The 800m final in the 2012 olympics was arguably the best track race ever, certainly the best 800m ever. A world record, 7 out of 8 set PBs and 7 out of 8 never ran faster again!! That's insane
Ran this race since middle school. Hated it for years and preferred the 400 but was good at the 8 so my team had me always running it. Finally learned to accept and love the race and it became my focus. Broke 2 minutes in my last HS race and still to this day (16 years later) I still remember how much it hurt. I will always respect this race as it’s own monster
Nicolás Marroquín Symmonds is weird. He’s a super-relatable, very chill RUclipsr who also happens to have been a former WC silver medalist who finished 5th in the fastest 800 meters ever run.
Dammit. I had hoped to shake his hand some day. No chance now. My friend and coach lent me a book by Arthur Lydiard in the early 80's that was published in the 60s. Snell was an 800 runner but did the same base training as the marathoners. Crazy? Hard to argue with the results though.
@@runcaz7802 the lydiard method was revolutionary and still used to this day by some athletes! My coach would tell me the pyramid training and that the bigger the base the higher the peak! Very true 😃
when i ran track as a sprinter in high school, my old man would tell me of snell, his training methods and such even though we ran different events i initially patterned after him. then later the greatest track athlete ever (until bolt)......Juantorena
@@yvy6269 in the morning and see GG GG get gg good mornings are good no idea what GG get on it kans dengke faktiskt är din gmawwswgil igen ochdet att det sg gå med gratis dagstidningar och gör Gasgas wgsggws gs
I run everything from the 800-5000, but I personally hate the 400 and the 800. It’s so physically exhausting, so I’m not that good at it. I definitely have more endurance than speed lol
I feel so bad for Amos. One of the best 800m runners out there and he barely won anything. Just happened to be running against the best ever. Bad timing
I ran 1:57:06 at a high school conference meet in 1981, my best ever. I recall thinking in my last 10 yards how much it took out of my body and knew that I had reached my physical limit. The pain was unmatched to anything I had ever experienced to date and I am now 58. Running 1:40 (or even something close) just boggles the mind....unbelievable athleticism, unbelievable speed, unbelievable spirit.
Every athlete has a natural ability, but modern training methods and nutrician and being professionals, gives today's athletes an advantage those of earlier generations didn't have. We can't know how much faster Peter Snell could have run, but it would have been faster without a doubt.
remember to this day watching that race, beyond belief, remember the race was so fast that the "loser" would have taken gold in the past 3 olympics, utter madness :)
The Cuban had the biggest stride I’ve ever seen. I remember watching him run in 1978 and it was so noticeable. Rudisha also has a large stride. That 2012 race he ran was SUBLIME. Coe was a joy to watch. That a world record was set on a grass track is amazing. That it still stands as the New Zealand National record almost SIXTY YEARS later is a testimony to its greatness.
Seb Coe on a current track, with current shoes would be unstoppable. He ran only .8 slower than Rudisha, with no competition on a cinder track, where every step loses a bit of friction and gets zero bounce. The track alone is worth > 1 second, let alone current Equip and “nutritional aids”! He once ran the last 100 meters in 11.3, still a record for international competition, and done on an old track
I ran the 800 in High School and College. What was most challenging for me was being strategic. Initially I would save my energy for the later part of my races. However my time got faster when I went all out in the beginning. Sometimes I was able to hold on to the lead, sometimes I wore out. Yeah, it takes a lot of heart & smarts to be successful in this event.
I was talented at the 800 but hated it so much because the second lap was so brutally painful! I only ran it one year and my track coach was really annoyed that I wouldn't join the team the next year.
Thanks for putting that compilation together. I'm 69 and have always had great respect for 800 M runners. The Cuban, in particular, has a gazelle-like stride. It brings to mind Rice of the SF 49'ers. Montana would lead him by tens of meters with the football, and Rice would be there to catch it without adjusting his stride. Little known fact: Rice would imagine himself as The Silver Surfer (comic book hero).
This is an incredible video! Thanks for sharing. 800 is my absolute favorite race to watch. It takes a uniquely gifted athlete to compete at a high level.
Technically 4 people held the 800m World Record at the same time. Jim Ryun in 1966 ran an 880y in 1:44.9 which converted, is a 1:44.3 800m. Snell got the 880y world record in the same race as his 1:44.3, however he went through the half mile in 1:45.1. So maybe Ryun went through 800 slightly faster than 1:44.3, but we'll never know as they didn't record his 800m split. This time is also accepted by the NCAA which has him timed at 1:44.3. So basically 1:44.3 was a 4-way tie.
