T&FN Favourite Athletes THE RESULTS No1 Haile Gebrselassie

[Daisy]

At the rate things have been going, some of us oldtimers are in danger of dying of old age without ever knowing who the top favorite are!

I know I shouldn't laugh but this is hilarious I hope you can hang on!

[DrJay]

At the rate mump is comng up with excuses (some really diverse, good ones!) maybe we should worry about whether HE will hang in there long enough to finish!

[oldvaulter]

deleted

[Vault-emort]

My favorite now is Jillo Gill. I have really enjoyed watching her decimate all the women's shot records. They say that her grandfather, Jacko, was one of the greats back in the day.

[mump boy]

37th (6 votes 63 points)

Roman Sebrle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_%C5%A0ebrle

36th (6 votes 70 points)

Carolina Kluft

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_Kluft

35th (6 votes 72 points)

Renaldo Nehemiah

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaldo_Nehemiah

34th (6 votes 74 points Kip Keino)

Kip Keino

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kip_Keino

33rd ( 6 votes 87 points)

Abebe Bikila

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abebe_Bikila

[Marlow]

35th (6 votes 72 points)
Renaldo Nehemiah

The Skeetster only 35th?!
I had him top 5. I think sumuvyall held that whole 49ers thing against him!

[Daisy]

I had him top 5.

He was 7th choice. And Keino my 3rd. And I'm down to 7 left.

[mump boy]

35th (6 votes 72 points)
Renaldo Nehemiah

The Skeetster only 35th?!
I had him top 5. I think sumuvyall held that whole 49ers thing against him!

Really ?? i was surprised he was so high

I think he's one of those athletes where you had to be there because he does absolutely nothing for me at all

[Daisy]

I think he's one of those athletes where you had to be there because he does absolutely nothing for me at all

I was there and awed. He seemed to skim the hurdles in a way that was totally different to the others. Possibly my imagination but that was the sense you got. Untapped potential is another factor that makes him rise up, the 'what if' element. Probably not very objective, but that is the way with favourites.

I never saw Keino run but he was one of the greats when I started to take an interest in track and field and for some reason that I can't explain he always caught my attention. Probably for his 1500 Mexico alone, "the pace here, suicidal" who can't be impressed by that kind of aggressive running.

[Marlow]

I think he's one of those athletes where you had to be there because he does absolutely nothing for me at all

Didja ever see him in a head-on shot skimming the sticks? Ever heard of his Penn Relays heroics? He had the Maximum Wooooo Factor at Franklin and that's saying a WHOLE lot. His battles with Foster were the stuff of Epic Legend!

[Gabriella]

Ah, Kluft

She came through when there was very much a changing of the guard; Lewis, Braun & Sazanovich were either retiring or losing form and only Barber looked capable of big scores. But then along came Kluft with a WJR and a European title to announce herself on the world scene.

She had such a fun personality that really turned the idea of 'boring' and introverted Scandinavians on it's head! The way she would jig about between events, really enjoying herself was a breath of fresh air. But she could still focus like the best and she could work herself up into a fighting mentality.
She has such great technical ability and was a complete natural. She didnt get where she was out of a bottle; she wasn't all muscle but just had a gift and great co-ordination. The fact that she loved her event so much was obviously a factor too. I loved her "I'm just a small girl in a big world" quote.

It was great to see her rise to the challenge when perhaps not at her best; when she injured her ankle; when Barber laid down the gauntlet; when it appeared Sotherton may break her indoors and when cheating Blonska pushed her all the way in Osaka.

I dont think she ever fulfilled her potential though; there was more to come in the 100mh, SP, 200m, LJ, JT and 800! A score of over 7100 was possible.

I really was disappointed when she left the heptathlon in 2008 and we've been robbed what could have been some great clashes with Dobrynska, Ennis and Chernova. But total respect to her; she changed events and has stuck with it when faced with injuries and criticism.

[Powell]

Really ?? i was surprised he was so high

I think he's one of those athletes where you had to be there because he does absolutely nothing for me at all

Same for me. I guess a big part of the problem is he has no major championship medals. Although he would have had a good chance in 1991 had he not gotten injured just before the WC...
But I remember when the IAAF had a poll to select the best athletes of all time by event back in 1987, Nehemiah was the clear no. 1 in the 110H (the voting was by an international group of 'experts', not by fans).

[Daisy]

He had the Maximum Wooooo Factor at Franklin and that's saying a WHOLE lot.

Here is some stuff from Walt Murphy, re: Penn heroics.
http://www.waltmurphystrackworld.com/penn/nehemiah.html

And Jon's interview with Pat Connolly is pretty interesting too.
http://atoboldon.sc49.info/letsrap/inde ... pic=5522.0

[26mi235]

Bikila was my number 3 and I am a bit surprised he is not higher given his place in the sport. I am now down to ten left (I think).

