The Best Olympic Distance Performers Ever
Ranked #4,489 in Sports & Recreation, #126,229 overall
The 25 Best, Based Solely on Olympic Performances
This is a list of the top 25 Olympic distance performers ever. Except I've only nailed down the top 24...I need your help to choose the final person!
Each athlete in this list had a remarkable career. But that's not what this list is about. This list is about what these athletes did in the Olympic Games. Period. So Haile Gebrselassie, who set 25 world records in his career, gets zero bonus points for them. He didn't run them on the Olympic oval.
Read on to learn about the top 24. Then tell me what you think of the rankings and don't forget to cast your vote for #25!
Updates!
I've revamped the lens and made a lot of changes based on Beijing results and reader feedback. We've got:
New rankings!
New polls!
New debate!
Check it out and tell me what you think!
The Top Five Reasons This Lens is So Important
- This list single-handedly boosts the morale of the Finnish people
- This list includes two great American athletes you've probably never heard of before
- This list includes the only multi-use nickname in distance running history, "The Flying Finn" (Amazingly, every good Finnish runner in history has used this nickname. It's the equivalent to their #10 jersey.)
- Where else can you find 6 Ethiopians, 5 Finns, 3 Americans, 2 Moroccans, a Czech, a New Zealander, a Kenyan, a Frenchman, a Brit, a Tunisian, a Ukrainian, and an Australian all on the same list?
- I know what you're saying: "Just one Kenyan?" Yep. Just one.
Lens Navigator -- Your Guide to the Best Olympic Distance Performers Ever!
Don't want to read the whole lens? Skip straight to your favorite runner. But don't forget to answer the "Serious questions for serious distance running fans"!
- How to Determine the Best?
- 1. Paavo Nurmi (Finland)
- 2. Emil Zatopek (Czech Republic)
- 3. Lasse Viren (Finland)
- 4. Ville Ritola (Finland)
- Quick Poll: should the success in multiple events by runners long ago be discounted?
- 5. Abebe Bikila (Ethiopia)
- 6. Peter Snell (New Zealand)
- 7. Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia)
- 8. Jim Lightbody (United States)
- 9. Kip Keino (Kenya)
- 10. Sebastian Coe (United Kingdom)
- 11. Hannes Kohlemainen (Finland)
- Quick Poll: Who was the "flyest" of the Flying Finns?
- 12. Hicham El Guerrouj (Morocco)
- 13. Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia)
- 14. Derartu Tulu (Ethiopia)
- 15. Mel Sheppard (United States)
- Quick Poll: Did you know who Jim Lightbody and Mel Sheppard were?
- 16. Volmari Iso-Hollo (Finland)
- 17. Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia)
- 18. Alain Mimoun (France)
- 19. Miruts Yifter (Ethiopia)
- 20. Mohammed Gammoudi (Tunisia)
- Quick Poll: Which Beijing competitor will be next to crack this list?
- 21. Herb Elliott (Australia)
- 22. Said Aouita (Morocco)
- 23. Vladimir Kuts (Soviet Union/Ukraine)
- 24. Frank Shorter (United States)
- Quick Poll: Which group is most under-represented in this list?
- First, what do you think of the top 24?
- Second, who should get the #25 spot?
- Write-in votes here! (Or just tell me what you think of the lens...!)
How to Determine the Best?
Here are some basic guidelines. If you disagree, please leave a comment!
This list came about after I read an article by David Powell on the Top 50 Olympic Athletes in track and field. His guidelines (which I have adopted) were as follows:
-- You must not be connected with doping
-- You must have won a gold medal
-- Recent Olympics are weighted heavier than older ones (due to the great increase in the number of competitors)
-- Discontinued events can still be considered
-- World and Olympic Records add weight
-- The circumstances or social impact of the event should affect the rankings (adding our much needed subjectivity!)
Here's the link to the original article:
-- You must not be connected with doping
-- You must have won a gold medal
-- Recent Olympics are weighted heavier than older ones (due to the great increase in the number of competitors)
-- Discontinued events can still be considered
-- World and Olympic Records add weight
-- The circumstances or social impact of the event should affect the rankings (adding our much needed subjectivity!)
