Write-in votes here! (Or just tell me what you think of the lens...!) from The Best Olympic Distance Performers Ever

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    Della Della Oct 12, 2009 @ 3:41 am
    Early days yet but I think both Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya and Turunesh Dibaba should be on the list
  • Reply
    Rory Rory Sep 3, 2008 @ 1:08 pm
    I did'nt complete the list for the 25th athlete as my choice for that spot wasn't even on the list. My nominee is Ronnie Delaney from Ireland who won 1500m gold at Melbourne in 1956. Coming from a country with no appreciable track running pedigree, it was indeed a fine achievement.
  • Reply
    buraian buraian Sep 1, 2008 @ 11:02 am
    Roque Miguel,
    Great points. I agree that Holmes has the edge on Masterkova, but I'm not yet convinced she's #25.
    Tergat is such a tough case. The third best distance runner ever runs two great 10ks but gets nipped twice. Sileshi Sihine may be destined to that outcome as well.
    Good on you for calling out Gabriela Szabo's accomplishments, too. I've included her as an option in the poll!
    And finally, thanks for the YouTube!
  • Reply
    Roque Miguel Roque Miguel Aug 31, 2008 @ 9:41 pm
    1) I had the fortune to see Kelly Holmes live (e.g. in the stadium) in one of her 2004 Olympic golds and she ran great controlled races. And the bronze from 2000 places her just above Svetlana Masterkova. So, she should be #25.
    2) Instinctually, I'd like to include Paul Tergat, but I'd agree with your formulation that probably credits golds more than silvers.
    3) Gabriella Szabo might be an interesting one to consider given her medals in three consecutive Olympic 5000m races, including gold in Sydney 2000 in an Olympic record by 19 seconds! She also beat Gete Wami and Sonia O'Sullivan (long live the Irish) in the process. Some YouTube for you:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuRxwoCcWFo
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jRAahMAM5A
  • Reply
    buraian buraian Aug 31, 2008 @ 3:53 pm
    Hi Galgo,

    Thanks for reminding me about Carlos Lopes! What a great runner...he probably does belong on this list.

    I've included his name in the "Who else should be on this list?" poll and if people vote for him, I'll include him!

    buraian
  • Reply
    galgo galgo Aug 31, 2008 @ 1:29 pm
    I'm a Portuguese runner, I enjoy your blog, but you forget one of the most important distance runner of the decade of 70's and 80's Carlos Lopes three times world cross-country champion,olympic champion in 1984 in the marathon, world record in the marathon in 1985, silver medal in the olympic games 1976 in ten thousand meters. I think he had a good performance to be with the world best runners.

    In my blog i had some articles in english
    have a good run
    your sincerly
    http://pgalego.bloguedesporto.com
  • Reply
    igorim igorim Apr 25, 2008 @ 7:05 am
    Nice info, but I'd include in list Ron Clarke from Australia - he didn't win gold, but his records impress.
  • Reply
    buraian buraian Jan 13, 2008 @ 12:02 am
    Hey everyone, please take a moment to tell me what you think of this lens!

The Best Olympic Distance Performers Ever See more at The Best Olympic Distance Performers Ever

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The Best Olympic Distance Performers Ever

This is a list of the top 25 Olympic distance performers ever. Except I've only nailed down the top 24...I need your help to choose the final person! Each athlete in this list had a remarkable career. But that's not what thi... (more)

Contents at a Glance

  1. Updates!
  2. The Top Five Reasons This Lens is So Important
  3. How to Determine the Best?
  4. 1. Paavo Nurmi (Finland)
  5. 2. Emil Zatopek (Czech Republic)
  6. Emil Zatopek on Squidoo!
  7. 3. Lasse Viren (Finland)
  8. Lasse Viren wins gold in 1972 (Video)
  9. 4. Ville Ritola (Finland)
  10. Quick Poll: should the success in multiple events by runners long ago be discounted?
  11. 5. Abebe Bikila (Ethiopia)
  12. Barefoot Runner: The Life of Marathon Champion Abebe Bikila
  13. 6. Peter Snell (New Zealand)
  14. 7. Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia)
  15. Kenenisa Bekele on Squidoo!
  16. Kenenisa Bekele wins gold in 2004 (Video)
  17. 8. Jim Lightbody (United States)
  18. 9. Kip Keino (Kenya)
  19. Kip Keino wins gold in 1968 (Video)
  20. 10. Sebastian Coe (United Kingdom)
  21. Sebastian Coe wins gold in 1984 (Video)
  22. The Perfect Distance -- Ovett and Coe: The Record-Breaking Rivalry
  23. 11. Hannes Kohlemainen (Finland)
  24. Quick Poll: Who was the "flyest" of the Flying Finns?
  25. 12. Hicham El Guerrouj (Morocco)
  26. Hicham El Guerrouj on Squidoo!
  27. El Guerrouj wins gold in 2004 (Video)
  28. 13. Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia)
  29. Haile Gebrselassie on Squidoo!
  30. The Greatest: The Haile Gebrselassie Story
  31. 14. Derartu Tulu (Ethiopia)
  32. 15. Mel Sheppard (United States)
  33. Quick Poll: Did you know who Jim Lightbody and Mel Sheppard were?
  34. 16. Volmari Iso-Hollo (Finland)
  35. 17. Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia)
  36. 18. Alain Mimoun (France)
  37. 19. Miruts Yifter (Ethiopia)
  38. 20. Mohammed Gammoudi (Tunisia)
  39. Quick Poll: Which Beijing competitor will be next to crack this list?
  40. 21. Herb Elliott (Australia)
  41. Herb Elliott wins gold in 1960 (Video)
  42. 22. Said Aouita (Morocco)
  43. 23. Vladimir Kuts (Soviet Union/Ukraine)
  44. 24. Frank Shorter (United States)
  45. Quick Poll: Which group is most under-represented in this list?
  46. First, what do you think of the top 24?
  47. Second, who should get the #25 spot?
  48. Write-in votes here! (Or just tell me what you think of the lens...!)
  49. Optimal Training
  50. Other great distance running lenses by buraian
  51. Even more great distance running lenses by buraian