T&FN Favourite Olympic Moment Poll Results No1 David Rudisha

[athleticshushmail]

Nobody picked Jesse Owen's quadruple gold in Berlin. You can see film clips of all four golds on youtube. The guy was graceful and effortless. I thought someone would put that in the top twenty. If you're interested, Jeremy Schaap (sp?)'s book on him and the Berlin Olympics is great and available in audiobook format if you have bad eyes like me. It's called Triumph. It's really, really good, which is why I'm biased towards Owens.

edit: oops, i understand now, thanks for the clarification, I'm an idiot, lol

[Pego]

Nobody picked Jesse Owen's quadruple gold in Berlin. You can see film clips of all four golds on youtube. The guy was graceful and effortless. I thought someone would put that in the top twenty. If you're interested, Jeremy Schaap (sp?)'s book on him and the Berlin Olympics is great and available in audiobook format if you have bad eyes like me. It's called Triumph. It's really, really good, which is why I'm biased towards Owens.

I am positive it will come up with more than one person picking it. So far, it was just one person's picks, like Tuariki's New Zealanders, Lopen Uupunut's Finns and my Czechs and Slovaks, LOL.

[Rog]

I can assure you Jesse Owens 36 will come up!

[mump boy]

Mump Boy

Anyway,can you check my number one 20 pointer choice as I think you may have overlooked that as I would be surprised if anyone else chose that scenario.

I've already posted it and you commented on it but in the wrong place

It's now back in the right place

[Rog]

Three more of mine have come up - 1980 women's 4x1, Marita Koch 80, Johnny Peacock 12.

1980 women's 4x1 - this was a barrier breaking race with a new world record and a UK record in 3rd place. I was pleased that Marlies Gohr got a Moscow gold after the Soviet attempts to deny her victory in the individual 100, and particularly pleased that Sonia Lannaman got a bronze for her great relay anchor, which took the UK clear of Bulgaria and France. In retrospect the GDR time though was even more impressive as they employed very safe technique, particularly at the end of the second leg where Barbel Wockel passed Ingrid Auerswalk before passing the baton!

Marita Koch 1980 - 1979 was my first season watching athletics and the athlete who most impressed me was Marita Koch, with her fantastic world records and incredible margins of victory. I remember being surprised she didn't set a new world record, but she ran the second fastest time ever to claim her gold. I was also surprised Kratochvilova finished within a second of her - but it was the start of an all-time great rivalry. It's just a shame about the 84 boycott, because I'm sure Marita would have won a few more gold and set a few world records in LA and been the female star of the Games.

Johnny Peacock Paralympics 2012 - watching a packed stadium chant "Peacock, Peacock" before the start of the 100 was a wonderful moment. It was a definite sign that Paralympians could be heroes. From a human standpoint, the success of the 2012 Paralympics was more important than the "normal" Games themselves, in my opinion. Johnny was under immense pressure but contained it, charged to gold and then showed a very human reaction after he crossed the line!

[Rog]

I didn't pick them, but Heike Drechsler 92, Peter Snell and Robert Harding were all just outside my top 20.

Drechsler finally beating JJK in a major competition and making up for being boycotted out in 84 helped establish her as the greatest long jumper ever, and her victory in 2000 confirmed that beyond doubt.

Robert Harding's celebrations were amazing, the men's discus is really competitive these days what with Malachowski, Kanter etc so to win a gold in this event is quite something. Also I had some fun kidding my best mate that he looked like Robert Harding (not quite but he's a big, well built blond too, just not on that scale!).

Peter Snell impressed me too, but I tried to limit the number of nominations I made for events before my time, because no matter how great they are, they can never have quite the effect that watching a live performance can have. But I would still say Peter Snell is the greatest 800 runner of all-time, even despite the 2012 800.

[Daisy]

Anyway,can you check my number one 20 pointer choice as I think you may have overlooked that as I would be surprised if anyone else chose that scenario.