Here's the link to the original article:
1. Paavo Nurmi (Finland)
Silver: 5,000m, 1920, 1928; 3,000m steeplechase, 1928
Like Carl Lewis, Paavo Nurmi won nine Olympic gold medals. Nurmi, though, is the only athlete to win five golds in one Games, which he achieved in 1924, and he holds the record for number of medals won (12). It is said that in 1924, denied the ability to run the 10,000 meters by the Finnish authorities, Nurmi ran the race on the practice track and finished 40 seconds faster than Ritola's winning time!
Known as the "Flying Finn", he revolutionised distance running with his hard training methods. Declared a professional by the IAAF, by a 13-12 vote, he was banned from the 1932 Olympics.
2. Emil Zatopek (Czech Republic)
Silver: 5,000m, 1948
A story almost too good to be true, but true it is. Emil "The Locomotive" Zatopek was born on the same day as his wife, Dana, on September 19, 1922, and the couple won Olympic gold medals on the same day, July 24, 1952. Emil had won the 5,000 meters and, following the presentation ceremony, Dana put his medal in her bag for good luck in the javelin, throwing an Olympic record in the first round. Three days later, Emil ran his first marathon, winning the fourth Olympic gold of his career and becoming the first athlete to triumph in the 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters and marathon at one Games.
Emil Zatopek on Squidoo!
Learn more about The Gutsiest Runner Ever
3. Lasse Viren (Finland)
As if doing the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters double twice was not enough, Lasse Viren wrote his place in Olympic history in dramatic fashion. During his first final, the 10,000 meters in 1972, he stumbled and fell just before halfway but got up to win in a world record time.
After repeating in the double in 1976, he attempted to duplicate Emil Zatopek's feat in 1952 by entering the marathon. It was his first marathon ever, and he finished fifth in 2:13:10!
4. Ville Ritola (Finland)
Silver: 5,000m, 1924; cross country, 1924; 10,000m, 1928
Ville Ritola was never going to win an Olympic medal for each of his siblings - he was the 14th of 20 children - but he did collect five golds and three silvers. In eight races in eight days in 1924, he won the steeplechase in his first go at the event, the 10,000 metres with a world record, and team golds at 3,000 metres and cross country. Beaten by his fellow Finn, Paavo Nurmi, in the 5,000 metres and individual cross country in 1924, and again at 10,000 metres in 1928, he got the better of his rival at 5,000 metres in 1928.
Quick Poll: should the success in multiple events by runners long ago be discounted?
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5. Abebe Bikila (Ethiopia)
In a tale of triumph before tragedy, Abebe Bikila won the 1960 Olympic marathon in a world record time as a barefoot outsider, and became the first man to retain the title in 1964, but was paralyzed in a car accident five years later. Suffering a broken neck and spinal cord injury, Bikila died of a brain hemorrhage in 1973, aged 41.
Barefoot Runner: The Life of Marathon Champion Abebe Bikila
by Paul Rambali
Barefoot Runner: The Life of Marathon Champion Abebe Bikila
Amazon Price: $10.00 (as of 01/27/2012)
Used Price: $1.00
I loved it - this book had a much more interesting story, and better style, than almost any other sports book that I have ever read. --Footling
6. Peter Snell (New Zealand)
The surprise winner of the Olympic 800 meters in 1960, Peter Snell won the 800 meters and 1500 meters in 1964 by handsome margins. He set Olympic Records in both his 800 meter races, and won his 1500 meter gold in 1964 by a wide margin. Prior to Tokyo, Snell had never run a 1500 meters race, although he was the reigning world record holder over the mile.
Now, Snell is a scientist studying exercise physiology in Dallas, Texas, and he is trying to prove that his legendary coach Arthur Lydiard's training methods have a scientific basis.
7. Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia)
Silver: 5,000m, 2004
The fastest long distance runner in history, Kenenisa "The Lion" Bekele won the 10,000 meters in Athens in 2004, and finished second to Hicham El Guerrouj in a battle in the 5,000 meters. He then followed that up with Olympic Record victories in both the 10,000 meters and 5,000 meters in Beijing in 2008, clocking 27:01.17 and 12:57.82.
If Kenenisa can continue to run at the level he's competed at for another four years, he may have a chance to become the Greatest Olympic Distance Performer Ever. But we'll have to wait four years to find out!
Kenenisa Bekele on Squidoo!
Learn more about The Fastest Distance Runner Ever
8. Jim Lightbody (United States)
Silver: team relay, 1904; 800m, 1906
James Lightbody's place in Olympic history depends on one's view of whether the interim Games of 1906 should be included. This ranking list does, at a slight discount. In 1904, having won the 800 meters and steeplechase, Lightbody set a world best at 1500 meters before records became official in 1912.
