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Carl Lewis
Resolved Question: What would Carl Lewis'
What would Carl Lewis' 19.75 seconds 200m run in 1983 have been if he never slowed down to celebrate before the finishing line? I personally think it would have been something pretty special i.e. 19.3 or better. And what made it even more remarkable is that Lewis was still only 21 - years - old at the time. He was also robbed of a 9.15 (30 ft) long jump in 1982. Many witnesses say that Lewis should have been credited with the new long jump world record that day although the officials thought otherwise and called a foul on Lewis. If that had stood then that would have to be the greatest athletic achievement in history. Beamon's 8.90 was impressive but he had the advantage of altitude in 1968 in Mexico City.
Therefore Lewis would have been the 200m world record holder from 1983 until 1996 (Johnson ran 19.66 and 19.32 seconds that year; Johnson initially broke Mennea's 19.72 from 1979 when running 19.66 seconds in 1996) and the 100m world record holder from 1991 to 1994 (Lewis ran world record time of 9.86 at the 1991 World Championships; also ran wind - aided 9.80 in the semis in 1991). And he would and should still be the long jump world record holder right now if the officials had done their job properly in 1982. Lewis was normally so consistent in the long jump though as he crusaded towards four consecutive Olympic long jump titles and won two World Championships long jump titles (1983 and 1987; also won the 100m in 1983, 1987 and 1991).
He also produced a phenomenal series of jumps of 8.83 (wind - aided), 8.91 (wind - aided), 8.87 and 8.84 at the 1991 World Championships but still remarkably failed to conquer Mike Powell who produced a world record jump of 8.95 which still stands. I also think Lewis would have beaten Michael Johnson in the 200m in the 1991 World Championships if Lewis had participated in the 200m that year as Johnson's winning time of 20.01 seconds wasn't that impressive to be perfectly honest (I am a big Johnson fan though as he was awesome as well). And all of the world records in the technical events haven't really changed that much in the past thirty years or so with a few of them still standing.
Renaldo Nehemiah was also robbed of 12.8 times in the 110m hurdles in the early 1980's as the officials apparently said the clock was faulty. But Nehemiah said they just didn't think anyone could run that fast despite Nehemiah becoming the first man to break 13 seconds for the event when running 12.93 seconds in 1981 when he was still only 22 - years - old. Nehemiah was also deprived of an Olympic gold medal due to the 1980 boycott. He quit athletics to play football. If he had remained in athletics then he would obviously lowered his official best time of 12.93 seconds.
Edwin Moses still holds the second quickest time in the 400m hurdles (47.02 seconds) behind Kevin Young's 46.78 seconds which Young ran at the 1992 Olympics. Moses broke the world record four times - the final time being his 47.02 seconds which he ran in 1983 on his 28th birthday. Moses was also unbeaten in the event for over 120 years including winning the 1976 and 1984 Olympics and the 1983 World Championships. He would have won three Olympic titles in a row for the 400m hurdles if it were not for the 1980 boycott. Therefore Moses has to be ragarded as the greatest 400m hurdler in history.
Willie Banks' 17.97 in the triple jump in 1985 - stood until Jonathan Edwards exploits in 1995 - weren't too shabby either. And Uwe Hohn's 104.80 in the javelin in 1984 was also a fantastic athletic achievement that will be memorable for a very long time. Uwe is the only person to throw any type of javelin over 100m. The current world record holder with the new javelin is Jan Zelezny who recorded a brilliant throw of 98.48 in 1996 at age 29 (approaching age 30). Javier Sotomayor's high jump world record still stands since 1993. "Butch" Reynolds' 43.29 seconds in 1988 when Reynolds was still only 24 was very impressive as well and stood until Johnson ran 43.18 seconds on a faster track in the 1999 World Championships when Johnson was nearly 32 - years - old. So would have to confess that Reynolds had more potential than Johnson in the 400m. Yeah I obviously meant to put 10 years LOL. I should proof read my posts more often. Besides it ttok me ages to write all that therefore there was going to be a mistake somewhere LOL. I normally do proof read my post regularLY LOL. Good points but I would have to disagree as I think Lewis' 200m time would have been so much different as he blatantly slowed down at least 15 meters from the line. And Bolt is running on quicker tracks and is using better technology. If Bolt had been running in the 1980's or 1990's then his times would be different - undoubtedly slower. Bolt can thank the fast tracks. Cannot underestimate the importance of fast tracks as far as quick times are concerned. I am a big Bolt fan though. But I am just being realistic. Put the Carl Lewis who ran 19.75 seconds in 1982 on the 1996 Atlanta track or contemporary tracks then he would run 19.3 or 19.1 as well, providing Lewis runs through the line and doesn't celebrate 15 metres from the line LOL. You do But athletes aren't really better - that's one of my point LOL
Men's hammer world record - stood since 1986
Cannot criticize Reynolds' 43.29 seconds as it is in the record books.