Jim Ryun's 144.9y converts to 144.2. He did the largest negative spilt by far: 1.3 seconds in a WR race. As a college freshman in 1966. He is tied with Rudisha for the fastest 2nd lap in a WR race.
Up until 2018 snell’s record was also the commonwealth record for 56 YEARS! Crazy that it’s taken that long to break it! Shows how far ahead of the world Snell was ahead of the world as well as how he broke the WR imagine what he could have gone with todays tech 60 years later Also would have medaled at the 2023 world champs
The 800m is such a unique event. I don't even think anyone has gotten under 1:42 in at least 5 years. It takes an almost perfect execution to run a really fast time, unless you're a unicorn like Rudisha. Any wasted physical effort in the race will bite you in the end. It's such an awesome event to watch and analyze, but an extremely hard race to run and train for.
I think coe’s 1:42 in the 1970’s is just insane because even nowadays with wavelight pacing and newer shoe technology a 1:42 is still incredibly hard for most 800m runners
@@khumokwezimashapa2245 Now I have edited it and will remember the spelling and the pronunciation of the surname of these great athlete "Alberto Juantorena" .. Thanks once again..
TRP your best one yet 👍🏿💯👏🏿about the history of the 800m WR. Full disclosure, the 800m is my favourite event but absolutely loved the old B&W footage and the sensational tidbits particularly the fact that Snell is still the New Zealand record holder with a sub 1.45 800m on grass🤔🤷🏿♂️🙈😜 Thanks again, keep up the great work.
Seb Coe broke the world record by 2 seconds and held the world record for 18 years. No one has ever held it for so long. When he won he was over 30m in front of a world class field.
If Coe had focused on 800 - he would have had an even faster time. But he was chasing the mile and 1500 WR once he had put the 800 record out of sight. Todays top runners try to beat the WR every time they run.
Excellent video n commentary. Well researched and balanced historical footprints of 800m world records. Rudisha's victory was the icing on the cake. Big respect to all previous WR beaters. Keep up the great job.
12:00 - "Through the first 400 meters, he split a time of 48.3 seconds, which, to this day, remains as the fastest opening lap in 800 meter world record history." 13:37 - If I did my math right, Rudisha's first lap here is 1:41.01 - 52.81 = 48.2 seconds, which is faster than 48.3?
I can remember them halcyon days of 1979-81 as a young kid, Coe & Ovett going head to head and watching the world records tumble. I was in a bar in Covent Garden in August 1997 the night Wilson Kipkiter broke Coe’s 141.73 WR.
@@benbim540 I never ran on grass, but after thinking about it, you're probably right about it being faster than the cinder track. I think the grass strands would help hold together better rather than allow a divot as the cinder tracks would. Very similar to the composition tracks today. I know its much easier on one's legs, knees, shins, etc. to run on grassy surfaces versus pavement. And all the composition tracks are laid over a very hard surface, such as asphalt or concrete.
I love his meekness and very calm.. gentle sprinting giant.. timid and focused.. i watch his documentary.. from then, i got to know that most champions like him are highly disciplined from day one🙏🏾
@@michaeladrian2210 The guys who ran yards seldom get recognition unless they go to Europe & run meter races. A real shame! And Jim Ryun was one of the best in the world. Altitude killed him in Mexico City, and he got knocked down in his next Olympics in a heat. A real tragedy!
My first 800m at 17 I ran the first lap in 3rd place at 57 seconds and then ended up running 2:12 grinding it out. That last 200m was literally traumatizing. I hated racing it for years after that. It took me two more seasons to lose the fear and stress of the distance (actually that was the same for the 400m too) and be able to attack a race.
Z Ber oof 😂 man, at least it was a good leaning experience, but oh my god. Your pacing was trash 😆. Imagine running 57, 1:15. The best runners have a difference if only 2 seconds between laps.
The early records were on cinder tracks with marginal footwear. Some of those early runners on Mondotrack would have much faster times. Also it is nice to know those early records were unquestionably drug free records.
I'm not saying these athletes were using drugs but amphetamine types of substances I believe were used in cycling from very early 1900s so how do we know that some of these runners didn't use drugs as well?
@@joakimquensel597 because they didn't. People weren't that desperate for these types of things back then. You just found a guy who can run fast and say "hey you want to try out for the Olympics in a week?" Lol
One advantage of getting older is getting older. I remember watching and participating in track and field throughout my youth. To generations today and into the future, a hundred years ago seems like a time when there was no electricity. A hundred years ago was modern times for every area of everything. I have no doubt sports medicine was included with advances as well. People been doping for a long time. Don't forget, the soft drink Coke was not so soft. It actually had coke in it.
