What was the greatest performance in TnF Olympic history

[JumboElliott]

Re: What was the greatest performance in TnF Olympic history

19.32 and 43.49. I don't know if we'll ever see that double again.

[Dave]

Re: What was the greatest performance in TnF Olympic history

I would go with Rudisha. WR and all but one competitor gets a PR. That was probably the greatest race ever run.

After that, yes, Beamon is my second choice. Absolute perfection. The conditions may have helped him, but no one came remotely close in those same conditions on that day.

[tandfman]

Re: What was the greatest performance in TnF Olympic history

I would go with Rudisha. WR and all but one competitor gets a PR. That was probably the greatest race ever run.

After that, yes, Beamon is my second choice. Absolute perfection. The conditions may have helped him, but no one came remotely close in those same conditions on that day.

They weren't exactly the same conditions. IIRC, right after his jump, it started to rain.

[user4]

Re: What was the greatest performance in TnF Olympic history

Too many to name; Thorpe, Owens, Billy Mills, John AB, many many more.

[KDFINE]

Re: What was the greatest performance in TnF Olympic history

I think User4 is correct in that there are too many wonderful competitions to choose from. This is too broad a topic. Its easier to think in terms of the most memorable competition for each event - Olympics, WC, or all competitions. I know that's one area my mind has wandered to on long runs. It certainly gives more room for thought (particularly during the down months now upon us - with apologies to anyone down under). Thinking this way could lead to a whole host of threads.

[houstonian]

Re: What was the greatest performance in TnF Olympic history

it is a difficult choice. A single performance is hard to quantify as the best.
It is somewhat easier to quantify the single best performance by an individual during an OG, because volume, as well as quality, can be rationally measured for comparison.

So, my vote goes to Juantorena 800m, 400m, 4x400m 1976: WR, amazing times, unprecedented golden double in highly evolved events, and fabulous relay carry to cap off an amazing series of runs (8 total, i think).

[rhymans]

Re: What was the greatest performance in TnF Olympic history

Lopenuupunut mentioned Nurmi's X-C win in 1924, and I think that could well rate as the greatest performance in Olympic history. Earlier in the Games Ritola had set a WR of 30:23.2 in winning the 10000m. Nurmi had let the Finnish authorities know that he was ready to run in that event but was told that he could not participate in the 10k. He felt he had a point to prove in the X-C. His win in 32:54.8 (as against Ritola's 34:19.4 - 3rd place was 35:21.0) suggests that Nurmi could have perhaps lapped Ritola in the 10000. The biggest winning margins in the Olympic 10000m have been Zatopek's 47.8 in 1948, Kolehmainen's 45.8 in 1912, and Ritola's 32.0. Nurmi's 1:24.6 margin in the X-C handily exceeds the combined margin of all the other 20 Olympic 10000m finals.

[bambam]

Re: What was the greatest performance in TnF Olympic history

Lopenuupunut mentioned Nurmi's X-C win in 1924, and I think that could well rate as the greatest performance in Olympic history. Earlier in the Games Ritola had set a WR of 30:23.2 in winning the 10000m. Nurmi had let the Finnish authorities know that he was ready to run in that event but was told that he could not participate in the 10k. He felt he had a point to prove in the X-C. His win in 32:54.8 (as against Ritola's 34:19.4 - 3rd place was 35:21.0) suggests that Nurmi could have perhaps lapped Ritola in the 10000. The biggest winning margins in the Olympic 10000m have been Zatopek's 47.8 in 1948, Kolehmainen's 45.8 in 1912, and Ritola's 32.0. Nurmi's 1:24.6 margin in the X-C handily exceeds the combined margin of all the other 20 Olympic 10000m finals.

Great choice, Richard. That was also the day that it was so hot that half the field didn't finish.

[trackinblack2]

Re: What was the greatest performance in TnF Olympic history

Flo Jo Destroying the world record in the 200m dash in 1988.

Check it out,FloJo 1988 but Bob Beamon 1968 record still stands as the Olympic Record.