I've already posted it and you commented on it but in the wrong place

Note that mump has been editing his lists as the corrections come in. The current list is as below (split to accomodate the 3000 character limit):

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

[Daisy]

11 points
m4x4 04
JJK Hep 92
Tasha Danvers bronze 08
Olga and Hal Connolly romance 56
Bill Miller v Shuhei Nishida PV 32

12 points
Valerie SP win 12
Heli Rantanen JT 96
W HJ Kostandinova v Biagiani 96
Pekka Vasala 1500m 72
Wilbur Moose Thompson Sp 48
Harri Larva v Jules Ladoumegue 1500m 28
Jonathan Edwards TJ Gold 2000
Nils Schumann 800m 2000

13 points
Bridget Foster Hylton fall 100mh 12
Arnold (Strode-)Jackson vs the Americans (Abel Kiviat, Norman Taber, J.P. Jones and Mel Sheppard) in men's 1500 in Stockholm 1912
Klaus Wolfermann beats Janis Lusis by 2cm in Munich 1972

14 points
Tapio Korjus JT victory 88
Victor Sanayev TJ win 68
Josef Odlozil1500m silver 56
Isi win and WR 08

15 points
GDR w4x100 80
Anatoly Bonderchuk HT win 72
Peter Snell 1500m 64
Tommy Hampson v Alex Wilson 800m 36

16 points
Paula Ivan 1500m victory 88
wDT Stefanie Trafton 08
m 4x100 12
Lance Deal Hammer silver 96
Bert Cameron 400m Semi injury 84
Marita Koch 400m 80
Peter Snell 800m 64
Lutz Long gives Jessie Owen advice in LJ 36
Pat O'Callaghan m HT 36

17 points
Tirunesh Dibaba double 08
Denise Lewis Hep win 00
Shelly Anne Fraser 100m victory 08
Emil Zatopek congratulates Alain Mimoun after Marathon victory '56
Jonni Myyra JT 20

18 points
Maria Mutola 800m 2000
Johnny Peacock 100m Para 12
Maurice Greene 100m 00
NZ double gold in 1 evening Peter Snell/Murray Halberg
Paavo Nurmi XC win 24

19 points
Barbra Spotakova win over Abukamova JT 08
Heike Dreschler LJ win 92
Frank Shorter Marathon Victory 72

20 Points
Rinka Babka gives Al Oerter advice DT 60
Otis Davis 1960 400m
Hannes Kolehmainen v Jean Bouin 5k 20
Dieter Baumann wins 5k 92
2012 Watching live the BBC announcement of the disqualification of Ostapchuk and being the first to report it on TnF message board with GH challenging me, literally a few seconds after my posting, to justify my posting 2012

[eldanielfire]

19 points

Barbra Spotakova win over Abukamova JT 08

This, too, was me. Amazing competition with brilliant quality.

Špotáková opened with 69.22, which would have been good enough for gold in almost any competition... but here it wasn't even good enough for lead after round 1, as Abakumova turned up in superb form out of nowhere and shot the javelin to 69+ twice in a row. Then she actually improved to a nutty 70.78, putting her 2nd on the all-time list. All this despite the conditions... I can't help remembering the rain. Špotáková had a solid series but her throws were getting shorter and shorter as the last round approached. This didn't make me happy, as she was easily the one I wanted to win; I tend to like Czech javelin throwers, and anyway, she was My Pick. Doing well in the prediction contests knocks all other considerations into a cocked hat, right?

Špotáková's last throw... looks good as it's flying high, high, high... the Finnish commentator screaming as he apparently feels the same way as me... me opening my mouth to do the same... the javelin landing almost at the WR line... me jumping up and pumping my fist... still feel moved by it.

Finally, as the cherry on top, one of the very few interviews I can ever recall enjoying.

I remember this one, amazing battle, I think I overlooked it due in part to british bias and their amazing re-match at the World championships 2011. Their duels are ones for the ages.

[TN1965]

17 points
Tirunesh Dibaba double 08

This should be one of mine. (Actually, I didn't save my picks, and now I don't remember all of them. )

Maybe some people picked the 10K race separately (I hope I am not the only one!), so I will just comment on the 5K and the importance of historic double.

