add these in with the rest ? or does it mess up the scoring ?

10 may be fine but a single vote shouldn't be counted. It's a dead cert 20 points for whatever moment is chosen which gives it a huge advantage over other entries. Everyone else will have a descending order of favourite that gives points to everything on the list.

[Daisy]

I also have 3 incomplete entries one with 10 one with 5 and one with 1 !!

is there any objection if i just add these in with the rest ? or does it mess up the scoring ?

10 may be fine but a single vote shouldn't be counted. It's a dead cert 20 points for whatever moment is chosen which gives it a huge advantage over other entries. Everyone else will have a descending order of favourite that gives points to everything on the list.

How about use it as a tie breaker, if needed?

[mump boy]

I can assure you it will make no difference to the leader board !!

[TN1965]

Thanks everyone for your entries

I have 26 correct (with a few clarifications i've PM people about)

I also have 3 incomplete entries one with 10 one with 5 and one with 1 !!

is there any objection if i just add these in with the rest ? or does it mess up the scoring ?

Also this is going to take longer than anticipated to add up some are quite complicated so don't hold your breathe for Wed

Here is my suggestion for the incomplete entry.

Assign 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 to the entry with 10.
5-4-3-2-1 to the entry with 5.
And 1 pt to the entry with 1.

I understand the number of "votes" count more than the points. So their entries should count for votes, but their points should count less because they did not complete the poll.

Is that fair enough?

[Daisy]

"Is that fair enough?"

Sounds like a perfect solution.

[mump boy]

Thanks everyone for your entries

I have 26 correct (with a few clarifications i've PM people about)

I also have 3 incomplete entries one with 10 one with 5 and one with 1 !!

is there any objection if i just add these in with the rest ? or does it mess up the scoring ?

Also this is going to take longer than anticipated to add up some are quite complicated so don't hold your breathe for Wed

Here is my suggestion for the incomplete entry.

Assign 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 to the entry with 10.
5-4-3-2-1 to the entry with 5.
And 1 pt to the entry with 1.

I understand the number of "votes" count more than the points. So their entries should count for votes, but their points should count less because they did not complete the poll.

Is that fair enough?

Perfect

[mump boy]

You'll all be pleased to hear i am currently surrounded by loads of bit of paper but i'm in my living room not on a plane !! this may not be perfect but it is an improvement on last year

[mump boy]

Don't hold your breath for this result, adding this up is really complicated. I've just spent an hour looking for a lost vote for Emil Zatopek

[Daisy]

I've just spent an hour looking for a lost vote

LOL, I think we've been down this road before. Maybe your cat ate it?

[mump boy]

I've just spent an hour looking for a lost vote

LOL, I think we've been down this road before. Maybe your cat ate it?

It's gonna be a long road and i don't even have a cat

[mump boy]

I've finished counting now but i'm just waiting for clarification from a couple of people. If i've PM's you please answer asap or i'm just going to make a decision myself

I've still got to add everything up so there is still plenty of scope for me to mess up

I've not counted those who didn't submit full entries the person who entered 10 has no order, the person who entered 5 has a No1 that has nothing to do wit track and one who entered 1 is stupid !!

So we only have 23 entries, which should be easy enough to work out !!

Hopefully 1st results tomorrow

[Gabriella]

I was thinking about this the other day and what you/we should have done is agreed the format from the outset, then you could have just shoved it in a spreadsheet to make it easier to sort:

Year...Games...Event...Athlete

So, Ennis's Olympic win would be:

2012...London...Heptathlon...Ennis

A double moment would be:

2008...Beijing...100/200...Bolt

A dual could be:

2012...London...100/200...Bolt/Blake

and some weird incidents that some may have picked, while still difficult to standardize, could be like the below, so easy to sort:

2004...Athens...Motorbike fiasco...Thanou/Kenteris
or

2000...Sydney...DNS...Perec

As long as we get the headline, the voters can then expand through our discussions.Anyway, too late now, but mental note for next time!