[Marlow]

And Jon's interview with Pat Connolly is pretty interesting too.
http://atoboldon.sc49.info/letsrap/inde ... pic=5522.0

"Skeets wasn't allowed to focus on the 100m in high school. But if I could have worked with him from the age of eighteen, he would have matched Harrison Dillard's achievement (double gold in the 100m and 110m hurdles). He clearly could have ran under 9.9 in the 100. . . . Nehemiah could have broken the 400m hurdles world record"

(except for the fact that I agree)

[Tuariki]

Abebe Bikila

My number 5. As a kid reading everything I could about TnF I remember reading the reported discussion between Arthur Lydiard and Barry Magee when they were assessing the opposition just before the the start of the Rome marathon. it went something like "Oh well you can forget about the skinny barefoot African guy relieving himself over there". But for a broken bone in his foot he probably would have won in Mexico City as well for a 3-peat. As it was amazing he managed to get past the 10 mile mark running with that broken bone. And it was such a tragedy that he ended up as a quadriplegic. However, he left an amazing legacy that just keeps getting stronger ad stronger.

Nehemiah

Really ?? i was surprised he was so high

I think he's one of those athletes where you had to be there because he does absolutely nothing for me at all

Same for me. I guess a big part of the problem is he has no major championship medals. Although he would have had a good chance in 1991 had he not gotten injured just before the WC...
But I remember when the IAAF had a poll to select the best athletes of all time by event back in 1987, Nehemiah was the clear no. 1 in the 110H (the voting was by an international group of 'experts', not by fans).

"Skeets wasn't allowed to focus on the 100m in high school. But if I could have worked with him from the age of eighteen, he would have matched Harrison Dillard's achievement (double gold in the 100m and 110m hurdles). He clearly could have ran under 9.9 in the 100. . . . Nehemiah could have broken the 400m hurdles world record"

As this thread is about one's "favourite" athlete then anything goes of course. Nehemiah was a great hurdler and I certainly enjoyed watching him. But really!! Justifying one's choice by saying he could have done this and he could have done that. The only that matters is that he didn't do match Dillard; he didn't run under 9.9 and he didn't break the 400IH.

I have 8 left.

[Daisy]

But really!! Justifying one's choice by saying he could have done this and he could have done that.

I think that is the icing on the cake. Nehemiah's actual results speak for themselves.

I'm assuming that Pre is going to appear soon, and he didn't even have a WR. Just wait for the screams from the peanut gallery when he is #1

[mump boy]

I think he's one of those athletes where you had to be there because he does absolutely nothing for me at all

Didja ever see him in a head-on shot skimming the sticks? Ever heard of his Penn Relays heroics? He had the Maximum Wooooo Factor at Franklin and that's saying a WHOLE lot. His battles with Foster were the stuff of Epic Legend!

i don't doubt any of this and i'm pissed i missed it but Penn Relays don't travel and as he has no hardware and the only videos on Youtube are of him barely beating Munkelt and a grainy one of the WR, i'll have to bow to your superior knowledge

[mump boy]

32nd (7 votes 66 points)

Wilson Kipketer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson_Kipketer

31st (7 votes 67 points)

Gail Devers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gail_Devers

30th (7 votes 72 points)

Herb Elliot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb_Elliot

29th (7 votes 78 points)

Florence Griffiths Joyner
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Griffith-Joyner

28th (7 votes 79 points)

Irena Szewinska
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irena_Szewi%C5%84ska

I've lost 2 in that round and i have a lot to say about them both

i will be back to do it tomorrow

[Atanvarno]

32nd (7 votes 66 points)

Wilson Kipketer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson_Kipketer

There goes my number 3. Best running style ever. Nobody looked as as smooth and relaxed running 1:42/43 week in and week out. A shame that he didn' t get to run in '96.

I have 5 left.

[oldvaulter]

deleted

[mump boy]

I lost 2 on this round -- Herb Elliott and Flojo.

I still have a few left, including my guess as to who will be the eventual winner.

I'm glad to see Flojo ranked high. Especially since about all you ever hear about her these days is that her 10.49 was windy and shouldn't be the record. Maybe so, but it was an amazing run anyway, as was her stunning 1988 season. She's not to blame for lame officials who can't operate a wind gauge.

Flojo has what I believe must be a unique distinction: In 1988-1989 she appeared solo on the cover of T&FN three times in a six month (six issue) stretch. Can anyone else match this?

