Not to forgot a chap from Scotland in the early 70s called McNeill beat tommy smith 2 times over 120 yards ....he had world records over 120 yards .....came from trenant Scotland ....he played pro soccer ..therefor lost his right to compete for Britain in the 72 /76 Olympics ......an amazing talent lost to Olympic administrative garbage ....
Forgotten White Athletes?
- Thread starter mastermulti
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Huh, sure enough, I looked him up.
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/george-mcneill-tranents-one-man-fast-show-1517045
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/george-mcneill-tranents-one-man-fast-show-1517045
Booth
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Valery Brumel was the best high jumper in the world. He was the first man to jump 7'5" inches. He also ran the 100 meters in 10.6 and could touch the bottom of a basketball rim with his big toe. His career was cut short by a motorcycle accident in 1965 at the age of 23.
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/commen.../?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/commen.../?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
Rick Mitchell of Australia who was the 400m Olympic Silver Medalist in 1980, has sadly passed away.
He also made the Olympic final in 1976.
https://www.athletics.com.au/news/vale-rick-mitchell/
He also made the Olympic final in 1976.
https://www.athletics.com.au/news/vale-rick-mitchell/
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mastermulti
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This is a European athlete athlete I followed in the 90s. He was a fine 100 metre sprinter, Norway's best (looked more like a Swedish model) -
Geir Moen who in 1996 at 27 years of age reached a career high point that culminated in a 10.08 (+0.6) and a 20.17 (1.8), extremely good for a European 1/4 century ago.
white lightning
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Outstanding video. Thanks for posting that blast from the past. I remember him slightly. What a great racer he was over both distances.
Geir Moen was quite a talent.
He won the European Championships in the 200m, at that same meet where he came 2nd to Christie in the 100m.
He also won the 200m at the World Indoor Championships in 1995, and finished 6th at the outdoor World Championships.
It still blows my mind how little Norway has turned out such big running talent.
For example, Geir Moen was a more successful sprinter than any German male sprinter of the 30 yrs that I can think of.
Jacob ingebrigsten is a more successful distance runner than any German distance runner.
And Karsten Warholm may be the greatest 400m hurdler of all time! . . . . although Harold Schmid was excellent too.
Btw, Norway has a population of less than 6 million; Germany more than 80 million.
He won the European Championships in the 200m, at that same meet where he came 2nd to Christie in the 100m.
He also won the 200m at the World Indoor Championships in 1995, and finished 6th at the outdoor World Championships.
It still blows my mind how little Norway has turned out such big running talent.
For example, Geir Moen was a more successful sprinter than any German male sprinter of the 30 yrs that I can think of.
Jacob ingebrigsten is a more successful distance runner than any German distance runner.
And Karsten Warholm may be the greatest 400m hurdler of all time! . . . . although Harold Schmid was excellent too.
Btw, Norway has a population of less than 6 million; Germany more than 80 million.
mastermulti
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time for another "forgotten" post. I have spoken about Darren before. His 44.38 from 1988 is still our record and a very good time for 33 years (1/3rd century) ago.
Twice knocked into 4th place by drug cheats at 1984/1988 Olympic Games this was his first international outdoor championship. He was 18 at LA
Twice knocked into 4th place by drug cheats at 1984/1988 Olympic Games this was his first international outdoor championship. He was 18 at LA
mastermulti
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seen here in Seoul at 22 running his Australian record in some good company
mastermulti
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BRUNO HORTELANO-ROIG. Anyone remember him? Born in Australia, lived in Canada, competed for Spain.
By 25 he had the Spanish 100 record at 10.06. By 27 he had the 200 record at 20.04. But 1 week after Rio he had a horrific car accident.
Here's his story. Enjoy!
https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/...t-the-hospital-bed-it-would-be-to-go-to-tokyo
By 25 he had the Spanish 100 record at 10.06. By 27 he had the 200 record at 20.04. But 1 week after Rio he had a horrific car accident.