[Daisy]

then you could have just shoved it in a spreadsheet to make it easier to sort

One problem. Mump and spreadsheets are mutually exclusive.

[mump boy]

then you could have just shoved it in a spreadsheet to make it easier to sort

One problem. Mump and spreadsheets are mutually exclusive.

This ^^

You think i mess up with a pen and paper ?? you should see me using Excell

[mump boy]

You will have first results sometime in the late hours of tonight

NEVER AGAIN

[mump boy]

Before i start posting results i just want to say

IT'S JUST A BIT OF FUN

if people insist on trying to make the thread decent into insults and arguments i'll just abandon it.

I have spent the literally the whole of today collating all of these results and trying to make sure there are no mistakes but i've still misplace one vote (i have 459 instead of 460) but that may just be me adding up wrong there could very well be 460 !!

I've PM's people for clarification but not everyone has got back to me so i've made educated guesses. Sometimes i've combined votes (multiple events at same games) sometimes i haven't if it was a specific moment within an event. There is probably no consistency so please don't bother complaining. If i've incorporated your 'Moment' into a bigger group please just lose it as a chance to explain and enlighten us of your specific moment.

The whole point of this thread is to encourage discussion during the slow winter months so please post and tell us why you chose specific events and everyone else please reply and give us your memories as well

Here goes

[mump boy]

As there are so many of them i've left the description brief, i'll leave it to you to elaborate

1 VOTE

1 point

Cleaning stand on first day of dec 96
Keshorn Walcott winning JT 12
Robbie Grabatz bronze 12
w5k being crap 08
Debbie Flintoff King 400mh victory 88
Carl Lewis singing national anthem (there was no date on this and i'm not even sure it refers to OG moment in which case it may be DQ'd)
Jozef Plachy 800m 5th place 68
Jack Lovelock 1500m 36
Heikki Liimatainen team XC event 24
Greg Rutherford LJ 2012

2 points

Shelly Anne Fraser w100m 12
Deena Kastor bronze medal 04
Alan johnson 110h win 96
w 4x400 88
Shalagne Flanagan 10k bronze 08
Steve Hooker PV victory 08
Bob Schul 5k win 64
Percy Williams double 28

3 points

wHJ Chicherova v Barret 12
Ellen Van Langan 800m win 92
Tatyana Kazankina 1500m win 80
Milt Campbell Decathlon win
Eric Liddel 400m 24
Mel Sheppard v Harold Wilson 1500m 08
Robert Harting Discus 2012

4 points

Paula Radcliffe 08 marathon campaign (not 04 ?? )
Carolina Kluft Hep 04
Arsi Harju SP win 00
Nedehzda Olizarenko 800m victory 80
1980 Olympic boycott
Livio Berruti 200m 60
Chris Brasher steeple win 56
Adhemar Ferreira de Sliva TJ 56
Harold Abrahams 100m 24
BAH m4x400 2012

5 points

Hadi Soua'an Al-Somaily 400h silver 00
Wang Junxia 5k comback 96
m10k 92 Khalid Skah dq etc
w10k 92 Deratu v Elana lap of honour
Gerd Wessig HJ 80
Louis Delis short marked in DT 80
w 4x400 80
Borzov Sprint Double 72
Dean Macey decathlon 4th 2000

6 points

Richard Whitehead 200m victory paralympics 2012
HUN cheats 04
Carl Lewis Long jump victory 92
Mens Triple Jump cheating 80
Al Oerter DT 64
Lynn Davis LJ 64
Robert Shavlakadze HJ 60
Wilma Rudolph sprint double 60
Ed Moses 400h bronze 88

7 points

Bryan Clay decathlon win 08
Roman Sebrle Decathlon win 04
Vanderlie De Lima attacked in marathon getting bronze medal
Josep Pribilinic 20k walk victory first for Slovak athlete
Steeplechase 76
Al Oerter DT 56
Vebjorn Rodahl 800m 2000