As other people mentioned, the 5K race was a letdown after the epic 10K. But it was important because Defar was not in the 10K race. Defar was both the defending Olympic champion and the reigning world champion, and the second fasted woman ever in 5K. And beating her in head to head was very important in defining Dibaba's place in history. I expected Dibaba to win the gold in 10K, I was hoping she would win the gold in 5K.

[mump boy]

17 points
Tirunesh Dibaba double 08

This should be one of mine. (Actually, I didn't save my picks, and now I don't remember all of them. )

Maybe some people picked the 10K race separately (I hope I am not the only one!), so I will just comment on the 5K and the importance of historic double.

As other people mentioned, the 5K race was a letdown after the epic 10K. But it was important because Defar was not in the 10K race. Defar was both the defending Olympic champion and the reigning world champion, and the second fasted woman ever in 5K. And beating her in head to head was very important in defining Dibaba's place in history. I expected Dibaba to win the gold in 10K, I was hoping she would win the gold in 5K.

Just you i'm afraid and it should say

Tirnesh Dibaba in 2008 10000m Final.

i must have made up the double bit !!

[TN1965]

Just you i'm afraid and it should say

Tirnesh Dibaba in 2008 10000m Final.

i must have made up the double bit !!

What?! No one else picked that epic race?

That race had everything. The fast pace, great tactics, sprint finish and the greatest winning the race in a grandeur fashion. How could any distance fan not to pick that race?

Kiplagat and Masai set the early pace, but I think what made that race really great was Abeylegesse's heroic attempt to drop Dibaba with a long, sustained surge. She came up short, not because she lost the steam, but because Dibaba unleashed a surreal kick after 9600m of high pace. She shifted into another gear as if she had been jogging for the first 24 laps.

It was a championship race on a hot and humid day, and the top two still managed the 2nd and 3rd fasted time of all time. If that race was not mind boggling, I don't know what is.

[John G]

A few of mine have gone:

Deano in Sydney. A man barely fit enough to get on the team bus somehow came close to a medal. I was close enough to hear his scream as he threw the javelin.

Moses in Seoul. Like seeing Ali, Leonard or Hagler knocked down for the first time. Sometimes seeing a great champion in defeat makes you realise just how special they were. I especially loved the way he appeared to take a nap in his lane before the race.

Geb and Tergat in Atlanta. Sydney gets more acclaim but they were much better athletes in 1996. Tergat threw everything at him over the last 5k .

Christie’s 100. The moment he moves onto Mitchell’s shoulder and you know it’s all over (and I punch a hole in my Dad’s ceiling).

(Not yet included: Jonathan’s huge winning leap in the Atlanta final (round 5, I think). Only one person celebrated in the huge temporary stand on the bottom bend. The 2 or 3 seconds until the red flag appeared were amongst the happiest of my life).

Jonathan’s TJ in 2000. A moment postponed for 4 years and 2 months. The relief!

[Daisy]

Christie’s 100. The moment he moves onto Mitchell’s shoulder and you know it’s all over (and I punch a hole in my Dad’s ceiling).

If we both had this one, why only 1 vote?

Edit: OK forget that. I see on Mumps edited list that Christie's 100 is now missing, so now it obviously has two votes, at least.

[Rog]

I remember Christie in 92 as well. For me it was the realisation that he was accelerating away from Burrell that signified he was going to win. They ran in the same semi, which Burrell won, but he seemed flat out whilst Christie seemed to be running within himself and that made me think he could win. I thought the race would be between those two. They had run against each other so often in the past, with Burrell usually winning, but Christie was a great championship performer and I knew he wouldn't blow his big chance.

[Gabriella]

Atlanta 1996 wHJ - Kostadinova v Bakoyianni duel.
I was so happy Kostadinova won this; she lost gold in 88 to an inspired Ritter and in Barcelona she was underpar and finished 4th. It was starting to look like she would never get the Olympic gold her talent deserved.

The competition in Atlanta was superb, a real ding dong battle. Bakagiani started the 96 season with a PB of just 1.93. She improved to 1.96 indoors and the came to Atlanta and set PB after PB eventually finishing with 2.03, forcing Kostadinova to jump higher at 2.05. It was the Greeks only season over 2m and she never jumped higher than 1.95 again.