Here's his story. Enjoy!
https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/...t-the-hospital-bed-it-would-be-to-go-to-tokyo
white lightning
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This story is so heartbreaking but he is a champion regardless of if he ever acheives success on a track again. We will always wonder what could
have been and how fast he could of run? I just hope he can remain healthy on and off the track even if his fastest days are in the rear view mirror. The
kid is a class act. Thanks for posting this great article!
mastermulti
Master
especially for your information W/L.
I was there that day and haven't seen a replay till today. It was the best day of Melissa Breen's athletics life and we expected her to really have turned corner.
Yet she continued to underperform under pressure at every international opportunity.
I was there that day and haven't seen a replay till today. It was the best day of Melissa Breen's athletics life and we expected her to really have turned corner.
Yet she continued to underperform under pressure at every international opportunity.
white lightning
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What a fantastic race. She executed the start and drive phase perfectly. It's crazy how many sprinters make progressions slowly but they continue to get faster while
other sprinters taste that raw speed once or twice and then regress. Injuries, bad training, diet, etc. etc. Who knows? Look at Lemaitre and think what could have been?
At least with Lemaitre he won Olympic and World Championship Medals so he had a good career. He is also the first white to ever run a sub 10 and the fastest white
guy ever at 9.92 wind legal. Yeah we will never know why Breen just slowly vanished. It was a special day however and I'm glad you got to see it.
I sincerely hope that your there when Browning goes sub 10 this year. I think at the latest it will happen at the 2022 Australian Championships. Probably will happen sooner
but it depends as he is running indoors. I wish he wouldn't as it's gonna be a very long year. Hope his coach doesn't over work the kid too much. The World Championships
in Eugene Oregon is where I want to see him at his ultimate peak condition.
mastermulti
Master
she was obviously helped here (pressure-wise) by Sally Pearson, the other heat winner, deciding not to run the final an hour later. Breen ran 11.15 in the final with a bit less wind.
Isn't it strange how ONE particular day can prove to be the peak of that athlete's career. She never again nor before went sub 11.20.
Patrick Johnson was the same in Mito, Japan in 2003. 10.01 heat and 9.93 final (both legal) on the same day. Never to be repeated
Aust champs are in Sydney for 2022 so I should be there. Unfortunately the weather can be quite changeable and they run 100m virtually due south. Ifit's chill that's where the winds will come from. I hope he achieves sub 10 earlier rather than leave our last race to chance.
Having said that he may be overseas competing because he'll have a pass for the World's already
Isn't it strange how ONE particular day can prove to be the peak of that athlete's career. She never again nor before went sub 11.20.
Patrick Johnson was the same in Mito, Japan in 2003. 10.01 heat and 9.93 final (both legal) on the same day. Never to be repeated
Aust champs are in Sydney for 2022 so I should be there. Unfortunately the weather can be quite changeable and they run 100m virtually due south. Ifit's chill that's where the winds will come from. I hope he achieves sub 10 earlier rather than leave our last race to chance.
Having said that he may be overseas competing because he'll have a pass for the World's already
white lightning
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If you are there and by a miracle you get close enough to meet him I would love an autographed photo or poster. I can pay for it. I know it's a long shot but I figured
I would ask just in case. Rohan is such an intelligent young man and he seems to be as nice and polite as they come. So I'm hoping maybe we both could get an
autograph. Haha. Nothing wrong with wishing. The only sprinters I have autographed photos of are Christophe Lemaitre and Matic Osovnikar.
mastermulti
Master
lol, I'll see what I can do.
I found my kid's autographed photos of a young Cathy Freeman and Darren Clark the other week
I found my kid's autographed photos of a young Cathy Freeman and Darren Clark the other week
white lightning
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Cathy Freeman won a gold medal at the Olympics. I'm sure that's worth a little money. It's more about the sentimental value. Clark was very good too.
white lightning
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Borzov and Mennea are two of them. Not sure on the third one. Great pic by the way!
Eugen Ray of E. Germany, Valeriy Borzov (Ukraine), and Pietro Mennea of Italy.
Three of the greatest white sprinters of 70s and 80s.
I believe Eugen Ray was the top rated sprinter in the world in 1977.