8 points

David Weir triple paras 12
Francois Mbango Womens Triple Jump 08
John Ngugi 5k victory 88
Miklos Nemeth JT victory 76
Jiri Skobla SP 3rd 56

9 points

Yuliya Zaripova steeple chase win 12
Adam Nelson SP win 04
Virgilius Alekna mens DT 00
Dan O'brien Deca 96
1960 decathlon Rafer Johnson v Yang Chuan Kwang
Ritola beats Nurmi 5k 28

10 points

Natalya Antyuk 400mh 12
Wyludda and Kumbernuss German throws victories 96
Lee Evans m400m 68
Don Bragg victory stand tarzan yell

[nevetsllim]

I picked the 2008 Olympic 5000m final for how memorably disappointing it was. The field was absolutely stacked and after being treated to an epic 10,000m race, it unfolded like a below-average race you'd see at the WAF. IIRC it was one of the most anticipated races on these forums in light of Dibaba's 14:11 WR and Defar's 14:12 a few weeks later (Shobukhova had also run 14:23 at the Russian Champs) but the end-product was a hugely anti-climactic affair. The winning time was about 55sec slower than Tiru's second-half in the 10,000m!

I also chose Radcliffe's Beijing campaign. I couldn't choose Athens as I was only in my infancy of being a track fan and I don't even think I watched the race! However I really grew to support her in New York that year and was pulling for her more than any other athlete in the build-up to Beijing. I even dreamed about the race so many times (sad, I know!) so I was crushed when it didn't materialise, even though the gamble of racing was never going to pay off.

[mump boy]

I picked the 2008 Olympic 5000m final for how memorably disappointing it was. The field was absolutely stacked and after being treated to an epic 10,000m race, it unfolded like a below-average race you'd see at the WAF. IIRC it was one of the most anticipated races on these forums in light of Dibaba's 14:11 WR and Defar's 14:12 a few weeks later (Shobukhova had also run 14:23 at the Russian Champs) but the end-product was a hugely anti-climactic affair. The winning time was about 55sec slower than Tiru's second-half in the 10,000m!

I also chose Radcliffe's Beijing campaign. I couldn't choose Athens as I was only in my infancy of being a track fan and I don't even think I watched the race! However I really grew to support her in New York that year and was pulling for her more than any other athlete in the build-up to Beijing. I even dreamed about the race so many times (sad, I know!) so I was crushed when it didn't materialise, even though the gamble of racing was never going to pay off.

This is what we want, thanks Nevets

i wondered why you'd picked Paula 08 over 04 but that makes lots of sense

[gh]

Before i start posting results i just want to say

IT'S JUST A BIT OF FUN

if people insist on trying to make the thread decent into insults and arguments i'll just abandon it. ....

And I'll kicking asses and collecting names.....

[gh]

As there are so many of them i've left the description brief, i'll leave it to you to elaborate

1 VOTE

1 point

.....
Carl Lewis singing national anthem (there was no date on this and i'm not even sure it refers to OG moment in which case it may be DQ'd)...

The infamous one was at an NBA game in '93 ("as written by Francis Scott Off-Key")

[nevetsllim]

I also chose the 2008 Olympic women's triple jump final. It was just a fabulously exciting and high-standard competition (top-6 over 15m) and nothing since has come close to matching it. There were so many exciting women's triple jump finals in that period, namely Athens 2004, 2006 European Champs in Gothenburg when Lebedeva denied Devetzi in the last round, ditto at the 2008 World Indoors when Savigne won it on her last go but Beijing is the yardstick other TJ competitions are now measured against. I also loved how expressionless Mbango was despite putting together perhaps the best series ever by a female triple jumper!

Unfortunately the women's triple jump has been a damp squib since 2008 as the old guard have declined and the up-and-comers have stagnated a bit but I'm hoping the top guys will be injury-free and good form for Moscow because a final with Taylor, Claye, Idowu, Evora, Tamgho et al could be pretty special.

