Wilson Kipketer breaks his own world record for 800m indoors at the 1997 World Indoor Championships in Paris.
Comments
That was astonishing and wow. We had something special yet from this man. Greteast athlete ever over 800m.
@YiftertheShifter1 Yes one has to be somewhat delusive to even contemplate tracking the great man. In the end they pay the price for trying to stay with him.
that was bloody brilliant
Watch Rudisha try to win 3 World Championships. Its not easy.
Wilson won 3 big ones.
The greatest indoor performance ever
@newromantic888 -Hi mate. I'm fine thanks. How's u?
I agree that it was a fantastic run, but I don't put as much weight on indoor performances. Coghlan ran 3:49 Mile indoors but could never replicate it outdoors. I think this race underlines Kip as head and shoulders above the rest and it was a clear indication that he was going to break Coe's record in the summer, but I don't think one can say this is worth 1:40 outdoors. There are too many variables involved.
@deano27671 Hi Dean. Yes u make some good points there. I guess the thing is that almost always athletes arent in such good form during the indoor season. They are really aiming to peek for the outdoor season I would say though that for sprints and possibly 800m the athletes are at a biomechanical disadvantage in those tight curves even with the bank. Ok Wilson looks effortless and supremely graceful ...............as did Seb but they were both so pretty to watch. Hows are things anyway.
@franknjess I dont appreciate your comments.
@franknjess Explain. Tell us his symptoms and a source of information. Just curious.
Not surprisingly, those who did the worst job of following Kipketer through the early stages ended up in second and third. Those who tried their best... faded to fourth- sixth, out of the medals.
You might be able to get a rough conversion over short sprints, but there is no wind indoors, so you have to take that into consideration also. A 1:42.7 800m on an indoor track with no wind is actually preferable to running outdoors, with all the variable weather conditions that entails! Also, the bends indoors are banked, giving a feel of running downhill, thus the angle of the track is not the same as on a flat outdoor track. If he'd run the same day on an outdoor track it would be no faster.
Kip has a great claim to being the greatest 800m runner ever, though it's subjective, but to say he's greatest middle distance talent ever is a bit over the top. What were his 1000 & 1500m pb's? What medals did he win over the longer of the 2 middle distances? Let's not get too carried away. And this doesn't equate to a 1:40 outdoors. You can't convert one into the other. For a start there is no wind indoors. It is a stupendous run, but it ONLY tells us he was in 1:42.7 form in March!
Thats 140...........someting outside. Dam this must would have gone under 140 in 99.......that dam mosquito.
No way Wilson was on anything...........I have no doubts............in 99 maybe some malaria drugs.
Either way, we are simply never going to know. So let's do as newromantic says and just forget about that and enjoy the greatest combination of elegance and power in an athlete we have ever seen, and maybe will ever see.
Voice of reason. Kipketer is one of my heroes and favourite ever athletes. In fact, his Olympic vest from Athens hangs proudly framed on my bedroom wall. Close to an idol perhaps. My heart tells me he is possibly the greatest middle distance TALENT ever and certainly the greatest 800m runner ever. But I can't lie and say my brain isn't a little weary of the possibility of something. Its simply the era he ran in (that 96-00 designer drug frenzy era) and it's so sad, but nothing can be discounted
Well lets see how Lance goes without shit now. Hes not doing too bad............without shit.
Order in the house peoples.............lets what the greatest ever 800m runner and enjoy.