I don't remember what happened to him in 1976, which was an Olympic year. Maybe he was injured.
Three of the greatest white sprinters of 70s and 80s.
I believe Eugen Ray was the top rated sprinter in the world in 1977.
I don't remember what happened to him in 1976, which was an Olympic year. Maybe he was injured.
white lightning
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Thanks jacknyc. I didn't know too much about Eugen Ray but he was a fantastic sprinter. Here is a quick bio from Wikepedia:
Ray established himself in the elite of world sprinting by setting a world junior 100 m record of 10.16 seconds. He was East German 100 metres champion in 1977, 1978, and 1980. In 1978 he also won the East German indoor 60 metres titles, as well as twice indoor 100 metre champion.
He was European cup semi finalist 100 metre champion in 1975, 1977, and 1979. And in 1977 he was European cup 100/200 metre winner. After this he then went on to the world cup held in Germany where he came second in the World Cup 100 metres narrowly beaten by Steve Williams of USA. He then finished 2nd again with the German sprint relay team. A year later he was European silver medallist in the 100 metres and 4 × 100 metres.
Ray had a running style that showed brute strength and power and he was often referred to as the "power man" of sprinting by several sports commentators in the late 1970s. He was quite heavy and well muscled compared with most of his opponents and he appeared to "bulldoze" his way along the track.
His 100 m personal best was 10.12 seconds.[1]
Ray died aged 28 on 18 January 1986 in a car crash whilst working as a traffic officer in East Germany. He was survived by his wife Marlies Ray who at the time was pregnant with their son.[2]
In 1980, he went to the Summer Olympics in Moscow where he ran in the 100 metres,
Ray established himself in the elite of world sprinting by setting a world junior 100 m record of 10.16 seconds. He was East German 100 metres champion in 1977, 1978, and 1980. In 1978 he also won the East German indoor 60 metres titles, as well as twice indoor 100 metre champion.
He was European cup semi finalist 100 metre champion in 1975, 1977, and 1979. And in 1977 he was European cup 100/200 metre winner. After this he then went on to the world cup held in Germany where he came second in the World Cup 100 metres narrowly beaten by Steve Williams of USA. He then finished 2nd again with the German sprint relay team. A year later he was European silver medallist in the 100 metres and 4 × 100 metres.
Ray had a running style that showed brute strength and power and he was often referred to as the "power man" of sprinting by several sports commentators in the late 1970s. He was quite heavy and well muscled compared with most of his opponents and he appeared to "bulldoze" his way along the track.
His 100 m personal best was 10.12 seconds.[1]
Ray died aged 28 on 18 January 1986 in a car crash whilst working as a traffic officer in East Germany. He was survived by his wife Marlies Ray who at the time was pregnant with their son.[2]
In 1980, he went to the Summer Olympics in Moscow where he ran in the 100 metres,
mastermulti
Master
good find. Thx for this piece of history. Eugen Ray was a 6ft 190+lbs beast. Steve Williams looks so slender compared to what many sprinters have now become.
Poor Paul Narracott in lane closest to camera was being blooded in his first international aged 17. Here he was thrown into the lion's den against the best in the world in 1977. It prepared him to run a few years later both here and overseas against the likes of Wells, Quarrie, Lattany etc and he improved enough to make the world championship final in 1983.
Australia's first electronically timed 10.20s sprinter.
I see my former sprints coach won the women's long jump here with 6.54m (21'5.5") after just fouling her mid 6.60s attempt. Not bad for a girl who trained 3 nights a week under one stadium light after work all day - that's how it was for all of them then.
Poor Paul Narracott in lane closest to camera was being blooded in his first international aged 17. Here he was thrown into the lion's den against the best in the world in 1977. It prepared him to run a few years later both here and overseas against the likes of Wells, Quarrie, Lattany etc and he improved enough to make the world championship final in 1983.
Australia's first electronically timed 10.20s sprinter.
I see my former sprints coach won the women's long jump here with 6.54m (21'5.5") after just fouling her mid 6.60s attempt. Not bad for a girl who trained 3 nights a week under one stadium light after work all day - that's how it was for all of them then.