This will probably go over as well as a turd in a punchbowl. But which would you say is the greater track and field athlete? Don’t let doping be a part of the discussion…assume both are, or are not, doing the stuff. I have a feeling Bolt would take him in the 100, Lewis in the 200. The thing that gives (in my mind) an edge to Lewis is that he was a stud in the long jump, along with the 100/200.
Just curious what everyone thinks.
From Wikipedia on Lewis:
Olympic Games Gold 1984 Los Angeles 100 m Gold 1984 Los Angeles 200 m Gold 1984 Los Angeles 4×100 m relay Gold 1984 Los Angeles Long jump Gold 1988 Seoul 100 m Gold 1988 Seoul Long jump Silver 1988 Seoul 200 m Gold 1992 Barcelona 4×100 m relay Gold 1992 Barcelona Long jump Gold 1996 Atlanta Long jump World Championships Gold 1983 Helsinki 100 m Gold 1983 Helsinki 4×100 m relay Gold 1983 Helsinki Long jump Gold 1987 Rome 100 m Gold 1987 Rome 4×100 m relay Gold 1987 Rome Long jump Gold 1991 Tokyo 100 m Gold 1991 Tokyo 4×100 m relay Silver 1991 Tokyo Long jump Bronze 1993 Stuttgart 200 m
From Wikipedia on Bolt:
Olympic Games Gold 2012 London 100 m Gold 2012 London 200 m Gold 2012 London 4×100 m relay Gold 2008 Beijing 100 m Gold 2008 Beijing 200 m Gold 2008 Beijing 4×100 m relay World Championships Gold 2011 Daegu 200 m Gold 2011 Daegu 4×100 m relay Gold 2009 Berlin 100 m Gold 2009 Berlin 200 m Gold 2009 Berlin 4×100 m relay Silver 2007 Osaka 200 m Silver 2007 Osaka 4×100 m relay
Lewis would have got a medal to two in Moscow as well if not for the Boycott. But Bolt is just a different animal. Unlike team sports - T&F is easy to compare guys from different eras - the standard is simply the clock and therefore Bolt is the greatest 100/200M runner ever.
My view is that it is Bolt, but the long jump part of the discussion really tilts it a bit more toward Lewis (all of this taking out the doping discussion).
This will probably go over as well as a turd in a punchbowl. But which would you say is the greater track and field athlete? Don’t let doping be a part of the discussion…assume both are, or are not, doing the stuff. I have a feeling Bolt would take him in the 100, Lewis in the 200. The thing that gives (in my mind) an edge to Lewis is that he was a stud in the long jump, along with the 100/200.
Just curious what everyone thinks.
From Wikipedia on Lewis:
Olympic Games Gold 1984 Los Angeles 100 m Gold 1984 Los Angeles 200 m Gold 1984 Los Angeles 4×100 m relay Gold 1984 Los Angeles Long jump Gold 1988 Seoul 100 m Gold 1988 Seoul Long jump Silver 1988 Seoul 200 m Gold 1992 Barcelona 4×100 m relay Gold 1992 Barcelona Long jump Gold 1996 Atlanta Long jump World Championships Gold 1983 Helsinki 100 m Gold 1983 Helsinki 4×100 m relay Gold 1983 Helsinki Long jump Gold 1987 Rome 100 m Gold 1987 Rome 4×100 m relay Gold 1987 Rome Long jump Gold 1991 Tokyo 100 m Gold 1991 Tokyo 4×100 m relay Silver 1991 Tokyo Long jump Bronze 1993 Stuttgart 200 m
From Wikipedia on Bolt:
Olympic Games Gold 2012 London 100 m Gold 2012 London 200 m Gold 2012 London 4×100 m relay Gold 2008 Beijing 100 m Gold 2008 Beijing 200 m Gold 2008 Beijing 4×100 m relay World Championships Gold 2011 Daegu 200 m Gold 2011 Daegu 4×100 m relay Gold 2009 Berlin 100 m Gold 2009 Berlin 200 m Gold 2009 Berlin 4×100 m relay Silver 2007 Osaka 200 m Silver 2007 Osaka 4×100 m relay
Being that you specified both track and field: Carl Lewis without a doubt. It’d be illogical to argue otherwise. Had you simply left it at best sprinter: Bolt.