9. Kip Keino (Kenya)
Silver: 1,500m, 1972; 5,000m, 1968
The father of the Kenyan running tradition, Kip Keino won the 1968 1500 meters in remarkable circumstances. Suffering a gall bladder infection, causing severe stomach pains, Keino defied medical advice not to run. Up with the leaders two laps from home in the 10,000 meters, he collapsed onto the infield in pain. Although disqualified, he went on to finish. Four days later, he placed second in the 5000 meters then, caught in traffic traveling to the 1500 meters final, he jogged the last mile to the stadium.
10. Sebastian Coe (United Kingdom)
Silver: 800m, 1980, 1984
Sebastian Coe's rivalry with Steve Ovett brought unprecedented hype for the middle distance events. In 1980, Coe was the favorite to win the 800 meters, but was beaten by his fellow Briton, while Ovett was favorite for the 1500 meters, but was defeated by Coe. Four years later, Coe became the first man to retain the 1500 meters title, having again finished runner-up at 800 meters, this time to Joaquim Cruz, of Brazil.
He is currently heading up London's efforts in preparation for the 2012 Olympics, and looking for ways to touch the lives of more youth with track and field.
The Perfect Distance -- Ovett and Coe: The Record-Breaking Rivalry
by Pat Butcher
The Perfect Distance - Ovett and Coe: The Record-Breaking Rivalry
Amazon Price: $9.19 (as of 01/27/2012)
This was a very enjoyable book about the great Ovett/Coe rivalry. The book delves into the roots/family influences of the two very talented middle distance runners including Ovett's very influential mother and Coe's father and coach. The author captures the excitement of breaking world records, running in the Olympic games and the expectations associated with being athletes at thier prime. Two very different personalities are contrasted both in their private and public impressions. A fascinating read. --Bookworm
11. Hannes Kohlemainen (Finland)
Silver: team cross country, 1912
The first in the line of great Finnish distance runners, Hannes Kolehmainen recorded the first sub 15 minute run for 5,000 metres at the 1912 Olympics. He obliterated the world record with 14min 36.6sec yet was pegged to within a tenth of a second by Jean Bouin, of France. But Kolehmainen won the 10,000 metres by 46 seconds. At the 1920 Games, he broke the marathon world record by three and a half minutes, recording a time of 2hr 32min 35.8sec.
Quick Poll: Who was the "flyest" of the Flying Finns?
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12. Hicham El Guerrouj (Morocco)
Silver, 1,500m, 2000
In danger of becoming the greatest middle distance runner never to win an Olympic gold medal, "The King of the Mile" Hicham El Guerrouj made glorious amends at Athens 2004, winning the 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters. Thus he became the first man since Paavo Nurmi, 80 years earlier, to succeed in that double. Prior to Athens, El Guerrouj had won 84 of his 89 races at 1,500 meters or a mile since 1996, At Atlanta 1996, he tripped and fell in the final, finishing 12th. At Sydney 2000, he placed second to Kenya's Noah Ngeny.
Hicham El Guerrouj on Squidoo!
Learn more about The King of the Mile
13. Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia)
In the context of his overall career - his 2:03:59 marathon world record was his 26th world record - Haile "The Emperor" Gebrselassie's two Olympic gold medals for 10,000 meters seem almost trivial. Yet his two close races with Kenyan Paul Tergat were epics, especially the 2000 final in which Gebrselassie prevailed by nine-hundredths of a second, a closer margin of victory than the 100 meter race!
Haile finished 5th in the 10,000 meters in Athens, and then 6th in his fourth Olympic 10,000 meters in Beijing, running 27:06.68, a time that would have been the Olympic Record in his first Olympics 12 years earlier!
Haile Gebrselassie on Squidoo!
Learn more about The Greatest Distance Runner Ever
The Greatest: The Haile Gebrselassie Story
by Jim Denison
The Greatest: The Haile Gebrselassie Story
Amazon Price: $8.25 (as of 01/27/2012)
Used Price: $6.97
This book is great tribute to Haile Gebreselassie. I thought that this book was well pieced together and it gives a good introduction to who he is and what he stands for. It would be nice if Haile could have been the author himself. Honestly, this book inspired me through a summer of great training and once you start reading you don't want to put the book down. --Sports Freak
14. Derartu Tulu (Ethiopia)
Gold: 10,000m, 1992, 2000Bronze: 10,000m, 2004
Derartu Tulu was the first Ethiopian and first sub-Saharan African to win a gold medal in the Olympic Games. She won the 10,000 meters in Barcelona. Eight years later she again competed in the Olympic Games in Sydney, again winning gold at 10,000 meters with a blazing finishing kick. Four years later she competed in her third Olympics and took the bronze medal.