What was also great about this was Stefka’s genuine delight in seeing Bakagianni in the form of her life and challenging her. There was definite warmth there and I think Stefka thrived off this.

[Gabriella]

Seoul 1988 w1500m - Ivan solo run thrasing the opposition
I really admired how Ivan took the race by the scruff of the neck and won this the hard way. She’d been in great form on the GP circuit over 800 and 1500 and come Seoul she was expected to do the 800/1500 double. Instead she went for the 1500/3000. In the latter, which came first, she made her run for home with 300 to go but was overtaken in the last 50m by the preeminent stalker and tactician Samolenko.
Come the 1500 and she didn’t want to fall prey to the Soviet’s finishing kick again and took the race out at near WR pace. Melinte tentatively led the field in pursuit, but despite the effort of Slaney and Samolenko to close the gap, Ivan’s lead grew and she finished with the 3rd fastest time of all time.
It was such a gutsy, brave run, and perhaps had she had assistance she would have challenged the WR.

[Gabriella]

. Barcelona 1992 wLJ - Drechsler finally gets gold
Obviously one of my favourites. I was so nervous watching the competition. She’d lost gold in 84 with the GDR boycott and in 88 a board-perfect JJK was just too strong; I was worried it would happen again.

Despite having her best season ever, Drechsler was just too tense in the final and got her run up all wrong jumping way below 7m in the first rd, while JJK and Kravets were over 7m. It took until rd 4 for Drechsler to wrestle the lead from Kravets and I remember the tension in the last rd where Drechsler had to wait for JJK and Kravets to take their final jumps. She looked like she couldn’t believe it, she’d finally won that gold.

During the anthem at the medal ceremony, I remember seeing Heike close her eyes and almost shake her head – disbelief and emotion or was it partly due to the FRG anthem being played and not the GDR one? This win finally allowed her to relax and enjoy her jumping again.

[lonewolf]

I have forgotten if we defined "moment" and this may be nit-picking but..... Owens four Golds at Berlin 36 was truly "momentous" but does it fit the definition of "moment"?

What would be a moment is Lutz Long advising Owens in the 1936 Oly broad jump... if it really happened......or it is a feel good anecdote repeated until accepted as gospel.

My question is: This was not JO's first rodeo, why did he need to be advised to move his mark back if he was consistently fouling?

[mump boy]

Atlanta 1996 wHJ - Kostadinova v Bakoyianni duel.
I was so happy Kostadinova won this; she lost gold in 88 to an inspired Ritter and in Barcelona she was underpar and finished 4th. It was starting to look like she would never get the Olympic gold her talent deserved.

The competition in Atlanta was superb, a real ding dong battle. Bakagiani started the 96 season with a PB of just 1.93. She improved to 1.96 indoors and the came to Atlanta and set PB after PB eventually finishing with 2.03, forcing Kostadinova to jump higher at 2.05. It was the Greeks only season over 2m and she never jumped higher than 1.95 again.

What was also great about this was Stefka’s genuine delight in seeing Bakagianni in the form of her life and challenging her. There was definite warmth there and I think Stefka thrived off this.

This was on my long list, the contrast between the little Greek and the tall elegant Kostandinova added to the drama.

Great competish

[mump boy]

Seoul 1988 w1500m - Ivan solo run thrasing the opposition
I really admired how Ivan took the race by the scruff of the neck and won this the hard way. She’d been in great form on the GP circuit over 800 and 1500 and come Seoul she was expected to do the 800/1500 double. Instead she went for the 1500/3000. In the latter, which came first, she made her run for home with 300 to go but was overtaken in the last 50m by the preeminent stalker and tactician Samolenko.
Come the 1500 and she didn’t want to fall prey to the Soviet’s finishing kick again and took the race out at near WR pace. Melinte tentatively led the field in pursuit, but despite the effort of Slaney and Samolenko to close the gap, Ivan’s lead grew and she finished with the 3rd fastest time of all time.
It was such a gutsy, brave run, and perhaps had she had assistance she would have challenged the WR.

