3 world records at the same time

Usain Bolt has 3 world records at the moment, 100, 200 and 4x100. Has anyone accomplished that before?

[imaginative]

Owens set 3 1/2 WR in 45 minutes once...

(Probably a few other examples available. )

[Aiden]

Re: 3 world records at the same time

Usain Bolt has 3 world records at the moment, 100, 200 and 4x100. Has anyone accomplished that before?

If you count indoors, it's been done at least a few times by some distance runners (Geb, Bek, El G). MJ had 3 at one time as well. Remember Rono in '78. I'll bet the books show it's not extremely rare.

[Powell]

If you count relays and various non-championship events, I'm sure you can find plenty of examples. But how about 3 individual Olympic events? Paavo Nurmi was the WR holder at 1500, 5000 and 10000 from 31 Aug 1924 to 11 Sep 1926.

Ingrid Kristiansen was the WR holder at 5000, 10000 and marathon from 1986 to 1993, but the first of these was not a championship distance in those days.

[catson52]

If you count relays and various non-championship events, I'm sure you can find plenty of examples. But how about 3 individual Olympic events? Paavo Nurmi was the WR holder at 1500, 5000 and 10000 from 31 Aug 1924 to 11 Sep 1926.



Ingrid Kristiansen was the WR holder at 5000, 10000 and marathon from 1986 to 1993, but the first of these was not a championship distance in those days.

As mentioned earlier, Henry Rono with the 5 and 10 K and the 3000m steeplechase. From an Internet site it appears that he held the WRs in these events from 06/1/78 (his WR in the 10 K), until 07/07/82 (the first of his three WRs to be broken - the 5K).

[The Captain]

Rono held 5000, 10000 and steeple from 1978 to 1982 as well as 3000 (which he held until 1989.

now this is why I love this site so much!

[tandfman]

Michael Johnson - 200, 400, 4x400R from the Seville World Championships of 1999 until the Beijing Olympics last month.

[catson52]

Michael Johnson - 200, 400, 4x400R from the Seville World Championships of 1999 until the Beijing Olympics last month.

I am sure the list can be expanded with more diligent research. Tommie Smith, for a short while during 1967-68, in the same three events as MJ. And adding in non-Oly events, really raises the ante. As a start, Rudolf Harbig (400/800/1000) from the 1939-45 or so era, Gunder Hagg (1500/2000/3000/5000) for a longer period in the 1940s. And did Seb Coe have a period of holding simultaneously the WR in 800/1000/1500 m?

[Chris McCarthy]

I am thinking Morceli as well - 1500/Mile/2000/3000?

[rasb]

If you count only Olympic distances, Ron Clarke held the 5K and the 10K World Records for a long period of time. If you include other distances, which were accepted as Official World Records, Clarke held every record from 2 Miles through 20000 M. These included 2 Mile, 3 Mile, 5K, 6 Mile, 10K,
10 Mile, 20000 M., and 1 hour on the track.
In 1965, over a 44 day period, he competed 18 times in 8 different countries, and set 12 World Records. 9 of these Records were set in a 21 day period.

[eldrick]

morally, the 2 mile wr holder shoud also expect to hold the 3k wr

however, someone posted a story here that when he heard keino ran 7'39, clarke was in disbelief & pretty much gave up trying 3k

[rasb]

morally, the 2 mile wr holder shoud also expect to hold the 3k wr

however, someone posted a story here that when he heard keino ran 7'39, clarke was in disbelief & pretty much gave up trying 3k

Clarke told us the following story about Keino's 7'39. A reporter from L'Equipe
phoned him in the middle of the night, and asked him what he thought about Keino's time. In his sleepy brain, Ron said he thought Keino had run 7:49, so he replied the time was "not bad", "pretty good". It was only a few minutes later, as he was trying to get back to sleep, did it sink in that the reporter had said 7:39, and Clarke thought that was a great record.

[gh]

Michael Johnson - 200, 400, 4x400R from the Seville World Championships of 1999 until the Beijing Olympics last month.

I am sure the list can be expanded with more diligent research. Tommie Smith, for a short while during 1967-68, in the same three events as MJ. And adding in non-Oly events, really raises the ante. As a start, Rudolf Harbig (400/800/1000) from the 1939-45 or so era, Gunder Hagg (1500/2000/3000/5000) for a longer period in the 1940s. And did Seb Coe have a period of holding simultaneously the WR in 800/1000/1500 m?

Smith "better" than MJ because at same time he also held 4x200 and 4x220 records!

[joeltetreault]

Are we only counting events only contested in the Olympics? Or are distances like the 25k road race, one hour run, 2000m up for consideration?