I'm the best, not Haile: Bekele

[kuha]

I agree with jazzcyclist (above) that Bekele doesn't actually need to say such things--others are happy to do so for him.

I am a huge Bekele fan and there can be no question that he's THE distance runner of the first decade of this century. However, for whatever reason, I still give Geb a slight advantage in the distance GOAT debate. For me, the competitive brilliance of the two is on a par. For me, Geb's slight margin comes from the fact that he genuinely revolutionized the record books--he took the 10,000 record down by a total of just about 30 seconds in 3 WRs (intersperced with the records of others, of course); and he took the 5000 down by 19 seconds (4 WRs). Now, perhaps he was just "lucky" and came along at a revolutionary time...but the bottom line is that he--and no one else--pushed the boundaries of these events much further out than anyone in recent memory. (He's in Clarke and Zatopek territory here.) Bekele's current records are obviously faster than Geb's, but he's produced a "normal" sort of improvement in each case (if any WR can be considered "normal"!), not a revolutionary improvement.

It gets more interesting when you throw in X-C and the marathon. Bekele is clearly the greatest X-C runner ever, while Geb just wasn't that comfortable over the country. Will Bekele move up to be a great marathoner? If so, it would be no contest...

[jazzcyclist]

IMO, in order to overtake Geb, Bekele needs to match Geb's longevity and break the marathon WR. If that were to happen, cross country would tip the scale in Bekele's direction.

[26mi235]

IMO, in order to overtake Geb, Bekele needs to match Geb's longevity and break the marathon WR. If that were to happen, cross country would tip the scale in Bekele's direction.

Bekele ended Geb's track career; points to Bekele. Geb's marathon career is devoid of championships and thin on major victories.

[gcheves]

If Geb Imane MERGA to run interference for him maybe he could win more major marathons

[kuha]

If Geb Imane MERGA to run interference for him maybe he could win more major marathons

Speaking of which, do you recall Mezegebu's move with 500 or so to go in the Sydney 10,000?

[said88]

Geb has broken 26 world records, has broken every record from 2000 (indoor) to marathon. He has broken at least one world record in 14 of his 17 years as an elite distance racer. He has been at the top for 17 years and has plenty of gas left in the tank to make it 20.
No distance runner, and not even any ATHLETE, has ever gotten close to that kind of longevity and dominance and range in such a grueling field of athletic competition.
Most distance racers last about 4 years at the elite level if they are lucky. Bekele has been around for 6 years thus far.
If anyone should know better than to make a statement like that it's him.

Geb is not only the greatest distance runner ever he is, in my full opinion, the greatest athlete in history.

This could have been my words! We all now that Kenenisa Bekele is an fantastic athlete; his achievements will hardly been ever matched. We don't know what he still have to show.

But to rank him at this point of his career ahead of Gebrselassie is almost impossible - 18 seasons (if you include junior level) at the very top! Greatest person in the history of the sport - any sport, male or female.

[odelltrclan]

Not to take away anything from Geb, but I don't recall him being as dominant against great competition as Bekele is now. Maybe I will feel differently in 6 or 7 years if some newbie comes along and starts beating Bekele as Bekele did to Geb.

Did Geb stop running track because he knew he was no match for Bekele?

I can only remember 2 races Bekele has lost, and both were against other GOAT candidates or very close (El G and Lagat).

What Bekele has done this year has been phenomenal including the WC double only 1 year after OG double and added the Golden League triumph while doing so. Can we underestimate the GL wins? How many distance runners have ever been willing to run so much and so often and still beat formidable competion? Bekele can blow your socks off when he wants to, or wait and outkick you and can seemingly do either at any pace. The guy is amazing and his 2 doubles at 5k & 10k put him over the top for GOAT in my book.

[jazzcyclist]

IMO, in order to overtake Geb, Bekele needs to match Geb's longevity and break the marathon WR. If that were to happen, cross country would tip the scale in Bekele's direction.

Bekele ended Geb's track career; points to Bekele. Geb's marathon career is devoid of championships and thin on major victories.

Let's say that Geb and Bekele were genetically identical. Wouldn't Bekele be expected to end Geb's track career since he's nine years Geb's junior? And I'm not going to even get into your trivialization of Geb's road career since I think he has too much to be proud of to even debate his greatness in that area.

[TN1965]

Of course, Haile has far more carrer achievement up to this point, since he has been around longer.

Their relative "greatness" (i.e. career achievement) cannot be compared until their careers are over.

But that's not what Bekele was talking about. He said he was the "best" (i.e. excellence) not the "greatest."

[Alan Shank]

Not to take away anything from Geb, but I don't recall him being as dominant against great competition as Bekele is now. Maybe I will feel differently in 6 or 7 years if some newbie comes along and starts beating Bekele as Bekele did to Geb.

Did Geb stop running track because he knew he was no match for Bekele?

I can only remember 2 races Bekele has lost, and both were against other GOAT candidates or very close (El G and Lagat).

Bekele lost to Kipchoge and El G in 2003 WC 5k, and to El G in 2004 Oly 5K. OTOH, Geb never did win a WC/Oly 5K, finishing 2nd to Kirui in what I believe was his only attempt at a double, early in his world-stage career. Also, Geb lost WC 10Ks twice, to Mathathi in Edmonton '01 and to Bekele in Paris '03, so his longevity is balanced by his no longer being the best at the event.

What Bekele has done this year has been phenomenal including the WC double only 1 year after OG double and added the Golden League triumph while doing so. Can we underestimate the GL wins? How many distance runners have ever been willing to run so much and so often and still beat formidable competion? Bekele can blow your socks off when he wants to, or wait and outkick you and can seemingly do either at any pace. The guy is amazing and his 2 doubles at 5k & 10k put him over the top for GOAT in my book.

I would have to say that '08/'09 for Bekele is pretty hard to match for a two-year stretch of amazing achievements. Isn't it pretty rare for any distance runner to even attempt the GL sweep? Bekele, IMO, showed great courage and confidence in combining the GL races with the WC double, which most (including myself) thought he wouldn't try.

As far as the GOAT argument goes, AFAIC it's pointless. Achievements are real, GOAT status is just opinion.
Cheers,
Alan Shank
Woodland, CA

[26mi235]

IMO, in order to overtake Geb, Bekele needs to match Geb's longevity and break the marathon WR. If that were to happen, cross country would tip the scale in Bekele's direction.

Bekele ended Geb's track career; points to Bekele. Geb's marathon career is devoid of championships and thin on major victories.

Let's say that Geb and Bekele were genetically identical. Wouldn't Bekele be expected to end Geb's track career since he's nine years Geb's junior? And I'm not going to even get into your trivialization of Geb's road career since I think he has too much to be proud of to even debate his greatness in that area.

Bekele was relatively young when he curtailed Geb's track career. I think that Bekele is better, but I like Geb better.