WHO IS THE BEST ?

[Guest]

Re: WHO IS THE BEST ?

And therein you have the answer. Irena Szewinska is the greatest (woman) athlete ever. Her demolition of Renate Stecher (1972 double Olympic Champ) in many 1974 races was incredible. And she then followed that up by moving to the one lap event, and dominating it there for a few years, including beating Koch at the Worlds in 1977. JJK was a great athlete, but as for the heptathlon, it appears Kluft will surpass her records in a few years, barring injururies.

[tandfman]

Re: WHO IS THE BEST ?

>And therein you have the answer. Irena Szewinska
. . .beating Koch at the Worlds in 1977. JJK
was a great athlete, but as for the heptathlon,
it appears Kluft will surpass her records in a
few years, barring injururies.<

It was the World Cup in 1977, not the Worlds (which didn't exist then).

In Paris, I made a bet that Kluft will not break JJK's Hept record at or before the 2005 Worlds. (And I wasn't even thinking about injururies--or even injuries.)

[Guest]

Re: WHO IS THE BEST ?

<<In Paris, I made a bet that Kluft will not break JJK's Hept record at or before the 2005 Worlds. (And I wasn't even thinking about injururies--or even injuries.)>>

I do not see why Kluft "has" to break JJK's record before 2005 Worlds. How old will she be then? It seems you are figuring on a relatively short career for Kluft.

[tandfman]

Re: WHO IS THE BEST ?

>I do not see why Kluft "has" to break JJK's record before 2005 Worlds. How old will she be then? It seems you are figuring on a relatively short career for Kluft.<

Quite to the contrary. I'm the one who's betting she won't do it by then. I know that's still early in her career. I'd never bet that she won't do it eventually. But one thing that could prevent her doing it much later than 2005 is the replacement of the event itself by the women's decathlon, which could happen.

[Guest]

WHO IS THE BEST ?

Don't forget names such as Merlene Ottey,Al Oerter, Irena Swevinska,Ralph Boston, Willye White,Fanny Blankers-Koen,Evelyn Ashford and

Having said that Carl Lewis is the greatest contributor to athletics in terms of performance, record, consistency,event range, and ability to win the stakes high. What did Owens do beyond or before '36 on a global stage,or Rudolph after 1960? Where was Hayes in the 200 and the field events? I'd go Lewis-Kersee-Daley Thompson.

[Guest]

Re: WHO IS THE BEST ?

<Having said that Carl Lewis is the greatest contributor to athletics in terms of performance, record, consistency,event range, and ability to win the stakes high. What did Owens do beyond or before '36 on a global stage,or Rudolph after 1960? Where was Hayes in the 200 and the field events? I'd go Lewis-Kersee-Daley Thompson.>

Comments about Owens are extremely unfair. (1) His career was terminated in 1936 by the totally racist attitude of the US Olympic Committee. (2) I suppose 5 world records in one day at Ann Arbor in 1935 - one of which stood for 25 years - counts for nothing, as this was not on "the world stage". (3) His won-loss record from 1935 may leave something to be desired. But it was not shabby by any means, when he was up against athletes of the calibre of Ralph Metcalfe and Eulace Peacock.

It is impossible to compare one or two event specialists with multi event people. I note that in all the threads on these sites, no one mentions Fanny Blankers-Koen. Though she competed at a time when women's athletics was not fully developed, she held world records in more events than any one else. And following up on multi event talents, I suggest Irena Szewinsa is the all time great. She totally dominated the 100/200/400 at various times in her career, and had more total points in T&FN ranking than anyone else. I believe I am right in thinking that no man has ever ranked first in all three "sprint" events over their entire career.

[throwzfan]

Re: WHO IS THE BEST ?

Oldfield

[Guest]

Re: WHO IS THE BEST ?

he runs greatly with power and pride

[Guest]

fast and furious

mike johnson runs with pride and power, he is one of the best sprinters in all the land.

[Guest]

Re: fast and furious

tie;CARL and SATCH.

[nianchengyu]

Re: WHO IS THE BEST ?

Irena Szewinsa ,I agree ,too,she also had fantastic LJ and top 6in pentathlon,wow.