Derartu is from the same village as Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba, who is also her cousin.
15. Mel Sheppard (United States)
The athlete of the 1908 Olympics - even if it is a Games remembered mainly for Dorando Pietri's dramatic collapse in the marathon - Mel Sheppard did the 800 and 1,500 metres double and anchored the US to gold in the medley relay. This from a man who had been rejected by the New York police on the grounds of a weak heart.
Quick Poll: Did you know who Jim Lightbody and Mel Sheppard were?
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16. Volmari Iso-Hollo (Finland)
Silver: 10,000m, 1932
Bronze: 10,000m, 1936
Volmari Iso-Hollo retained his Olympic steeplechase title in 1936 with a world record - running a minute and a half slower than in 1932 when the athletes ran one too many laps.
17. Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia)
Gold: 5,000m, 10,000m, 2008Bronze: 5,000m, 2004
Tirunesh "Baby-faced Destroyer" Dibaba joined this list after her dominant performance at the Beijing Olympic games in 2008. Having already earned a bronze medal in the 5,000 meters at the age of 19 in Athens, she entered Beijing as the favorite. She won her first race, the 10,000 meters, in an Olympic record time, and then utilized her superior kick to win a very slow 5,000 meter race. Her performance made her the first woman to accomplish the distance double.
18. Alain Mimoun (France)
Silver: 10,000m, 1948, 1952; 5,000m, 1952
For eight years, Alain Mimoun was the second best distance runner in the world. And he had the silver medals to show for it. But finally, sick of the sight of Emil Zatopek's back - he was runner-up to the Czech in three Olympic track finals - Alain Mimoun got the better of him to win the 1956 Olympic marathon.
19. Miruts Yifter (Ethiopia)
Bronze: 10,000m, 1972
Yifter won bronze in the 1972 Olympics, but had to wait eight years to win his two golds in 1980 due to his country's boycott of the 1976 games. He was the third man ever to win the distance double, and only one man has done it since: his countryman Kenenisa Bekele. Yifter's finishing kick was so sudden he earned the nickname "Yifter the Shifter".
20. Mohammed Gammoudi (Tunisia)
Silver: 10,000m, 1964; 5,000m, 1972
Bronze: 10,000m, 1968
Gammoudi won medals in three different Olympics, but only won gold at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Gammoudi took silver in two famous races for Americans, the 1964 10,000 meters where Billy Mills surprised everyone as well as the 1972 5,000 meters where Lasse Viren won, and Steve Prefontaine finished fourth.
Quick Poll: Which Beijing competitor will be next to crack this list?
Think it'll be someone else? Tell me in the comments below!
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21. Herb Elliott (Australia)
He ran in only one Olympics, by choice. Going undefeated in his career at 1500m and above, he won gold at the 1960 Olympics in a world record time of 3:35.6. He retired shortly after, feeling he had accomplished everything he could in track. We will never know how many medals he could have won had he chosen to continue running.
22. Said Aouita (Morocco)
Bronze: 800m, 1988
Said Aouita was the most dominant distance runner of the 1980s, running world leading times in all races from the 800 meters to the 5,000 meters. He won the 5,000 meters in the 1984 Olympics, and amazingly attempted to win the 800 meters four years later in Seoul, but finished third.
23. Vladimir Kuts (Soviet Union/Ukraine)
Kutz always led from the start, and he did just that to win the 10,000 meters over rival Gordon Pirie in the 1956 Olympics. Days later he won the 5,000 meters easily to accomplish the impressive 5k-10k double.
24. Frank Shorter (United States)
Silver: marathon, 1976
One of the best American marathoners ever, Shorter won the 1972 Olympic marathon and finished 5th in the 10,000 meters that same year. He finished second to surprise winner Waldemar Cierpinski in 1976, but it is widely believed that, like many of his East German counterparts, Cierpinski used performance enhancing drugs.
Quick Poll: Which group is most under-represented in this list?
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First, what do you think of the top 24?
Speak now or forever hold your peace...
I'd love to know your opinions. If you make a great argument, I may even change the lens!