Florence was my No20

i always loved her as a kid and when she turned up in Rome 87 wearing this

http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/162420 ... 10D5B4FC25

it was all over, she was my favourite athlete of all time

Then came 1988 i remember getting Athletics Weekly and running round school telling everyone she had run 10.49 and nobody having a clue what i was on about. Although throughout the rest of the season i was right on in there with her, i'm afraid by 89 she's completely lost me. For reasons that are best not discussed here she has become one of my least favourite athletes.

She's on my list for pre 88 performances and for turning the track into a catwalk. If it wasn't for her we would never have had this

ttp://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/7902542 ... FC0AAB6D90

or this

http://www.fiveaa.com.au/lib/images/gal ... 103947.jpg

Pre 88 she would have been top 3 easily

(If anyone know how to post pics anymore please let me know)

[gh]

....
Flojo has what I believe must be a unique distinction: In 1988-1989 she appeared solo on the cover of T&FN three times in a six month (six issue) stretch. Can anyone else match this?

MJ kicks the shit out of it: 3 times in 4 months in '96.

http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index. ... ticles/119

[Fortius19]

Three more gone. Sebrle, Kluft and Devers.

I've always liked the decathletes, even before I competed in a Multi. First Dan, then Dvorak and then Sebrle. Following Milt and Rafer's example, Sebrle pulled the Silver medal at one Olympics followed by a Gold the next go-around (Clay did same thing too).

Sebrle has had amazing longetivity for a Multi's athlete. IAAF had a nice page on him recently listing his career accomplishments. This isn't it, but it's all I could get; the IAAF search function is not working. http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=56367.html

Kluft. I still can't believe she walked away from the Heptathlon before the Olympics in an Olympic year! Either there was something else going on she didn't want to talk about (injuries?) or I just can't wrap my head around quitting an event I'm kicking so much butt in to wallow in mediocrity in the name of 'being happy'.

I still have four more Multi's athletes left, seven total left overall.

Gail was another athlete in full force as I came to love this crazy sport. Just sort of disappeared from the horizon without any retirement announcement. I kept hoping she would return and get her hurdle Gold at the big dance. I picked her as my #3. Looking back now, I don't know why I had her so high, but she is still top 20.

[oldvaulter]

deleted

[TN1965]

Irena Szewinska
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irena_Szewi%C5%84ska

Szewwinska is one of my picks, although I saw only ONE of her races in real time (1976 400m). Montreal was the first Olympic Games that I really remember (I have very vague memory of Munich), and after seeing that race, I went to a library to look up her past achievements. I wished I could have followed her career from the beginning, but then felt fortunate that I could witness at least the end of it. (I cannot say that about some of the legends on my list.)

[Fortius19]

MJ kicks the shit out of it: 3 times in 4 months in '96.

http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index. ... ticles/119

August '96 was my first Track and Field News! I was in Huntington Beach at a local shoe store in the Summer of '96 anticipating going to Atlanta for my first Olympics experience. I was fascinated that there existed a magazine about T&F. I read it on the beach that day. Good times!

[gh]

I'm down to 5 left: my Nos. 2, 3, 10, 19, 20 (but I'm having trouble believing my No. 10 isn't long gone)

[DecFan]

Keino was my #5 (too high in retrospect, but still rightly top 15).

I think I have nine left: My numbers 2, 3, 6, 8, 11, 12, 15, 17, and 18.

[Pego]

This was carnage for me. I lost 4.
#4 Szewinska, #6 Flo-Jo, #15 Devers, #17 Skeets

I think I still have my #1, #2, #8, #9 and #18.

[26mi235]

Jim Thorpe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Thorpe

I missed this when it came through. I must say that I am stunned that he went this early; by far that is the biggest surprise for me. I suppose that he was so long ago that he isn't a favorite, but for someone to be that good.

[gh]

how good you are is pretty much irrelevant under the rules of this game. Yes, everybody on my list was at least an Olympian, but at least 5 of mine never won an Olympic medal and of them never won gold.

(of course, one could debate all day about Thorpe was really that good in the first place; he gets a high spot on my all-overrated team)

[oldvaulter]

deleted

[oldvaulter]

deleted

[Tuariki]

How about a new dimension to this event? We've all named our favorites (at least as of a few months ago). Now how about guessing who will be the eventual winner? Instead of naming personal favorites, this will involve having a sense of the psyche of the forum participants as a whole.

Now that we're down to the heavy-hitters, this could be fun. Again, it would mean submitting a name (one and only one) to Mump Boy by PM, so as not to cue each other in by our guesses.

I already know who my guess would be. Anyone else up for this? Mump?

A great idea - as long as it doesn't give mump boy an excuse to drag this out even longer