I love the results coming out bit by bit. All at once would be too much to digest and post about. One question though ...
Sally Gunnel 400h 92 only had two votes, but they totaled 31 points and put her in 56th place. Decker vs Budd 84 had three votes, but only 7 points, which put them two places ahead of Gunnel, even though they had 24 less points. Shouldn't total points be the final factor?
Of course, we all love that you have taken the time to do this, and the discussion is about memories as much as it is about points. Jes wonderin'
I love the results coming out bit by bit. All at once would be too much to digest and post about. One question though ...
Sally Gunnel 400h 92 only had two votes, but they totaled 31 points and put her in 56th place. Decker vs Budd 84 had three votes, but only 7 points, which put them two places ahead of Gunnel, even though they had 24 less points. Shouldn't total points be the final factor?
Of course, we all love that you have taken the time to do this, and the discussion is about memories as much as it is about points. Jes wonderin'
The whole point is that wide popularity is more important then being a few people's most favoured
I love the results coming out bit by bit. All at once would be too much to digest and post about. One question though ...
Sally Gunnel 400h 92 only had two votes, but they totaled 31 points and put her in 56th place. Decker vs Budd 84 had three votes, but only 7 points, which put them two places ahead of Gunnel, even though they had 24 less points. Shouldn't total points be the final factor?
Of course, we all love that you have taken the time to do this, and the discussion is about memories as much as it is about points. Jes wonderin'
The whole point is that wide popularity is more important then being a few people's most favoured
See first page for explanation
Yep! It's right there in black and white. So much for my reading and retention skills. Thanks again for hosting this thread. As with most people on this thread, it's my first hit online when I wake up, and one of my last at night.
bobguild76 wrote: Yep! It's right there in black and white. So much for my reading and retention skills. Thanks again for hosting this thread. As with most people on this thread, it's my first hit online when I wake up, and one of my last at night.
Olli wrote:Szewinska's 400m in 1976, which I did witness real-time, was also sheer superiority. The WR improved quite a lot, more than half a second, I think. And this performance crowned her excellent career.
By the way, there was another thread about the decline of Finnish t&f and it might be recalled that there was a time in which Finnish women were also quite competitive in short distances. If I recall correctly, Pirjo Häggman lost the bronze with just a hundredth of a second. But while I may have focused on the bronze battle at the time, from a wider perspective it was of course eclipsed by Szewinska's supremacy.
Finland got 4th and 7th in that final, and also had a competitive team in the 4x400. Riita Salin, who was 7th in the final, was the European Champion in 74 with a new electronically timed WR of 50.14 - they also got the bronze in the 200 through Mona-Lisa Pursianen, who at one point was only a hundredth or two outside the 200 world record. I think in that Euro women's 4x400 they were only just beaten by the GDR!
I was the other Keino vote from 68. What a tumultuous week for him in Mexico and he clearly was confident that the altitude would favour him over the others, especially Ryun.
That video was one of the funniest and yet most honest post race/match/sport event interviews. The "I lied" bit when told she said she wasn't that bothered about medals is just what we all know athletes are really thinking and the joy she is projecting is just sport at it's purist.
That interview was more memorable for me than her '12 Gold medal win!
"Did you see me?" What a line! Then I think she dropped the "s" word.
Wow, thinking back, I may have enjoyed the '08 Olympics on TV more than London.
I think i did as well, London was all too easy i like having to get up at 2am going back to bed at 1am and feeling like i've got jet lag for 3 weeks. It all adds to the Olympics experience
Olli wrote:Szewinska's 400m in 1976, which I did witness real-time, was also sheer superiority. The WR improved quite a lot, more than half a second, I think. And this performance crowned her excellent career.
If anyone can find video of Szewinska's 49.28 world record in Montreal '76 I'll buy them an eternal round of favorite spirits. Seriously, though , it would be greatly appreciated!