We used to look forward to getting to crystal palace (tartan track, as it was called back then) in the UK we knew we coiuld take off 3-4 seconds when our PBs were set on cut up cinder tracks.
Truly the greatest runner David Rudisha Good runners use their hip strength These are small powerful muscles that dont eat up all your energy His form is beautiful to watch so smooth relaxed
I decided to run track for the first time when I enrolled in junior college as a 35 year old. I'm 6'2" and about 180lbs. The coach didn't know what to do with me so the 1500/800 double was where I landed. I'm proud to say I broke 2:00 with a 1:58.79 my second year at 37. My point is that I felt that day as if I had wings on my feet... Running 1:40 I'd of needed rockets and missiles strapped to me! SOOOOOOO REDICULOUSLY FAST😲!
I wonder how much the track surface and shoe technology plays a part in lowering the world record. The first world records were set on cinder tracks, and Snell's on grass.
i don't care how perfect that grass was, it's night and day from the standard rubber tracks we have now. i wouldn't be surprised if snell was actually more talented than rudisha. training has come just as far as the track surfaces too, if not further.
Anyone who has run on a cinder track will tell you they are great to train on but very slow to race on. Mondo surfaces do cut at least a second off. Still, Rudisha is the greatest with Kipkiter close behind. I think it is hard to argue Ryun would have been close. Ryun was a 1500m runner mostly, and never won an Olympic medal. It’s hard to compare him to a 2x Olympic gold medalist. Having said that, the amateur status requirements of those days made it extremely difficult for him to devote the training time and commitment of today’s professionals.
Rudisha and Snell are truly greats, but I thinks Coe's level of improvement probably the greatest of them all. He also broke 1500 and Mile records multiple times in an amazing head to head sequence with Steve Ovett (and Steve Cram ultimately) through the late 70s an early 80s . Perhaps ruined by failing to win the 1980 Olympic Gold when red hot favourite.
coe's records were set over 40 years ago even so he's still to this day the 3rd fastest of all time. cant help thinking with todays tracks and equipment he would run under 1.40.
I can still remember watching both sebastian coe and steve ovet both incredible athletes I belive it was in the 1984 losangeles Olympics, also Daley Thompson the 2 time gold medalist in the decathlon 🏴🇬🇧
The New Zealand record will go on for a century! Even with all the technology and training, the next generation aren't into doing the miles of hard yards that Snell, Walker and co did. People are barely running sub 1:50 anymore 😣 I guess that's how great Peter Snells record was and sadly he didn't live to see it broken. RIP legend
I remember that Walker was making a bid to be the first person to ever run a sub-4 at the age of 40. I didn't hear any more about it so I guess he didn't quite succeed, but boy was he a grinder!!
but you've got a world number one squash player in Paul Coll and boy does he work hard .. I've seen his training video and it makes my legs wilt just to watch it!
Each one of these guys is a freak of nature, but they missed the contribution of Wottle. What he achieved was the even split. He didn't burn himself out the first lap and looked like a sprinter against the guys who did. Nick Symmonds learned that lesson. So did James Robinson, Olympic Champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy, who Symmonds beat and Amel Tuka among others.
@15:11 What's crazy is it looks like he let up on that last stride or two when he broke the world record as well. I think he could have gone 1:40:85 or so by driving through those last two strides.
Wonderful running and commentary. What great athletes. The 800 never receives as much attention as the 100 and 200m races. But it is one of the most brutal and enduring races, with speed and stamina needed in extreme measure. When we were in college, our hero was Sebastian Coe... the then 800m world champion.
Jim Ryun: World Record...Mile, 1500, 880 & American record in 2 mile; at one time (plus several team relay records). Hard to believe he's so forgotten.
This just shows how talented you have to be to be an Olympian. At my high school, the 800m record was set in 2011 and was 1:53.4. I'm in 10th grade and struggle to get under 2:40 hahaha
With hard work, dedication and a passion for running you will be surprised how quickly your PB (PR) will come down by the time you graduate high school (speaking from my own experience). Good Luck and embrace the pain👏🏿💯👍🏿🏃🏿♂️
@@jpolweny welp... 6 months later and i can confidently say that I can run an 800 in under 2:30... i put in the hard work, dedication, and running is my passion. i still got a year and a half left of high school.
Would love to see an 800m race, maybe in wonderland, with Peter Snell, Mal Whitfield, Dave Wottle, Alberto Juantorena, Sebastian Coe, Joachim Cruz, Wilson Kipketer challenging David Rudisha!!