[donley2]

As there are so many of them i've left the description brief, i'll leave it to you to elaborate

1 VOTE

1 point

Cleaning stand on first day of dec 96

I was the one with this rather odd choice for last on my list. I just have this vivid memory of the morning running events being over, but the decathlon shot put I believe was still continuing. So after maybe 20 or 30 minutes after the races where done the bodies in the stands where down from 80k to maybe 10k tops. The decathlon shot put continues for a while and a some point they actually ask for people to consolidate into a small section of the stadium so they can clean. Just an image of the difference between people who came to watch some olympics (of any variety) and those who actually where interested in seeing all the track and field competition.

[Daisy]

Linford Christie 100m 92

This was mine. The memory for me is strong more because of where we watched. We (White Horse Harriers) were driving back in convoy from a Southern Men's league meet in Perterborough. Suddenly realised that the 100m final was coming up, stopped at the nearest pub and piled in to watch the race. Not disappointed and got a beer in at the same time, after a long afternoon on the track.

[HopStepJump]

Steve Hooker winning in 08 was mine. I was there in the stadium for that one. He's definintely an easy guy to cheer for. He kept making 3rd attempts. After he clinched the gold, he took all three tries at the Olympic record, finally getting it on the 3rd attempt. One of my favorite moments of the Beijing games.

I also had Carl Lewis winning the 96 long jump, but my vote would've been worth 16 points. I'm guessing that there might be 2 votes for Lewis.

I considered voting for Flanagan's bronze but I was limited to 10 USA moments. I was extremely fortunate to be sitting next to her mother, Cheryl Treworgy, the next evening when the medal ceremony took place. That moment is also worthy of top twenty and I wasn't thinking about it when I made my picks. By the way, Cheryl is a really good photographer on top of her running accomplishments. You can see her work at http://www.prettysporty.com.

[mump boy]

I also had Carl Lewis winning the 96 long jump, but my vote would've been worth 16 points. I'm guessing that there might be 2 votes for Lewis.
.

Sorry that should have been Carl Lewis LJ 92

now corrected

please let me know when you see any more mistakes

[Tuariki]

hi mump boy

I am guessing you have interpreted my listing backwards.
I had them ranked by placings, not points. Therefore, my "1" was for 1st.

So the 1 point for "Ostapchuk DQ 12" is probably my #1 pick and good for 20 points.

I won't state my #20 pick for the 1 point (as you already know it) and I am presuming it is a pick that probably resonated with several of the other posters.

As I told you PM my reason for choosing the DQ was because:

1. I just happened to be watching the BBC live in NZ when the BBC announcement of the disqualification of Ostapchuk came through;

2. As I was also multi-tasking at the time (watching TV and posting to this message board) I was the first to report it on TnF message board with GH challenging me, literally a few seconds after my posting, to justify my posting.

[mump boy]

hi mump boy

I am guessing you have interpreted my listing backwards.
I had them ranked by placings, not points. Therefore, my "1" was for 1st.

You were one of the few people who did exactly as i asked and posted 20-1 so i understood your list perfectly, I've just misread the 1 vote for 1 point in my notes

now corrected

probably best to delete your explanation you can post it again when we get to it properly

[bobguild76]

As there are so many of them i've left the description brief, i'll leave it to you to elaborate

I'm loving this, and looking forward to the next posting! I chose the 76 Steeple ... Garderud & Malinowski both breaking the WR, with Baumgartl right there until the last hurdle. Similar to Rudisha in the London 800, it was the best in the world laying it all on the line at a WR pace on the biggest stage of all. I only wonder how it might have unfolded had the Kenyans been there.

[bobguild76]

I picked the 2008 Olympic 5000m final for how memorably disappointing it was. The field was absolutely stacked and after being treated to an epic 10,000m race, it unfolded like a below-average race you'd see at the WAF. IIRC it was one of the most anticipated races on these forums in light of Dibaba's 14:11 WR and Defar's 14:12 a few weeks later (Shobukhova had also run 14:23 at the Russian Champs) but the end-product was a hugely anti-climactic affair. The winning time was about 55sec slower than Tiru's second-half in the 10,000m!