Who can forget this? It had everything. 17 year old Zola gets a dodgy passport just in time to qualify for the Olympics and somehow manages to trip up the nations 'sweetheart' and reigning World Champ in her only event of the Olympics. The crowd digracefully booed the teenager, the favourite showed her true colours and the race was won by a pesky communist!!!
mump boy wrote:46th
GBR M4x100m 04 32 points
In my head I always assume that that the American's dropped the baton or something, but no we just beat them
OK, if I'd actualy got my ass into gear and voted, this would have been my #1 (my 20points). Drechsler's my all time favourite and watching her win this at 36 (35?) was marvellous, especially as it sort of seemed that, Euro Champs apart, the second half of the 90s hadnt really been great for her, medals-wise (some ace GP performances, however) and that this, surely, was her last chance.
Better yet, the LJ was supposed to be part of Marion Jones' "drive for five". There was, undeniably, something deeply satisfying about watching a 'real' long jumper beat the parvenu Jones (whose technique left more than a little to be desired). I think Jackie Edwards (BAH) said something to the same effect afterwards.
Drechsler looked pretty shocked to win (as she might have been at 6.99m). Whatever one thinks about Jones (and my opinion of her is pretty low), she was very gracious in defeat, saying that she didn't mind losing to one of the all-time greats. And I think that's what this was for me; proof, if proof were even needed, that Drechsler is the women's LJ GOAT.
Also, I watched this in a bar in Rome, where I had my first negroni, so it was excellent on a number of levels.
OK, if I'd actualy got my ass into gear and voted, this would have been my #1 (my 20points). Drechsler's my all time favourite and watching her win this at 36 (35?) was marvellous, especially as it sort of seemed that, Euro Champs apart, the second half of the 90s hadnt really been great for her, medals-wise (some ace GP performances, however) and that this, surely, was her last chance.
Better yet, the LJ was supposed to be part of Marion Jones' "drive for five". There was, undeniably, something deeply satisfying about watching a 'real' long jumper beat the parvenu Jones (whose technique left more than a little to be desired). I think Jackie Edwards (BAH) said something to the same effect afterwards.
Drechsler looked pretty shocked to win (as she might have been at 6.99m). Whatever one thinks about Jones (and my opinion of her is pretty low), she was very gracious in defeat, saying that she didn't mind losing to one of the all-time greats. And I think that's what this was for me; proof, if proof were even needed, that Drechsler is the women's LJ GOAT.
Also, I watched this in a bar in Rome, where I had my first negroni, so it was excellent on a number of levels.
I looked up negroni. It sounds most intruiging, I'll have to try it.
Now back to the regularly scheduled programming. Yes, Heike is the LJ GOAT, no doubt in my mind.
Who can forget this? It had everything. 17 year old Zola gets a dodgy passport just in time to qualify for the Olympics and somehow manages to trip up the nations 'sweetheart' and reigning World Champ in her only event of the Olympics. The crowd digracefully booed the teenager, the favourite showed her true colours and the race was won by a pesky communist!!!
mump boy wrote:46th
GBR M4x100m 04 32 points
In my head I always assume that that the American's dropped the baton or something, but no we just beat them
Thank god Dwain wasn't in the team.
It didn't have the best 3000 runner in the world, Tatyana Kazankina, boycotted out of the Olympics and prevented from winning her fourth gold
Olli wrote:Szewinska's 400m in 1976, which I did witness real-time, was also sheer superiority. The WR improved quite a lot, more than half a second, I think. And this performance crowned her excellent career.
If anyone can find video of Szewinska's 49.28 world record in Montreal '76 I'll buy them an eternal round of favorite spirits. Seriously, though , it would be greatly appreciated!
It's on youtube. Thanks for the drink, I'll have a malt whisky, but please, drink it for me by proxy
Olli wrote:Szewinska's 400m in 1976, which I did witness real-time, was also sheer superiority. The WR improved quite a lot, more than half a second, I think. And this performance crowned her excellent career.
If anyone can find video of Szewinska's 49.28 world record in Montreal '76 I'll buy them an eternal round of favorite spirits. Seriously, though , it would be greatly appreciated!
Olli wrote:Szewinska's 400m in 1976, which I did witness real-time, was also sheer superiority. The WR improved quite a lot, more than half a second, I think. And this performance crowned her excellent career.
