A Dream 200m Where Best Would Push Bolt

[bijanc]

Now that the mark has been lowered again, I would ove to (have) see(n) a race in which the beat of all times would be pulled to their maximum competition and performance (all training methods and surface technology being equalized to help cancel out differences in era) by Usain Bolt's presence in the field.

1) Tommie Smith USA
2) Michael Johnson USA
3) Pietro Mennea IT
4) Carl Lewis USA
5) Frankie Fredericks NAM
6) Don Quarrie JAM
7) Tyson Gay USA
8) Usain Bolt JAM

Be interested to see everyone else's fantasy final.

I'll post a similar historical dream 100 this weekend, since that standard also came down.

[eldrick]

borzov instead of mennea

the '72 borzov eased down to 20.00 & mennea's best low-altitude was 19.96

[bambam]

borzov instead of mennea

the '72 borzov eased down to 20.00 & mennea's best low-altitude was 19.96

Agree - also don't think Fredericks deserves to be in there - he was good, but a perennial 2nd/3rd place. I would replace with Owens, Carr, or Morrow - assuming we are picking best of all time, equalizing for current methods, etc. I would also not have Tyson Gay in there, but would also opt for one of those three.

Given all that, I think Bolt wins at 200 metres. I don't think anyone has been this dominant in the event. In the 100, I think it is closer between Bolt and Hayes, and I'm not sure which way I lean there.

[bman]

1. Empty, or me
2. Pietro Mennea Italy
3. Tyson Gay United States
4. Usain Bolt Jamaica
5. Michael Johnson United States
6. Valery Borzov Soviet Unioin
7. Ato Boldon Trinidad and Tobago
8. Carl Lewis United States
9. Tommie Smith United States

[eldrick]

mike marsh kicks out mennea or ato

[bman]

Amended list.

1. Pietro Mennea Italy
2. Tommie Smith United States
3. Tyson Gay United States
4. Usain Bolt Jamaica
5. Michael Johnson United States
6. Valery Borzov Soviet Unioin
7. Mike Marsh United States
8. Carl Lewis United States
9. Xavier Carter United States

[CookyMonzta]

Amended list.

1. Pietro Mennea Italy
2. Tommie Smith United States
3. Tyson Gay United States
4. Usain Bolt Jamaica
5. Michael Johnson United States
6. Valery Borzov Soviet Unioin
7. Mike Marsh United States
8. Carl Lewis United States
9. Xavier Carter United States

If Jesse Owens were 30 years younger, what would he have run in Mexico City, given his 20.7 on the Berlin dirt track to win by .4? Seems to me he would knock X off this list.

[Per Andersen]

Make room for John Carlos!

[AS]

1. Vacant
2. Valentino Rossi on a 500cc motorbike
3. Juan Manuel Fangio in a Mercedes-Benz W196 (it might just stay inside the lane markings)
4. A Rhino (supposedly hit speeds of 40MPH - and have poor sense fo driection - that should scare into going faster)
5. Bolt
6. Roseanne Barr - give him something he wants to get past fast...
7. Colin Jackson (supposedly fastest reaction time of any human, so should give Bolt food for thought)
8. Beyonce (give him something more to chase...)

[tandfman]

Make room for John Carlos!

Absolutely!

[bijanc]

dream deuce

Came very close to putting Carlos there. I'm glad his name has come up.

[tandfman]

If you had seen Carlos in 1969 and especially 1970, you would have put his name on the list.

[bijanc]

deuce

I did see him then. He was the man.

[elcaballo]

Agree - also don't think Fredericks deserves to be in there - he was good, but a perennial 2nd/3rd place. .

Harsh on Fredericks!! At his best he was the perennial 2nd place behind the 2nd greatest 200m runner of all time! The man needs a lane.

[dj]

Amended list.

1. Pietro Mennea Italy
2. Tommie Smith United States
3. Tyson Gay United States
4. Usain Bolt Jamaica
5. Michael Johnson United States
6. Valery Borzov Soviet Unioin
7. Mike Marsh United States
8. Carl Lewis United States
9. Xavier Carter United States

With Mennea in lane 1 and unable to encroach on someone else's lane, there's little reason to have him in the race!