Don’t ever let anyone tell you that Sebastian Coe is not the greatest middle distance runner of all time. He was. Let’s look at the facts: from 1955 to 1977 (22 years), the 800 m world record was improved by 2.3 seconds. But over the next three years, Sebastian Coe took another 1.7 seconds off, and held the record for an astounding 18 years total. Finally, in 1997 Wilson Kipketer took a mere 0.6 seconds off, and another 15 years went by before David Rudisha was able to barely squeak past Kipketer’s WR, by an embarrassingly minuscule 0.2 seconds. That’s a total then, since Coe’s 800 m WR in 1981, of only 0.8 seconds faster than Coe, after 31 years! Now, 8 additional years have passed, and still no one has run faster than the paltry 0.8 second improvement over Coe. Meanwhile, it is Coe’s overall abilities from 800 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, and the mile (with 12 WRs and back to back 1500 m Olympic gold medals) that lifts his legend, and makes him easily the greatest, rising far beyond the success of all the others. No one destroyed records by such margins as Coe and at such a wide range, over 800 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, and the mile. And no one before or since has had anywhere near the majestic form and the incredible final kick as Coe.
I saw Coe’s races in the 80s including his amazing world record mile runs. I fell in love with racing then and still hold Coe as my favorite track athlete of all time. It broke my heart to see him lose his mile world record to countryman Steve Ovret (?) in world championships I believe in 1985, another great British middle distance runner. Watching Coe expend himself going all out was like watching Secretariat dominate the Race track in the early 70s , just beautiful man beautiful.
thank you again .. your videos are the best. Your commentary seethes with emotion that truly reflects the awesomeness of these amazing athletes .. it's lovely to watch and to listen. Bravo.
Interestingly, Coe's PR in an open (i.e., non-relay) 400 meters was only 46.8 seconds, which is just slightly faster than the WR James Meredith set in 1916 (47.4 for 440 yards - 0.3 seconds = 47.1 for 400 meters). So it must have been Coe's emphasis on speed-endurance that allowed him to run full 10 seconds faster than Meredith for 800/880.
Hi Randy. With the huge benefit of hindsight/review of their running careers, we can see that Meredith was a 400/800 runner whereas Coe was a 800/1500 runner. With the added benefits of better tracks and shoe design, Meredith would have run quite a bit faster than he did without even delving into the different training methods, "professional" status etc. It's always interesting doing the "what if..." comparisons, isn't it?
Coe's open 400m pb in 79 is not really reflective of his ability over 1 lap. 800m runners tend to lose time as they are not fast out of blocks (don't train for it) and they rarely run serious 400m at the height of their seasons. Coe ran a 45.5 relay split in 79, which is probably worth a 46.low for an open 400m, and in 81 he ran a 45.65 relay split, where he tripped at the takeover and was practically at a standing start on the finish/start line at the beginning of his split. See link to video below. It was run 90 mins after front running a 1:44.0 and came a week before his WR of 1:41. So I'd say he was at least a 46.0 open 400m runner at his best. ruclips.net/video/AhZGonCBaOM/видео.html
Still think Coe's PB 1:41.73 on a dirt track is the greatest run ever. Give him a modern track that night and we might have seen something better than Rudisha's WR.
Coe only has two 800m times in the top 100. I have no idea where this weird faith that he could challenge Kipketer or Rudisha even comes from. He has two good times and all his other ones are pretty mediocre. Rudisha has literally 6 800m times that are in the top 10 fastest times ever ran... The man rabbited a field to some of the greatest 800m times in history.
@@rimun5235 Do you realize that Coe spent his energies also running the 1000, 1500, and the Mile - indoors as well. Surely if he concentrated ONLY on the 800, outdoors, he would have more times in the top 100. And you seem to forget that Coe's PB was on a freaking dirt track. That time is comparable to Rudisha's WR given modern synthetic tracks. Coe held the WR in all those events (800, 1000, 1500, and the Mile). So please!
@@rimun5235 You haven't got a clue. 800m wasn't even Coe's favoured distance so its not surprising he doesn't have lots of fast times compared to an 800m specialist.
@@VeridicusMaximus Absolutely. Rudisha's run was magnificent, but had Coe focused purely on the 800m (btw how many top mile or 1500m times does Rudisha have?) and run on a modern track with state of the art shoes, he'd have broken 1:40.
Dude, I've become a huge fan... there was more thrilling excitement in this presentation than a whole raft of those lame Hollyweird so-called "Action" films....and this was real!