My view is that it is Bolt, but the long jump part of the discussion really tilts it a bit more toward Lewis (all of this taking out the doping discussion).
My personal rankings
BoltJesse OwensLewis
We had Micheal Johnson,Lindford Christie and Daley Thomson drop into the Aussie Olympic studio during The Gamesas guest commentators for T&F…Before the 200 they had Carl Lewis (with Jesse Owens preferred by MJ).After the 200 they all agreed on Bolt…It was interesting to hear MJ talk about the greatest Olympian and he said that volume of medals does not count as gymnastics and swimming have more opportunity…He picks Jesse Owens considering the pressure he was under…
…and as a side bar just for you Dev it has been confirmed by Usain Bolt, in an off track interview with Aussie TV just after his 200 win, that he is not only coming to Oz for a vacation,he want’s to play in Shane Warnes team in the KFC Big Bash Leauge 20/20 National Cricket Comp…Apprently he is a wicked fast bowler.
My view is that it is Bolt, but the long jump part of the discussion really tilts it a bit more toward Lewis (all of this taking out the doping discussion).
People tend to think only about the “now” and that nothing happened before. Carl Lewis is the Lance armstrong of the track and field world. he was a freak of nature that cannot be compared to Bolt who is a pure sprinter.
Good question. Bolt for me because he has annihalated world records in probably the most competitve events. He also has massive and charming charisma. Lewis was a bit cold and weird in that regard. His running style was beautiful though. Alison Felix’s style is reminiscent of Lewis.
Even though I put Carl Lewis below Bolt and Owens, what many forget is Lewis’ longevity as a sprinter WHILE competing in the long jump, which is an amazing feat. Don’t forget that Carl Lewis won the gold medal at the long jump as late as Atlanta…and if he had only gotten to race at Moscow. We’ll never really know.
Ultratriguy…Bolt is the prototype of some of the West Indian fast bowlers…for some reason I have some images of Malcolm Marshall in my head from the late 70’s adn early 80’s although Marshall was much shorter
…but he’d be more like 6’8" tall Joel Garner
I got to watch these guys in a tour in 1978 (yes, that long ago)! Good times! Imagine the pace that Bolt could unleash!
Don’t let doping be a part of the discussion…assume both are, or are not, doing the stuff.
Um, since you brought it up, Carl Lewis is a known doper (funny how some of the same people who hate Lance love Carl), he was doped to hilt during most if not all of his medal efforts.
We cannot assume Bolt is doping. He’s never been credibly accused of it (that I’m aware of).
Carl Lewis doesn’t even deserve to clean my toilets.
I’m gong with Jesse Owens, then Bolt. Carl is off my list.
Don’t let doping be a part of the discussion…assume both are, or are not, doing the stuff.
Um, since you brought it up, Carl Lewis is a known doper (funny how some of the same people who hate Lance love Carl), he was doped to hilt during most if not all of his medal efforts.
We cannot assume Bolt is doping. He’s never been credibly accused of it (that I’m aware of).
Carl Lewis doesn’t even deserve to clean my toilets.
I’m gong with Jesse Owens, then Bolt. Carl is off my list.
Don’t let doping be a part of the discussion…assume both are, or are not, doing the stuff.
Um, since you brought it up, Carl Lewis is a known doper (funny how some of the same people who hate Lance love Carl), he was doped to hilt during most if not all of his medal efforts.
We cannot assume Bolt is doping. He’s never been credibly accused of it (that I’m aware of).
Carl Lewis doesn’t even deserve to clean my toilets.
I’m gong with Jesse Owens, then Bolt. Carl is off my list.
Don’t let doping be a part of the discussion…assume both are, or are not, doing the stuff.
Um, since you brought it up, Carl Lewis is a known doper (funny how some of the same people who hate Lance love Carl), he was doped to hilt during most if not all of his medal efforts.
We cannot assume Bolt is doping. He’s never been credibly accused of it (that I’m aware of).
Carl Lewis doesn’t even deserve to clean my toilets.
I’m gong with Jesse Owens, then Bolt. Carl is off my list.