Also on my long list. When was the last time someone did this at a champs in 1500m ? Rogachova had a valiant attempt in 92 but i can't think of anyone since

[mump boy]

I have forgotten if we defined "moment" and this may be nit-picking but..... Owens four Golds at Berlin 36 was truly "momentous" but does it fit the definition of "moment"?

What would be a moment is Lutz Long advising Owens in the 1936 Oly broad jump... if it really happened......or it is a feel good anecdote repeated until accepted as gospel.

My question is: This was not JO's first rodeo, why did he need to be advised to move his mark back if he was consistently fouling?

Which is why it's already been posted as a singular moment

16 points

Lutz Long gives Jessie Owen advice in LJ 36

[Fortius19]

Only have time for six of eight of mine gone so far:

#20: Robbie Grabarz, 2012 HJ bronze
I never even heard of this guy in 2011 and then here he has this amazing season in 2012. He ups his PR a few times and scores a medal at a home Olympics!!! Who cares that he shared it? This guy just seems like he's having fun. And quite the decent last name for a HJer!

He also won the Europeans in '12, won the diamond league, set his PR and equaled the British record!!! Come on, I thought there were some Brits on this board! I'm American and the only one to vote for him. Admittedly, my votes are skewed towards the recent Olys, and London is still fresh in my mind. Most of my picks are from '96 on as Atlanta is the first one where I was truly into the athletics scene.


#19: Shalane Flanagan, 2008 10K bronze
I was still focused on American sprinters as far as the track went back in '08. I knew who Shalane was but didn't think she had a snowball's chance. The winners would all be from Ethiopia or Kenya, right? Why even watch? But, I did watch, and to see the look on her face as she crossed the line and then the realization that she had WON A MEDAL was priceless!
For me, it signaled the improvement of American women's distance running. One medal can be a fluke, but now we've had Kastor, Kara and Shalane.


#18: Milt Campbell, 1956, Decathlon
This choice was influenced by Mr. Campbell's recent passing. I love the Decathlon and for some reason, Milt Campbell stood out to me.

I love reading about Johnson and Yang's battles. Bob Mathias grew up not too far from where I live now and still has that All-American boy image in my mind. Bill Toomey and Jenner represent "hard work" paying off. Dan, Bryan and Ashton gave me thrills following their accomplishments "live", but Milt still stands out in his own quiet way. I also love that he won a silver medal and then came back next Olympiad and won his Gold! (as did Americans Johnson and Clay)


#17: Carolina Kluft, 2004, Heptathlon
Being a fan of the Decathlon, I never really got into the Heptathlon until Caro. I knew about JJK, but didn't get to follow her Hept career until it was over. Watching Kluft dominate in Athens the way she did was awesome. I just knew that she would repeat in Bejing.


#14: Roman Sebrle, 2004, Decathlon
Another Silver-Gold Decathlete, it's always nice to see the reigning WR holder win his deserved Oly Gold. I could have put all the Decathlon gold medal winners in my top 20, but Roman was "The Man" when I really started to get into the 10-eventer and so makes my list even though looking back, I'm surprised Dan O'Brien didn't.


#12 Virgilius Alekna, 2000, DT
I started throwing the discus regularly myself as a sub-master in '99, so I was naturally extra drawn to the event at the Olympics.

[Rog]

Two I didn't vote for, but impressed me, are Paula Ivan and Robbie Grabarz.

Ivan won the Olympic 1500 by over 6 seconds with an incredible display of commitment. She had been outkicked by Samolenko in the 3000, when the Soviet had run probably the best 3000 of all time up to that point, yet looked easy. Ivan knew Samolenko was the World 1500 Champ as well. She obviously felt her best chance of victory was to run flat out and all credit to her for doing so. For some reason the women's 1500 usually disappoints in major champs - not this time. Compare the 2000 or 2012 races to Ivan in 88, and I know which one impresses me.

I think come 2016, Robbie Grabarz could be the face of British athletics. Of all our stars he appears to be the one with most potential to improve. He is immensely likeable and has great competitive temperament. I think when Mump runs this poll in 4 years time there's every chance he'll do better (Robbie that is, not Mump, who's doing a great job, as ever!).