The harbig time of 1:46 was absolutely insane for this time. Maybe it was the greatest performance in track and field history if you consider the era and advancement of training, gear and nutrition at the time.
I am a masters sprinter. Even the 400m sprint hurts me like being pierced with sharp spikes in the buttocks. I can't imagine the pains of sprinting the 800m.
If Coe had not spent so many of his best races chasing the mile and 1500 records - and been dogged by injury in 82 and 83 - he likely would have been the first man inside 1.41. On todays fast tracks and with todays shoes - his 1.41.7 is worth inside 1.41.
Rudisha was unbelievable, amazing, impressive, flawless, always loved everything about the athletes. Tho i think as he was running in the era of Bolt, he didn't get the light he deserved. Pretty cool to see other people loving the Rudisha's vibes ! But how long this WR will hold ? It's already been 9 years !
Jim Ryun...could take Rudisha...ditto Snell and Alberto...these runners raced the competition...especially Alberto Juantoureno...took the measure of those attempting to pass him...COE...BLood doping era...Rudisha...a 23.5 first 200...that does seem fishy!
The 800m final in the 2012 olympics was arguably the best track race ever, certainly the best 800m ever. A world record, 7 out of 8 set PBs and 7 out of 8 never ran faster again!! That's insane
Yeah I agree. Then I think many runners ran faster than 1.44
No to mention no pace makers! Well one pace maker and winner 😂
@@abcd-yg2rx All of them :)
@@aguyfromnewzealand3392 Rudisha was the pacemaker!
the pace maker ? Rudisha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ran this race since middle school. Hated it for years and preferred the 400 but was good at the 8 so my team had me always running it. Finally learned to accept and love the race and it became my focus. Broke 2 minutes in my last HS race and still to this day (16 years later) I still remember how much it hurt. I will always respect this race as it’s own monster
Have road 1:40 in europe ?
Shoutout to our RUclips Olympian boy, Symmonds
Well placed at the bend 14:54 ;)
his PB would be a WR in 1978!
but his real PB could be how many athletes he inspires.
@@theagilecoach2435 Well said! And his work ethic is top tier.
Nicolás Marroquín Symmonds is weird. He’s a super-relatable, very chill RUclipsr who also happens to have been a former WC silver medalist who finished 5th in the fastest 800 meters ever run.
My fav running yt yeah shout out to nickkkkkkkkkkkk brooooooooooooo
Ssshhhhh, he's busy making some awesome video.
Rip peter Snell December of 2019 was his time
Just amazing after more than 50 years his 800m time is still the national record for New Zealand.
Danny Richardson he died in December at age 80 in Dallas Texas
Dammit. I had hoped to shake his hand some day. No chance now. My friend and coach lent me a book by Arthur Lydiard in the early 80's that was published in the 60s. Snell was an 800 runner but did the same base training as the marathoners. Crazy? Hard to argue with the results though.
@@runcaz7802 the lydiard method was revolutionary and still used to this day by some athletes! My coach would tell me the pyramid training and that the bigger the base the higher the peak! Very true 😃
when i ran track as a sprinter in high school, my old man would tell me of snell, his training methods and such even though we ran different events i initially patterned after him. then later the greatest track athlete ever (until bolt)......Juantorena
Rudisha looks absolutely amazing when he’s running!
Yes, especially from the side in slo-mo!
@@yvy6269 in the morning and see GG GG get gg good mornings are good no idea what GG get on it kans dengke faktiskt är din gmawwswgil igen ochdet att det sg gå med gratis dagstidningar och gör Gasgas wgsggws gs
Perfect form
“As any 800m runner will tell you, It hurts.” *Immediately shows Amos*
Ÿoey nah fr shit hurts and it’s my main event. I run it twice each meet in 4x8 and 800, plus 1600 and sometimes 3200 or 400
I run everything from the 800-5000, but I personally hate the 400 and the 800. It’s so physically exhausting, so I’m not that good at it. I definitely have more endurance than speed lol
My guys form at the end of the race is fricking hilarious
Fatima Drammeh In high school I ran the 4x8 and open 8 too 😂😂😂 and sometimes the mile shit was deadly I salute u for that .
Gogo 7575 I’m a sophomore, I have 2 more years of it💀
David Rudisha is a graceful athlete that makes it look effortless.
That race itself may appear effortless, but imagine the years of preparation by athlete, family and coach leading up to the moment.
@@runcaz7802 How did your grandparents from your fathers side meet and how did they fall in love? What year was it?
You realise nearly every great runner runs like that. The more grace and fluidity the greater your efficiency and running economy.
