The worst strides you have ever seen...

[79.]

Without being machistic, the three worst ones
(...but from extremely efficient and famous
champions, paradoxically) are:
1- Sonia O'SULLIVAN
2- Paula RADCLIFFE
3- Gabriela SZABO

The first one is running like a long-legged
insect, the second one like a drunkard, and
the third one like an electric toy.
And they would explode most of us at any long
distance race !!!
Fortunately, respect is not only a matter of
aesthetics...

[gh]

Re: The worst strides you have ever seen...

Szabo, admittedly, looks like a classic elfin Romanian gymnast when she runs..... but only until it comes time to kick, after which she develops a whole new persona and sprints like she was born to it.

[Guest]

Re: The worst strides you have ever seen...

Radcliff's stride is okay. It is her upper body and head that are all over the place. She looks like someone having a coronary. Truly an ugly runner, but not for the stride.

[steve]

Re: The worst strides you have ever seen...

Rob DeCastella. That guy had a terribly ugly stride.

[tandfman]

Re: The worst strides you have ever seen...

Ron Delany

[trackstar]

Re: The worst strides you have ever seen...

1. Paula Radcliffe, without question.

2. I've only seen pictures, no video, but Emil Zatopek was apparently the prototype for Radcliffe.

3. My friend and former U. of Texas teammate Bret Bloomquist, now the sports editor of the San Angelo Standard-Times. Have you seen the kids in the "Peanuts" TV specials dance, with their legs splaying out to the sides? Imagine someone running like that. We called it "The Bloomquist Shuffle."

[Conor Dary]

Re: The worst strides you have ever seen...

'Rob DeCastella. That guy had a terribly ugly stride.'

Not true at all! I ran with Deek fairly often when he lived in Boulder in 1980's. While it is true when he warmed up he could look awfully gawky, however, when he was in full flight he had great form. Shoulders that didn't rotate and a smooth action. Watch a tape of the 1983 world champs in Helsenki and from the side Deek is very smooth and very efficient. Even Charlie Jones and Frank Shorter comment how good he looks.

[platinum]

Re: The worst strides you have ever seen...

LEE EVANS

[tafnut]

Re: The worst strides you have ever seen...

Alberto Salazar shuffled - although everyone always swore he was 'conserving energy.'

[dl]

Re: The worst strides you have ever seen...

Close between John Ngugi and John Treacy.

[bhall]

Re: The worst strides you have ever seen...

>Close between John Ngugi and John Treacy.

I was thinking also thinking of Treacy.

[The King]

Re: The worst strides you have ever seen...

How about Bob Hayes??? Although he is one the greatest sprint talents in history within the Men's 100m sprint, his stride was ugly. And when he was running at top speed he appeared to be galloping!

[marknhj]

Re: The worst strides you have ever seen...

Surprised nobody has mentioned the G word...

[KevinM]

Re: The worst strides you have ever seen...

Zatopek.

[misterp]

Re: The worst strides you have ever seen...

Michael Johnson's stride wasn't necessarily ugly, but it was weird - upright, almost leaning back, and pumping his arms perpendicular. Ugly, schmugly, it sure was effective. Same for Paula.