If anyone can find video of Szewinska's 49.28 world record in Montreal '76 I'll buy them an eternal round of favorite spirits. Seriously, though , it would be greatly appreciated!
mump boy wrote:I LOVE Irena she's probably my female over all GOAT
I'm with you ... although I would make it a toss-up between her & JJK. I also agree with you on Dreschler as the LJ GOAT. All three seemed to have class & dignity to go with their incredible competitive drive & records.
Rog wrote:It didn't have the best 3000 runner in the world, Tatyana Kazankina, boycotted out of the Olympics and prevented from winning her fourth gold
Considering what happened a month later it's probably for the best.
Still looking forward to tracking her down in Moscow next year
Rog wrote:It didn't have the best 3000 runner in the world, Tatyana Kazankina, boycotted out of the Olympics and prevented from winning her fourth gold
Considering what happened a month later it's probably for the best.
Still looking forward to tracking her down in Moscow next year
Ah, but remember, she didn't fail a test, she just refused to take one. Reports at the time indicated that this was due to her coach/guard whatever, and not necessarily her own decision. She was a great athlete regardless, and she deserved her chance for gold. She seems a more admirable athlete than Decker, who apart from her childish behaviour used to refuse to call the soviet athletes women because she said drugs meant they weren't chemically female, but was found to have taken them herself!
I wasn't following T&F or Olympics in '84 (I was 13), but I do remember the front page (local Northern California) newspaper stories and pictures of Mary Decker lying on the ground, crying and being carried away. It seemed a bit much to me at the time (still does).
That is my #1 main memory of '84 Los Angeles.
hmm, I digress:
'88, my #1 memory was Ben '92 my #1 memory was not being able to watch it like I wanted to (in person or the triple cast) '96 my #1 memory is MJ 200 win I saw in person! '00 is Marion's drive for five '04 is SP comp in Greece's ancient Olympia stadium and Adam missing a Gold my one cm! '08 is UB's 100m win thumping his chest '12 is... wow, way too many, too recent I guess
I may vaguely remember Jimmy Carter's '80 boycott from "Current Events" in elementary school. I remember knowing of Bruce Jenner as a kid. I assume from his '76 win in Montreal.
Hmm, one can understand her disappointment and bitterness, but it is of course another thing to demand that owing to her inadvertent move Budd should have been disqualified and the entire race been run anew.
This raises the question: what do the rules actually say? Can races be rerun in some conditions? I think I vaguely remember that women's 100m hurdles were rerun in some (???) games, but one would think it is out of question in distance running.
When one comes to think about it, Gammoudi might have been equally justified to demand that the Munich 10000m be rerun and Viren be disqualified. (The falling Viren inadvertently tripped Gammoudi, who therefore lost his chances.)
Hmm, one can understand her disappointment and bitterness, but it is of course another thing to demand that owing to her inadvertent move Budd should have been disqualified and the entire race been run anew.
If Decker wasn't a proven cheat and such an unpleasant person people would be more sympathetic. Morgan Uceny has twice now been a million times classier despite her complete lack of luck in 2 Championships.
She admits herself that she would have been unable to take part in a re-run so what purpose would it have achieved ??
Accidents happen during races, it doesn't have to be anyone specifics fault, nobody pushed her or purposefully tripped her and to still be so bitter 8 years later would just be sad if she wasn't so nasty about it.
Last edited by mump boy on Sun Feb 03, 2013 4:33 am, edited 1 time in total.
Especially considering who she is taking her frustaration out on. Zola was 17 years old at the time and ended up in 7th (I think). She paid just as big a price for the incident as Decker did.
I saw that race live and then umpteen times in rerun, regular speed, slow-mo... and I just cannot see where Budd fouled. She was already established inside, she was ahead of Decker. I would not blame anybody, but to me, Decker was clearly more responsible than Budd.
Last edited by Pego on Sun Feb 03, 2013 7:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
Pego wrote:[I saw that race umpteen times in rerun, regular speed, slow-mo... and I just cannot see where Budd fouled. She was already established inside, she was ahead of Decker. I would not blame anybody, but to me, Decker was clearly more responsible than Budd.