Men's javelin world record (both designs) - old design since 1984 and new design since 1996 (Hohn was only 22 in 1984)
Men's high jump world record - stood since 1993 (people including Sotomayor were jumping similarly during the 1980's)
Men's long jump world record - stood since 1991 (should really be 1982 though)
Men's triple jump world record - stood since 1995 (Banks also jumped 17.97 in 1985)
Men's discus world record - stood since 1986
Men's 200m - Carl Lewis should have ran 19.1 in 1982
Edwin Moses is the greatest 400m hurdler ever
Kevin Young's 400m hurdles world record - stood since 1992
Dan O'Brien isn't the decathlon world record holder any more but he is probably the best decathlete in history. And his world record did last from 1992 ....whereas the second best scorer in the decathlon (Roman Sebrle wasn't as successful as O'Brien.
But athletes aren't really better - that's one of my point LOL
Men's hammer world record - stood since 1986
Cannot criticize Reynolds' 43.29 seconds as it is in the record books.
Men's javelin world record (both designs) - old design since 1984 and new design since 1996 (Hohn was only 22 in 1984)
Men's high jump world record - stood since 1993 (people including Sotomayor were jumping similarly during the 1980's)
Men's long jump world record - stood since 1991 (should really be 1982 though)
Men's triple jump world record - stood since 1995 (Banks also jumped 17.97 in 1985)
Men's discus world record - stood since 1986
Men's 200m - Carl Lewis should have ran 19.1 in 1982
Edwin Moses is the greatest 400m hurdler ever
Kevin Young's 400m hurdles world record - stood since 1992
Dan O'Brien isn't the decathlon world recor
Posted on 18 November 2013 | 11:31 am
Resolved Question: Was Carl Lewis a fake and
After watching 30 for 30 it seemed Carl Lewis was fake and a hypocrite. Im pretty sure they were all using roids. Also if Ben Johnson ran for USA would they still take his medal away?
Posted on 9 January 2013 | 3:32 am
Resolved Question: Carl Lewis vs Usain Bolt,
They have exchanged comments directly, and indirectly about each other, but who would win in a fifteen round fight prime-vs-prime?
Posted on 10 August 2012 | 1:17 am
Resolved Question: Usain Bolt and Carl
the fastest Carl Lewis ever ran was 9.86 @ the tokyo 91 world championships.
the fastest Usain Bolt has ever ran is 9.58 (without taking drugs) and he's only 25 and is likely to run quicker than that.
so who's more of a legend, easy Usain Bolt is. You also need to consider how much of a cult Bolt is in Jamaica, Jamaica is the best country in the world at track events, that's because it's the only sport there very good at, sprinting is the most popular sport in Jamaica, kids want to be like Bolt and be sprinters when there older
Posted on 9 August 2012 | 10:33 pm
Resolved Question: Bolt said he did not
Is Carl correct in believing that it is possible the Jamaica team doped and is Bolt justified in being pissed. Is doping still happening in the Olympics? Has Bolt just crossed a line that may damage his US appeal?
Posted on 9 August 2012 | 11:58 am