Ain't that the truth! I'm of the opinion (most always) that in the Olympics or WC ... pace, shmace! It's about winning, and the tactical wherewithal to bring your A-Game to the Final. But that 5k was like watching grass grow. I still found myself wondering and waiting to see who would push and from how far out. As we waited ... and waited, my excitement grew as I wondered if Defar or Dibaba would make the big move first.

So yes, it was a disappointment after the 10k, but still an exciting final 1k.

[Tuariki]

To make it easier to refer back to mump boy's tabulations I am reporting using the following code

* total points awarded
* my points
* Games year
* Athlete

4 - 4 - 1960 - Livio Berrutti
To an 8 year old Berrutti seemed so cool, so tall, so magnificent as he strode around the bend in those sunglasses and in the majestic and smooth running style he had. The Olympic highlights movie for Rome is where I saw my first Olympic action. It remains one of my all time favourite movies - although I have never watched it since seeing it in the movie theatre. And except for the kiwi gold medallists - Snell and Halberg - Berrutti remains my favourite memory of Rome.

5 -5 - 1972 - Borzov
I have always been impressed by the supreme confidence (arrogance) of the robotic Borzov when he won the 1972 sprint double. i think he would have still won even if everyone had turned up on time.

6 - 6 - 1980- Men's TJ
It is a pity that Ian Campbell and the late Joao De Oliveira can't get the same sort of justice as Adam Nelson and Valerie Adams and get their gold and silver medals awarded when the video evidence confirms the blatant cheating of the Russians.

[LopenUupunut]

1 point
Jack Lovelock 1500m 36

That was me. Just looking at the list of participants makes it clear that it ought to have been an awesome race, and it was:

- Luigi Beccali, former WR holder, defending Olympic Champion and European Champion.
- Glenn Cunningham, all-time #2 and mile WR holder. Two weeks after the Olympics he set a new WR at 800 metres of 1:49.7 (though it wasn't quite equal to Ben Eastman's 1:49.8y).
- Jack Lovelock, former mile WR holder (set in beating current 1500m WR holder Bill Bonthron) and Empire Games champion.
- Archie San Romani, who lost by inches to Cunningham at US Trials (in one of the best times ever) and would run a WR at 2000 metres in 1937.
- Phil Edwards, British Empire champion at 880 yards and defending Oly bronze medallist... in this event and almost any other. Entering this race, he'd won five Olympic bronze medals.
- Jerry Cornes, who was second behind Beccali in '32 and third behind Lovelock and Sydney Wooderson in '34. (Wooderson was injured in '36 and went out in heats.)
- Miklós Szabó, European Champion at 800 metres and silver medallist at 1500 metres. A couple months after the Olympics he beat Jules Ladoumègue's WR at 2000 metres. (In '37, he set a WR at 2 miles and broke Beccali's European record at 1500.)
- Erik Ny, who'd been 5th in '32 and ran a very fast 3:50.8 behind Beccali in '34.
- Gene Venzke, who'd been one of the world's top runners for many years and beat WR holder Bonthron for the third spot in the US team.

Lovelock obliterated the field with an absolutely zooming last lap, leaving Cunningham well behind. (I'll refer you to Cunningham's credentials and 800 speed above.) Both of them broke the WR... enough said.

3 points
Mel Sheppard v Harold Wilson 1500m 08

That was also me. One of the top audience-silencing moments in Olympic history... imagine if Jeylan v Farah had happened at London and you pretty much have it Wilson might have had better chances in a faster race; waiting until the last lap played straight into Sheppard's hands.

9 points
Ritola beats Nurmi 10k 28

What's up with this one? It isn't mine, but it's still off some way or other; Nurmi won the 10k. Ritola did win the 5k, though (after both of them had been slightly injured in the steeplechase heats). So either the distance is wrong, the names are reversed or someone picked a non-existent moment