Greatest Track & Field Athlete Of All Time

[tikay]

What a fabulous picture that is.

Agreed, David, it's a photo that says so much. He ran them all into the ground, time and time again.

There have, of course, been some wonderful athletes in our time, and only a fool would say any particular one was the best. But they all worked hard, and devoted huge chunks of their lives to achieving supremacy, so I always think it sad when armchair critics, in between quaffing lager and smoking ciggies, dismiss them so rudely. Barely anyone gets total respect these days, but those who are so critical of so many need to look in the mirror now and then.

[JohnCharver]

What a fabulous picture that is.



This guy has to be in the reckoning doesn't he? 107 consecutive wins, improved his own WR more than once.

Click to see full-size image.

Agreed, David, it's a photo that says so much. He ran them all into the ground.

Picture is false representation. Thompson used to trott round 1500m not caring as he was so far ahead, course he wasnt tired, they were still competing he was on a victory run.
 at his own pace.

[kukushkin88]

What a fabulous picture that is.



This guy has to be in the reckoning doesn't he? 107 consecutive wins, improved his own WR more than once.

Click to see full-size image.

Agreed, David, it's a photo that says so much. He ran them all into the ground.

Picture is false representation. Thompson used to trott round 1500m not caring as he was so far ahead, course he wasnt tired, they were still competing he was on a victory run.
 at his own pace.

Seems like you've missed the point.

[AndrewT]

please nobody mention jonathan edwards.

because its sunday?

Gold.

The funny thing is that Edwards is now an atheist. When he gave up athletics he started presenting Songs of Praise but he subsequently lost all his faith.

Someone who is a big god-botherer is Dan Walker, who presents Football Focus - he won't work on Sundays.

[MintTrav]

Just caught up with this.

He might not win the nomination as the single greatest athlete of all time, but this guy deserves a place on this thread as a contender:

Click to see full-size image.

Possibly also this guy:

Click to see full-size image.

[arbboy]

Just caught up with this.

He might not win the nomination as the single greatest athlete of all time, but this guy deserves a place on this thread as a contender:

Click to see full-size image.

Possibly also this guy:

Click to see full-size image.

Good shout.  He stopped Steve Backley from totally dominating the event for 12 straight years and being right up there as GB's greatest ever athlete if it wasn't for the Zelezny.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Backley

Backley's record was insane.  Amazing how he never won a global title in his career but won 4 straight euro titles when effectively in that era the euro title was the same as any global title.

Nice bit of trivia this for a quiz if you are ever writing one.  Pretty certain no one would get that right in a pub quiz who thinks they are a real sports judge.

Backley was a firm fixture in the British national athletics team for over fifteen years and is the only British track and field competitor to win medals at three different Olympic Games.

[bergeroo]

Would Michael Johnson not be considered? Dominated two events and broke the world record in both. Pretty much unbeatable for quite a while there...