@@thundergun933 Especially if he extends his little finger as he strides-such grace
I feel so bad for Amos. One of the best 800m runners out there and he barely won anything. Just happened to be running against the best ever. Bad timing
Very true.
Like Yohan Blake and Usain Bolt
@@alexarihani2902 add gatlin, gay and powell too that also
@@ailaaaishapath9823 no for Gatlin and Gay because Gatlin won the Olympics and Worlds in 2004 and 2005 and Gay won the World's in 2007
Drugs...
I ran 1:57:06 at a high school conference meet in 1981, my best ever. I recall thinking in my last 10 yards how much it took out of my body and knew that I had reached my physical limit. The pain was unmatched to anything I had ever experienced to date and I am now 58. Running 1:40 (or even something close) just boggles the mind....unbelievable athleticism, unbelievable speed, unbelievable spirit.
Makes me think: How fast had Snell gone on a modern track? Dude ran fast by today’s standards on a friggin grass track! Unbelievable!
And completely different knowledge about training and nutrition. Not to mention running shoes. Absolutely mind blowing
He was a freak of his time! Retired young too as was not professional and not much funding in those days. What could have been....
Not to mention today's athletes are all on some sort of hot sauce, not to mention atheltes 100 years ago worked full time jobs
He would have ran at least 137
Every athlete has a natural ability, but modern training methods and nutrician and being professionals, gives today's athletes an advantage those of earlier generations didn't have. We can't know how much faster Peter Snell could have run, but it would have been faster without a doubt.
I love when you make running timeline videos keep up the great work
So do I
I can do 1 39
In the 400m
true speed
Bolsonaro x Kim-jong un
,😂😂😂😂 please don't kill me
If you beat him in a race then you’ll be nuked
ger ra here... the obese KIM
15:01 That nearly 8 feet stride with the grace of a lion gives me goosebumps every single time.
REALISTIC SPEED PER pace !
remember to this day watching that race, beyond belief, remember the race was so fast that the "loser" would have taken gold in the past 3 olympics, utter madness :)
DO YOU ON YOUR MARKS REALLY AND ON THE WAYING GUN ?
The Cuban had the biggest stride I’ve ever seen. I remember watching him run in 1978 and it was so noticeable. Rudisha also has a large stride. That 2012 race he ran was SUBLIME. Coe was a joy to watch. That a world record was set on a grass track is amazing. That it still stands as the New Zealand National record almost SIXTY YEARS later is a testimony to its greatness.
I love watching Juantorena run. Coe, Snell, Kipketer, and Rudisha all had amazing runs too.
Knowing how hard this race is, this video brought tears to my eyes. Truly amazing!
Seb Coe on a current track, with current shoes would be unstoppable. He ran only .8 slower than Rudisha, with no competition on a cinder track, where every step loses a bit of friction and gets zero bounce. The track alone is worth > 1 second, let alone current Equip and “nutritional aids”! He once ran the last 100 meters in 11.3, still a record for international competition, and done on an old track
Snell also only started competitive running at 19 and retired at 25. All while having a full time job. He was a freak.
Rudisha looks so magnificent👌
I ran the 800 in High School and College. What was most challenging for me was being strategic. Initially I would save my energy for the later part of my races. However my time got faster when I went all out in the beginning. Sometimes I was able to hold on to the lead, sometimes I wore out. Yeah, it takes a lot of heart & smarts to be successful in this event.
I was talented at the 800 but hated it so much because the second lap was so brutally painful! I only ran it one year and my track coach was really annoyed that I wouldn't join the team the next year.
Thanks for putting that compilation together. I'm 69 and have always had great respect for 800 M runners. The Cuban, in particular, has a gazelle-like stride. It brings to mind Rice of the SF 49'ers. Montana would lead him by tens of meters with the football, and Rice would be there to catch it without adjusting his stride. Little known fact: Rice would imagine himself as The Silver Surfer (comic book hero).
This video makes me want to put on my track shoes again for the first time in 20 years and run two laps around the track for nostalgia's sake!
You go right ahead! I got winded just watching the videos lol!
This is an incredible video! Thanks for sharing. 800 is my absolute favorite race to watch. It takes a uniquely gifted athlete to compete at a high level.
Technically 4 people held the 800m World Record at the same time. Jim Ryun in 1966 ran an 880y in 1:44.9 which converted, is a 1:44.3 800m. Snell got the 880y world record in the same race as his 1:44.3, however he went through the half mile in 1:45.1. So maybe Ryun went through 800 slightly faster than 1:44.3, but we'll never know as they didn't record his 800m split. This time is also accepted by the NCAA which has him timed at 1:44.3. So basically 1:44.3 was a 4-way tie.