Btw - UK readers, did you see Robbie in the Superstars competition over Christmas? He showed a great turn of speed in the 100, but what happened to him in the javelin?!!! You'd have thought he'd have done well in that event, with his height and strength!

[Johnners]

Great topic - loved Smoke's post re Danvers' bronzeabove - sorry missed deadline for voting.

[mump boy]

I am completely lost on the points system LOL

However I love the history you nuts hang on to.

Of course Tasha is mine. I will try to keep it concise. Her bronze holds more meaning than any medal on that stand! In 04 we got pregnant and blew a very solid chance at stardom and that podium. She received undue criticism from some surprising corners, and harsh criticism. Yet, she was encouraged by unforeseen sources which led to her refocusing, and finding a higher reason to comeback. Yes she wanted to prove the doubters wrong (they said she would never comeback), but she always searched for more than vengence or glory, what she found was she was an inspiration to people. Other women and children alike looked up to her now. Her journey started with an appearance at the 05 3A's to show the CW selectors she was alive. 3 weeks of proper training and she ran 57 secs. By March of 06 she was the CWG bronze. Made the Euro final and we set our sights onward.
In 07 she made the final in Osaka running her second fastest time ever. Beijing was on deck. 08 started with a trio of 800s, her first ever. 2:06 let us know our base training was paying off. By the summer we were battling a hot hamstring, and sore achilles. Not exactly the dream season it looked like 3 months prior. At trials she lost! PSD had burst on the scene but more importantly Tasha ran a dead race. Thank you UKA and BOA!!! A trip to the doctors and the discovery of a recent viral infection helped explain the performance and sway the selectors. She was 2 seconds ahead PSD and the only woman with the A standard. Selection assured we set about the business of running fast to set up Beijing. Another hurdle, her hamstring. It stayed hot, never allowing her to complete a full session and forcing us to cancel 3 races. We were going to the Games cold turkey! A brilliant camp in Macau and we were anxiously ready. Long story short, 3 season best later, capped by a pr and a bronze all was worth it. The decision to have Jaden, the move to skip the prep races, all came to one shining moment. Yeah, it is personal but still a great story nonetheless. Well I think so but hey I am biased!

This was brilliant and so unexpected for all the reasons you've noted.

Thank god CVC wasn't in charge in 08 or PSD would have been selected for in her place

[nevetsllim]

Seoul 1988 w1500m - Ivan solo run thrasing the opposition
I really admired how Ivan took the race by the scruff of the neck and won this the hard way. She’d been in great form on the GP circuit over 800 and 1500 and come Seoul she was expected to do the 800/1500 double. Instead she went for the 1500/3000. In the latter, which came first, she made her run for home with 300 to go but was overtaken in the last 50m by the preeminent stalker and tactician Samolenko.
Come the 1500 and she didn’t want to fall prey to the Soviet’s finishing kick again and took the race out at near WR pace. Melinte tentatively led the field in pursuit, but despite the effort of Slaney and Samolenko to close the gap, Ivan’s lead grew and she finished with the 3rd fastest time of all time.
It was such a gutsy, brave run, and perhaps had she had assistance she would have challenged the WR.

Also on my long list. When was the last time someone did this at a champs in 1500m ? Rogachova had a valiant attempt in 92 but i can't think of anyone since

Names better off left in the past. Ayhan at the 2002 European Champs and 2003 World Champs and the Russians in a lot of the majors between 2004-08.

[Johnners]

Paula Ivan had an amazing run. I recall being completely stunned at seeing a 3:53 (the quickest before then - all on telly of course - was her own 3:56 in Zurich that year) and equally amazed that Chris Cahill just missed a bronze!

[mump boy]

equally amazed that Chris Cahill just missed a bronze!

So near untill Laimute Baukauskaite (Sp) !! overtook at the last minute

[eldanielfire]

Two I didn't vote for, but impressed me, are Paula Ivan and Robbie Grabarz.

