Best victory laps

[tandfman]

Most annoying victory lap ever was Young after his gold in Barcelona or Stuttgart. He turned it into a Nike ad, taking great pains to position his spikes prominently as he posed for photos.

It may have annoyed you, but I'm sure it pleased the people who were actually providing Young with a financial reward for what he achieved. I can't blame him for doing that.

[JohnG]

Daley milked his victory laps and included the added ingredient of those t-shirts (In LA: "Is the World's Second Athlete Gay?" and in Stuttgart, something like: "Germany's favourite sons . Karl Heinz, Boris & Daley").

Most annoying victory lap ever was Young after his gold in Barcelona or Stuttgart. He turned it into a Nike ad, taking great pains to position his spikes prominently as he posed for photos.

[BisonHurdler]

Don't recall when/where, but I remember hearing about Don Bragg running into the stands, hoisting his wife up over his shoulders, and taking a victory lap like that. Can anyone confirm that this actually happened?

[coachhollywood67]

Tulu and Meyer after the 1992 Oly 10 was pretty touching.

I have seen few of these, either in person or on teevee -- but I do remember Tulu & Meyer. Kind of like Freeman in Sydney in 2000 -- both had additional meanings, along with the victories themselves.

The other related moment I remember -- not a victory lap per se, but a victory moment -- was my first T&F memory: watching Bikila's exercises on the infield in Tokyo after his marathon victory. As a little kid, that made some kind of impression on me, probably because the adults who were watching were commenting on it.

Mention of Bikila reminds me of one of my favorite memories of an athlete on his victory lap - Frank Shorter stopping his VL for the 72 marathon to shake the hand of Bikila, who was in his wheelchair spectating. Unless my old timer memory is wrong I thought it was done in a very classy way, as a way to give honor to Bikila during Shorter's own moment of glory.

Anybody else remember this?

Another memory of a gesture that I liked that occurred during or immediately prior to a victory lap - the way Ivo van Damme quickly congratulated Juantorena after their Olympic 800 in 76 and then gestured to Juantorena that the crowd was yelling for him to take a lap (or so it seemed). van Damme another class individual who died too young...

[Daisy]

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.....

I was looking for the Pascoe fall when I came across this classic footage from the 1912 Stockholm games. It's amazing how much the high hurdles has changed.

steeple chase and high hurdles

As far as great victory laps. I thought is was cool when Allan Johnson spent about an hour making his way through the crowd after his Olympic gold in Atlanta.

[bad hammy]

A recent one I saw where the athlete was having a GREAT time jogging and waving to the crowd and was just as happy as could be: Xiang Liu at this year's Pre meet. gh had to play traffic cop, preventing Liu from running through the women as they were getting ready for their hurdle race.

Something tells me that the Lausanne victory lap was even a bit better . . .

[Master Po]

Tulu and Meyer after the 1992 Oly 10 was pretty touching.

I have seen few of these, either in person or on teevee -- but I do remember Tulu & Meyer. Kind of like Freeman in Sydney in 2000 -- both had additional meanings, along with the victories themselves.

The other related moment I remember -- not a victory lap per se, but a victory moment -- was my first T&F memory: watching Bikila's exercises on the infield in Tokyo after his marathon victory. As a little kid, that made some kind of impression on me, probably because the adults who were watching were commenting on it.

[marknhj]

Alan Pascoe falling flat on his arse twice attempting to re-hurdle the first two on his lap of honour (can't remember if it was the CG or EC, anyone help?) in 74.

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.....

Commonwealths. Not only did he fall on his arse twice but he hurdled them backwards so they tipped up and he landed on the crossbeam thing with his back and bent them. Jon or someone must be able to dig up a pic.

[Thrower]

Any time a weightman can do a full circuit, THAT is the best victory lap!!!

[Jay Peterman]

Alan Pascoe falling flat on his arse twice attempting to re-hurdle the first two on his lap of honour (can't remember if it was the CG or EC, anyone help?) in 74.

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.....

[skyin' brian]

ummm.....pretty sure a nominee has to be Godina/Nelson Gold/Silver at Edmonton '01. not sure if they completed a full lap, but was still pretty cool. then again i haven't seen too many victory laps.

Didn't Cal Ripken have a good one after setting the IRON MAN record?

[mump boy]

i loved it in athens el Guerrouj was on his victory lap as kelly was on the medal rostrum. he comes up behind her and holds two fingers up as if to say look at us we've got 2.

[James Fields]

Greatest victory laps

PaddyB nominated:
Masterkova's 800m celebration in 96 OG. ... her victory lap was one of the best ever. she races down the back straight and then when she gets to the 100m start and then gestures to the crowd as much as to say "check this"
--------
Masterkova's victory laps for both her 800m and 1500m victories were enjoyable for our group, first because of her masterful strategic moves combined with strength dominance during the races -- and second because her spurts in the victory lap were effective in thwarting the horde of trotting photographers who have over the years become a dominant visual image on TV of victory laps.

Masterkova was not going to let non-competitors share her moment and in the stands we delighted in having her do so-- thus giving us the sight of a champion alone without running stride truncated by a mob that can and should do its work from the sidelines.

[runforlife]

Pre in Eugene in front of his legion of fans after his latest masterpiece.They all know now how lucky they were to be in that moment in time.

Agreed. One of those things you ever forget and you appreciate the memory of it.

[EPelle]

Freeman. Australia. Entire world ran that victory lap with her.