Jim Ryun's 144.9y converts to 144.2. He did the largest negative spilt by far: 1.3 seconds in a WR race. As a college freshman in 1966. He is tied with Rudisha for the fastest 2nd lap in a WR race.
The video incorrectly states Wottle was first with negative splits!
Not so...it was Jim Ryun
In all these youtube videos, no one ever remembers Jim Ryun who at one time held both the mile and 880 world records. It is such a pity.
Up until 2018 snell’s record was also the commonwealth record for 56 YEARS! Crazy that it’s taken that long to break it! Shows how far ahead of the world Snell was ahead of the world as well as how he broke the WR imagine what he could have gone with todays tech 60 years later
Also would have medaled at the 2023 world champs
The 800m is such a unique event. I don't even think anyone has gotten under 1:42 in at least 5 years. It takes an almost perfect execution to run a really fast time, unless you're a unicorn like Rudisha. Any wasted physical effort in the race will bite you in the end. It's such an awesome event to watch and analyze, but an extremely hard race to run and train for.
Budapest 23 IAAF ROAD TO 1:40.86. What could be ?
@@szymon6207 there is currently no one that's capable of running such times
1'51"90 in 1912 is a tremendous performance ! 😱
I think coe’s 1:42 in the 1970’s is just insane because even nowadays with wavelight pacing and newer shoe technology a 1:42 is still incredibly hard for most 800m runners
9:48 just unbelievable I will remember his name from today to forever "Alberto Juantorena"
Well, then you'll remember his name wrong.
@@cesartorre9236 Why?
@@rohansonowal3122 You spelt his surname wrong. It's "Juantorena"
@@khumokwezimashapa2245 thanks mam👍👍
@@khumokwezimashapa2245 Now I have edited it and will remember the spelling and the pronunciation of the surname of these great athlete "Alberto Juantorena" .. Thanks once again..
TRP your best one yet 👍🏿💯👏🏿about the history of the 800m WR. Full disclosure, the 800m is my favourite event but absolutely loved the old B&W footage and the sensational tidbits particularly the fact that Snell is still the New Zealand record holder with a sub 1.45 800m on grass🤔🤷🏿♂️🙈😜 Thanks again, keep up the great work.
Seb Coe broke the world record by 2 seconds and held the world record for 18 years. No one has ever held it for so long. When he won he was over 30m in front of a world class field.
If Coe had focused on 800 - he would have had an even faster time. But he was chasing the mile and 1500 WR once he had put the 800 record out of sight. Todays top runners try to beat the WR every time they run.
Dave Wattle is one of my favorite runners ever
Excellent video n commentary. Well researched and balanced historical footprints of 800m world records. Rudisha's victory was the icing on the cake. Big respect to all previous WR beaters.
Keep up the great job.
12:00 - "Through the first 400 meters, he split a time of 48.3 seconds, which, to this day, remains as the fastest opening lap in 800 meter world record history."
13:37 - If I did my math right, Rudisha's first lap here is 1:41.01 - 52.81 = 48.2 seconds, which is faster than 48.3?
Good catch. You are right. Hmm...
rudisha ran 49.2 not 48.2
@@keanureeves3319 how so?
There was a pacer who cut the 48.3 mark not rudisha he must be 1 or two tenth of a second behind that
@@blessedslave That makes a lot of sense. I just looked it up. In this run, Rudisha ran about 48.90 + 52.11 = 1:41.01
I am proud of my 1:54 800m, but am in awe of these guys!
1:54 is no easy feat. At least that is what I think since my PR is only 2:15 at 8th grade
@@Al-ri3mt LOL
that's a great time. It would win most club meets .. you know how it hurts!!
1:54 is a time you can be really proud of.
I can remember them halcyon days of 1979-81 as a young kid, Coe & Ovett going head to head and watching the world records tumble. I was in a bar in Covent Garden in August 1997 the night Wilson Kipkiter broke Coe’s 141.73 WR.
Great comment.
1m44 on GRASS that is phenomenal
That time on grass with likely mediocre shoes is beyond incredible.
@@forestgump8357 yeah but remember grass is very fast for a natural surface.
Θες,tartan is by far faster and put the modern spikes etc..........
@@ΓΙΑΝΝΗΣΔΗΜΑΣ-δ4ψ sure it's quicker than grass but not by as much as u would think and grass is quicker than the sinder tracks they used to run on.
