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Who are your 10 most influential USA Track Athletes?
Posted on 7/1/22 at 8:48 pm
Posted on 7/1/22 at 8:48 pm
If you were going to write a book or in charge of marketing to highlight the history and impact of USA Track. Who would be your 10 people to highlight?
I think my 10 would be:
Jim Thorpe
Jesse Owens
Babe Didrikson
Rafer Johnson
JJK
Carl Lewis
Edwin Moses
Al Oerter
Michael Johnson
Wilma Rudolph
I think my 10 would be:
Jim Thorpe
Jesse Owens
Babe Didrikson
Rafer Johnson
JJK
Carl Lewis
Edwin Moses
Al Oerter
Michael Johnson
Wilma Rudolph
23
Posted on 7/1/22 at 8:49 pm to sms151t
Paging Pedro
Posted on 7/1/22 at 8:54 pm to sms151t
Posted on 7/1/22 at 8:55 pm to TexasTiger08
I mean it’s hard to leave some of the distance guys he will likely mention like Pre, Ryun, Jennings, Samuelson
Posted on 7/1/22 at 9:06 pm to sms151t
Frank Shorter, Jim Ryun, & Alberto Salazar need to be on that list
This post was edited on 7/1/22 at 9:07 pm
Posted on 7/1/22 at 9:09 pm to sms151t
The term “influential” is a tough one and highly subjective.
Allyson Felix is a much more accomplished female athlete than the three you listed, but she’s not nearly as influential.
She’s also much more recent, so her influence will grow going forward, but I don’t think she will ever be as revered or influential as those you’ve listed.
As for other female track and field athletes, it’s hard to ignore the accomplishments and influence of Caitlyn Jenner. Her 1976 men’s decathlon gold still resonates.
Allyson Felix is a much more accomplished female athlete than the three you listed, but she’s not nearly as influential.
She’s also much more recent, so her influence will grow going forward, but I don’t think she will ever be as revered or influential as those you’ve listed.
As for other female track and field athletes, it’s hard to ignore the accomplishments and influence of Caitlyn Jenner. Her 1976 men’s decathlon gold still resonates.
Posted on 7/1/22 at 9:11 pm to sms151t
Fresh thread. I like it.
Posted on 7/1/22 at 9:12 pm to sms151t
Yeah “influential” is interesting for sure.
Posted on 7/1/22 at 9:13 pm to sms151t
Steve Prefontaine is my 1-10.
Posted on 7/1/22 at 9:32 pm to 225bred
Imagine you losing to Bruce Jenner in the olympics, and then he becomes Caitlyn. You have to remind yourself “I lost to that?”.
Posted on 7/1/22 at 9:40 pm to Jfk Jr
quote:
Steve Prefontaine is my 1-10.
I do love Pre and he may be the most influential being that he was a big part of allowing Track athletes to accept money.
Frank Shorter winning the marathon gold in '72 and silver, to a confirmed east german doper, in '76 was part of the impetus to the running boom of the 80s.
This post was edited on 7/1/22 at 9:44 pm
Posted on 7/1/22 at 9:54 pm to sms151t
Bruce/Caitlyn has to be on the list
Not sure who comes off, but Bruce belongs on it
Not sure who comes off, but Bruce belongs on it
Posted on 7/1/22 at 10:05 pm to Zappas Stache
quote:
I do love Pre and he may be the most influential being that he was a big part of allowing Track athletes to accept money
Pre is without a doubt the most overrated track and field athlete of all time. All this hoopla for a guy that won 4 NCAA championships in 4 years on the track and won nothing important in senior international competition.
It will be interesting to track Sydney McLaughlin’s impact going forward as she will have significant exposure outside of the sport with her endorsement deals.
Posted on 7/1/22 at 10:17 pm to sms151t
quote:
Edwin Moses
dude was a machine for so long
Posted on 7/1/22 at 10:19 pm to Open Your Eyes
quote:
Pre is without a doubt the most overrated track and field athlete of all time. All this hoopla for a guy that won 4 NCAA championships in 4 years on the track and won nothing important in senior international competition.
100% accurate
Overrated, and apparently a cocky self-absorbed dickhead as well.
Posted on 7/1/22 at 10:24 pm to sms151t
No FloJo?
Posted on 7/1/22 at 10:27 pm to sms151t
It begins and ends with Jesse Owens. What he did in 45 minutes (set five world records and tied another) will never be accomplished again or approached again in the history of sports. Then he went and gave a big frick you to Hitler. Never again.
This post was edited on 7/1/22 at 10:29 pm
Posted on 7/1/22 at 10:36 pm to sms151t
Dan
Dave
Probably in that order.
Dave
Probably in that order.
Posted on 7/1/22 at 10:37 pm to sms151t
That white chick with the nipple rings #1 fr
Posted on 7/1/22 at 10:37 pm to Open Your Eyes
quote:
Pre is without a doubt the most overrated track and field athlete of all time. All this hoopla for a guy that won 4 NCAA championships in 4 years on the track and won nothing important in senior international competition.
He died when he was 24 so he had another 2 olympics he would have competed in. But his work to allow track athletes to be paid and setting up meets in Eugene where europeans came to the US, which didn't happen much back then, is a big reason why he was influential. Not to mention how many young runners he still inspires.
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