What do you think of the top 24?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byDamn good. Not much I'd change. Except maybe...
Jene says:
Hello,
I thought this was very well researched and interesting. I like the added video clips and the books that accompanied the athletes' stories. I was actually looking for top 10 marathoners. Also, would have been good to have one list for males and one list for females. Overall, great top 24 list. Thank you!
Posted október 09, 2011
erick says:
you should definitely reconsider Prefontaine even though hes never even won an olympic medal he was a man of heart and in the 5000m in 1972 the pace wouldve continued to have lagged if it wasnt for Prefontaine.That is what the olympics is about manning up and giving it all youve got.
Posted január 30, 2011
Jimb says:
too bad Prefontaine's career got cut short. The lack of an Olympic gold is the only thing keeping him from the list.
Posted január 04, 2011
lolllllllllllll says:
@PREFONTAIN -- you spelled his name wrong, and he never even won an oly medal at all. the fact of the matter is, there aren't that many folks who've got a boatload of olympic medals, because they aren't exactly a dime a dozen. the people on this list are those who have the most....
Posted május 28, 2010
dani says:
add bernard lagat and steve prefontaine up there.
Posted március 20, 2009
It's a travesty. Here's what you need to do to save it...
Really? says:
Umm... Seriously? First anything nurmi zatopek and even viren did means much much less because of the lack of (African) competition. And Yifter should be given the benefit of the doubt and be ranked higher. Juantorena belongs high on this list. Also seb Coe top 5 because of competition level. And get rid of all those pre-1940 Finns. Sorry to anyone over 80 but athletes today are faster stronger they're just better. Sorry long comment
Posted június 06, 2011
PREFONTAIN says:
Not very good, lots of great runners, but not the greatest. Lost of them only won a medal or two, not enough to make a top al time list.
Posted február 06, 2009
Second, who should get the #25 spot?
I found out that non-members can't vote in the previous list. I had no idea. Well, now everyone can vote here! So check out the profiles using the links if you need to, and then tell me who you think should be ranked #25. I'll create the profile once we've reached 50 votes!
Remember, you can only pick one person so choose carefully! (And if you feel the need for a write-in vote, just post a comment below!)
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Write-in votes here! (Or just tell me what you think of the lens...!)
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Justin
Nov 27, 2011 @ 3:43 pm | delete
- Halland Britton wounded twice during WW1.
The Northern Champion at 4 miles (1924-26), and the steeplechase (1925), Halland Britton was a three-time winner of the AAA 10 miles title (1921-22, 1924). He also placed in the 4 miles and the steeplechase at the Championships and won the 5K vs. France on his international début in 1923.Came sixth in the 10,000m final 1924 Olympics aged 36.
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Della
Oct 12, 2009 @ 3:41 am | delete
- Early days yet but I think both Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya and Turunesh Dibaba should be on the list
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Rory
Sep 3, 2008 @ 1:08 pm | delete
- I did'nt complete the list for the 25th athlete as my choice for that spot wasn't even on the list. My nominee is Ronnie Delaney from Ireland who won 1500m gold at Melbourne in 1956. Coming from a country with no appreciable track running pedigree, it was indeed a fine achievement.
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buraian Sep 1, 2008 @ 11:02 am | delete
- Roque Miguel,
Great points. I agree that Holmes has the edge on Masterkova, but I'm not yet convinced she's #25.
Tergat is such a tough case. The third best distance runner ever runs two great 10ks but gets nipped twice. Sileshi Sihine may be destined to that outcome as well.
Good on you for calling out Gabriela Szabo's accomplishments, too. I've included her as an option in the poll!
And finally, thanks for the YouTube!
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Roque Miguel
Aug 31, 2008 @ 9:41 pm | delete
- 1) I had the fortune to see Kelly Holmes live (e.g. in the stadium) in one of her 2004 Olympic golds and she ran great controlled races. And the bronze from 2000 places her just above Svetlana Masterkova. So, she should be #25.
2) Instinctually, I'd like to include Paul Tergat, but I'd agree with your formulation that probably credits golds more than silvers.
3) Gabriella Szabo might be an interesting one to consider given her medals in three consecutive Olympic 5000m races, including gold in Sydney 2000 in an Olympic record by 19 seconds! She also beat Gete Wami and Sonia O'Sullivan (long live the Irish) in the process. Some YouTube for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuRxwoCcWFo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jRAahMAM5A
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