Kenenisa Bekele's Legacy!

The Golden Miller

I was only made aware recently, that Bekele was involved in a book, where they discussed external factors for his world record being broken, shoes, rebound surfaces, pacing lights etc. It may seem like sour grapes, but when we look back at his legacy, he's never got fair credit imo. This was a guy, who was the equivalent to Usain Bolt, over 5,000/10,000 meters. And only for injuries would of went on to dominate marathon running tbh.

It's like he's almost forgotten, with all the media hype around Mo Farah, and now Cheptegui breaking the Olympic and World record, and Kipchoge getting a disproportionate amount of hype for his marathon feats. At his prime, he blows them all out of the water, he's that far ahead. Another point they touched on, he was never really liked from the start, as he usurped Gebrselassie, a favourite amongst the athletics community.

But lets be real here, if Bekele was in his prime, and ran the 10,000m at this Olympics, he would of smashed the world record, by a huge distance, such are the advancements of when he ran. It's telling when the field at this olympics could run his best times. The field were miles behind him, and he often ran blind times, with no one pushing him. He could of even gone quicker than his best back then, with pacing lights.

It's baffling when people are asking is Cheptegui better, or the best ever. He literally wouldn't get close, such is the gulf in quality. Bekele was a robot and had an aura, I've seen him kick from 500meters out, 800 meters even once. So even if you had a quick 100 or 200m kick, it meant nothing against Bekele, you were already burnt. There's no other human who ever live, or possibly will ever live, that could run such a distance and kick regularly from 500 meters out. This guy is so far ahead of Mo Farah and Cheptegui, and everyone else, its nearly laughable.

A good example was actually a half marathon, possibly London, where an unfit Bekele faced off against Mo Farah who was winning everything at that point. We talk about Mo Farahs generic quick kicked from 100/200 meters out, but Bekele did what no one else could ever do, kicked from 800 meters out. And he was unfit and just back from injury. It's freakish and insane what he did.

On top of that, guys like Farah and Cheptegui would sit behind the pack. Bekele would often take the lead and stretch it. And if anyone could live with him until 2 laps to go, you could just see how comfortable he was, like a robot. You just knew no man who ever lived would get close once he kicked.

So thinking about it, I can understand Bekele's grievances, he is to distance running what Bolt is to sprinting. Yet it seems now he's actually often forgotten about, and his legacy isn't what it should be. We talk about generational talents like Bolt or Maradona, yet Bekele had the ability to do things no man may ever be able to do. And it's incredible to think, in his prime, was never "pushed". I would only love to see a prime Bekele put up against Cheptegui and wipe the smug smirk off his face, Bekele would actually beat him to the point it would be embarrassing. Bekele needs more respect from the athletics community! A once in a century talent!

Sandwell

I kind of agree with everything you've said except for the fact that he's somehow underrated or forgotten. I'd have thought his greatness was widely acknowledged and I've yet to see anyone seriously claim that Farah or Cheptegui have surpassed him. Kipchoge, to be fair, deserves all the plaudits he gets. Bekele would have no doubt achieved much more in the marathon were it not for injury but that's part of the sport too. Hopefully he can be in the mix on Saturday. It would be fantastic to see him win a medal.

KaneToad

Farah will always be the fella who missed multiple drug tests, lied about L-caretine injections and his association with Alberto Salazar.

walshb

I think athletics fans hold Bekele up as one greatest ever. He is quite revered. His range from 1500 to marathon is so impressive.

SuspectZero

I'm not sure I've seen anyone ever say Farah or Cheptegei are better. From my experience, I think Bekele is almost universally regarded as the Distance GOAT, he still commands massive hype to this day everytime he runs, I'd view him as almost the Tiger Woods of distance running in the hype he still draws everytime he runs despite being off his peak. I do still Believe Geb was the track GOAT, Kipchoge is the Marathon GOAT and Bekele is the XC and All Round GOAT

Cheptegei is a serious contender to Bekeles Throne though in my opinion if his marathon career is dominant and he gets back to winning World XC again, he's still only 27 and his all-round accomplishments still have a lot of time to add up, if he were to say break 2 in the marathon(which could be a possibility for a guy like him) and would have him hold the 5000,10000 and Marathon WR at the same time, along with his XC medals and track hardware, it would be very hard to argue against him

The Golden Miller

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122473824#Comment_122473824

Cheptegei can achieve whatever he wants, you simply put him on a track with prime Bekele, and he gets beaten out the gate whatever way we try and spin it. Bekele would sit on his shoulder and kick from 800 meters out, or stretch him, and still kick from 500 meters out. There no way Cheptegei could ever live with him, no matter what these over inflated records say.