Ivan won the Olympic 1500 by over 6 seconds with an incredible display of commitment. She had been outkicked by Samolenko in the 3000, when the Soviet had run probably the best 3000 of all time up to that point, yet looked easy. Ivan knew Samolenko was the World 1500 Champ as well. She obviously felt her best chance of victory was to run flat out and all credit to her for doing so. For some reason the women's 1500 usually disappoints in major champs - not this time. Compare the 2000 or 2012 races to Ivan in 88, and I know which one impresses me.

I think come 2016, Robbie Grabarz could be the face of British athletics. Of all our stars he appears to be the one with most potential to improve. He is immensely likeable and has great competitive temperament. I think when Mump runs this poll in 4 years time there's every chance he'll do better (Robbie that is, not Mump, who's doing a great job, as ever!).

Btw - UK readers, did you see Robbie in the Superstars competition over Christmas? He showed a great turn of speed in the 100, but what happened to him in the javelin?!!! You'd have thought he'd have done well in that event, with his height and strength!

As much as I like to get behidn british athletes, I can't say there is anything particularly great about Grabarz that would make him the fact of British Athletics and I'm not sure he's on par with Ivan Ukhov who is jumping higher them him when it counts and is easily the most entertaining high jumper in terms of personality and his knack for incidents. Plus there is only a year appart between them and I'm not sure Grabarz will consistently better Ukhov anytime soon or have time after Ivan is gone to make a case for face of British Athletics. On top of that we still have Jessica Ennis who is without peer and roughly the same age as Grabarz.

The more likley faces of British Athletics in a few years and Okoye, Hitchon, Judd, Jack Green and Jodie WIlliams.

[Per Andersen]

As much as I like to get behidn british athletes, I can't say there is anything particularly great about Grabarz that would make him the fact of British Athletics and I'm not sure he's on par with Ivan Ukhov who is jumping higher them him when it counts and is easily the most entertaining high jumper in terms of personality and his knack for incidents. Plus there is only a year appart between them and I'm not sure Grabarz will consistently better Ukhov anytime soon or have time after Ivan is gone to make a case for face of British Athletics. On top of that we still have Jessica Ennis who is without peer and roughly the same age as Grabarz.

I don't know about the future face of UK Athletics but don't sell Grabarz short. True, Ukhov beat him handily at the Olympics but Grabarz beat him 3 times out of 7 in 1912. Those 3 wins came in big meets and he clobbered Ukhov at Eberstadt. Grabarz is a year and a half younger than Ukohv, has had only one year at the top level. Technically he is as sound as Ukhov and given his progress last year I don't think 2.40 is beyond him this year. Then Ukhov will have his hands full. In no way am I writing off Ukhov who had a career year in 2012 and could go even higher this year. But it could be a very interesting year with those two + Barshim and possibly Kynard.

[Gabriella]

So near untill Laimute Baukauskaite (Sp) !! overtook at the last minute

Remember the medal ceremony? The got Baikauskaite and Samolenko the wrong the way round, and Samolenko just pushed past her compatriot and got onto the podium! Trying to prevent an embarrassment or really hoping they'd messed up and she was given silver? Methinks the latter!!

[Rog]

So near untill Laimute Baukauskaite (Sp) !! overtook at the last minute

Remember the medal ceremony? The got Baikauskaite and Samolenko the wrong the way round, and Samolenko just pushed past her compatriot and got onto the podium! Trying to prevent an embarrassment or really hoping they'd messed up and she was given silver? Methinks the latter!!

My memory is that Samolenko looked embarrassed - and Baikauskaite less than thrilled - but the two of them just had to grin and bear it. There's no doubt that Samolenko could have held her off for the silver, but she just didn't see her until it was too late.

[Flumpy]

equally amazed that Chris Cahill just missed a bronze!

So near untill Laimute Baukauskaite (Sp) !! overtook at the last minute

And was then awarded the bronze medal even though she won silver.

EDIT: I see I'm not the only one that remembers it.

[Daisy]

So near untill Laimute Baukauskaite (Sp) !! overtook at the last minute

Wow, I just looked at this race ( QDnu5vIATnU ) and I don't remember it at all. Ivan destroyed them!