It is a bit annoying watching him sit there in front of his Olympic record time, with a smug grin on his face, fully believing he's the best ever.

The Golden Miller

It's not that he's forgotten, but he simply doesn't get the coverage an all time great like him should get really.

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122475922#Comment_122475922

bit like track goat, EL G, who beat Bekele twice at Bekele’s distance.

average_runner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122597281#Comment_122597281

When you look across the range, Bekele is miles ahead, he has done it all in fairness bar olympic goal for the marathon.

Might never see it again, as runners go to the marathon alot earlier now for the money

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122597728#Comment_122597728

EL G and 1500 lads don’t need to engage in range. They’re the best of the best competing in the blue riband event. Speed and endurance at the absolute highest level.

EL G twice dipped his toe into Bekele’s range and twice beat him. He also has a faster 3000 metres time.

So, across the range of 10000 to marathon doesn’t change my point.

The Golden Miller

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122597834#Comment_122597834

Your being disingenuous as you well know. Like in 2004 Bekele was breaking through as a 21 year old. Still on an upward trajectory. I could just as easily say El G didn't fancy that distance much anymore, as Bekele got better.

El G one of the best 1500m runners ever, but upwards from 5000m, Bekele is simply a once in a century talent, a man who in his prime, simply decimates anyone from 5000m upwards.

Only for injuries, his speed is gone and he's not the same runner, and the marathon runners can be thankful, because he hasn't gone onto obliterate every record there too, as well you know he would have.

Although I'm pretty sure it was you who once tried to claim, Mo Farah at his peak would of beat Bekele. Think we had that debate years ago. I'm closer to Mo Farah at his peak, than Mo Farah was to Bekele (obviously not but you get the point).

Bekele isn't given fair dues the way Bolt is for example for being the GOAT. Alot has to do with the British media fawning over Mo Farah, and Bekele was quickly forgotten.

Whatever about 5000m or marathons or whatever, I've never seen anything like him at 10000m, people don't realize how special it was. The nature in how he won. Run that distance on someone's shoulder, or even lead by himself, and have that kick at the end is simply a sight to behold.

Trust me, there's never a man who lived, or possibly will live, that can kick from 500 meters out in a 10000m. There's simply no possibly way anyone could ever beat or come close to living with that, it's game over. He was a freak of nature. If your trying to downplay that, or dispute it in any way, give your head a wobble.

The guy was a robot, more machine than man, his endurance and speed. It genuinely may never be seen again. He would of beat Cheptegei or Mo Farah out the gate in his prime. You know it too, so don't try and pretend otherwise!

And as for El G, I know your his fan, he knew how to pick his battles so to speak. He doesn't come close to Bekele at his peak at 5000m, and he knew that too. After a scare or two, he was suddenly done with the distance. He knew how to get out on top. But Bekele at his peak beats him. Not as dominant as at 10000m though, I'll give you that.

At 10,000m there's simply no tactic or way of beating him. You can't stretch him, run off his kick, outkick him. There may never be a man who lived who could beat him in his prime at that distance. And even the world records he set at 10,000m, even then, he could of gone alot lot quicker if he had to, or was pushed. Infact he could of probably run the race again.

He simply was a freak of nature!

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122599344#Comment_122599344

No, never said Farah beats Bekele. Bekele is an ATG, no doubt. Possibly greatest ever over 5000 and 10000. Prime Bekele v prime Farrah at 5000 and 10000 I'd pick Bekele 9/10 times

I simply pointed out a fact. Twice the great EL G dipped his toes into 5000 (a distance he barely ever raced) and twice he beat Bekele. Once in a fast paced race and once in a slower paced race.

Nothing disingenuous. Just a fact. EL G was a career miler. That’s where he was the GOAT. Bekele a 5000/10000 specialist, because he was not fast enough to be a miler.

Put it this way: whatever chance EL G would have had, had he decided to move to 5000 at or around his peak (even say early 2000s), Bekele would have had a far far lesser chance had he tried out the 1500 vs EL G. EL G dedicating time to 5000 absolutely has a real chance of beating any version of Bekele.

EL G was beating Bekele in 2003/2004 when EL G was close to retiring. Bekele was (not quite at his peak), but was getting there. He ran his WR in 2004 at 5000

Btw, you seem to really over-playing it… we both think Bekele is insanely great.