@@benbim540 I never ran on grass, but after thinking about it, you're probably right about it being faster than the cinder track. I think the grass strands would help hold together better rather than allow a divot as the cinder tracks would. Very similar to the composition tracks today.
I know its much easier on one's legs, knees, shins, etc. to run on grassy surfaces versus pavement. And all the composition tracks are laid over a very hard surface, such as asphalt or concrete.
Roger Moens is my grandfather :)
You have the family jeans🤔
I love his meekness and very calm.. gentle sprinting giant.. timid and focused.. i watch his documentary.. from then, i got to know that most champions like him are highly disciplined from day one🙏🏾
Ryun ran 1:44.9 for 880y 53.0 + 51.3 estimated metric splits - Snell had run 1:45.1 which included a timer at 800m which gave him both records.
But Ryun didnt get a mention in this video...oddly!
@@michaeladrian2210 The guys who ran yards seldom get recognition unless they go to Europe & run meter races. A real shame! And Jim Ryun was one of the best in the world. Altitude killed him in Mexico City, and he got knocked down in his next Olympics in a heat. A real tragedy!
Fantastic content buddy. Love it!
First!!! I can't believe it... Well... I can. I've been living on YT for the past few days.
- aZ
Good for you lol
you're third
Sorry but @uniqueyussy 527fly is first. You finished third behind him and @Weenie Dog
The 800 hurts, but real ones know-it hurts so good
Leo Badman *well, not good
Wish I could race it again :(
My first 800m at 17 I ran the first lap in 3rd place at 57 seconds and then ended up running 2:12 grinding it out. That last 200m was literally traumatizing. I hated racing it for years after that. It took me two more seasons to lose the fear and stress of the distance (actually that was the same for the 400m too) and be able to attack a race.
Z Ber oof 😂 man, at least it was a good leaning experience, but oh my god. Your pacing was trash 😆. Imagine running 57, 1:15. The best runners have a difference if only 2 seconds between laps.
Z Ber haha I think everyone has been there in some shape or form. It takes a good amount of race experience before you can run the 800 well
The early records were on cinder tracks with marginal footwear. Some of those early runners on Mondotrack would have much faster times. Also it is nice to know those early records were unquestionably drug free records.
I'm not saying these athletes were using drugs but amphetamine types of substances I believe were used in cycling from very early 1900s so how do we know that some of these runners didn't use drugs as well?
@@joakimquensel597 because they didn't. People weren't that desperate for these types of things back then. You just found a guy who can run fast and say "hey you want to try out for the Olympics in a week?" Lol
@@thecensoredmuscle563 Or maybe not. I wasn't around to tell...
One advantage of getting older is getting older. I remember watching and participating in track and field throughout my youth. To generations today and into the future, a hundred years ago seems like a time when there was no electricity. A hundred years ago was modern times for every area of everything. I have no doubt sports medicine was included with advances as well. People been doping for a long time. Don't forget, the soft drink Coke was not so soft. It actually had coke in it.
We used to look forward to getting to crystal palace (tartan track, as it was called back then) in the UK we knew we coiuld take off 3-4 seconds when our PBs were set on cut up cinder tracks.
I live for these videos ❤
Who doesn't?
Truly the greatest runner
David Rudisha Good runners use their hip strength
These are small powerful muscles that dont eat up all your energy
His form is beautiful to watch so smooth relaxed
The best way to break the 1:41 barrier is to...
*run fast*
The best way to break the 1:41 barrier is to...
*run a **1:40*
7.5 BiLLiOn SuBs WiTh No ViDs ikr it's not that hard js run fast
RUN LIKE RUDISHA
As Seb Coe once said, run the 1st lap in 49 and then hang on.
@@lukegleason no just. . .
Run only 400 meters
man this video from beginning to end gave me chill and the last minutes got me emotional !
I was in Florence to see Coe's record in 81.. epic!
I was watching speedrunning videos, and now I'm watching literal speed running videos.
I’ve never ran and never cared about running but you drew me in and got a sub. Great content. You make running very exciting.
I decided to run track for the first time when I enrolled in junior college as a 35 year old. I'm 6'2" and about 180lbs. The coach didn't know what to do with me so the 1500/800 double was where I landed. I'm proud to say I broke 2:00 with a 1:58.79 my second year at 37. My point is that I felt that day as if I had wings on my feet... Running 1:40 I'd of needed rockets and missiles strapped to me! SOOOOOOO REDICULOUSLY FAST😲!
JOSH DAVIS Must have been fun whoopin’ the kids, right? 😁👍
Wow, that’s incredible! To start at 35 and go under 2:00 is quite the accomplishment.
1:58 at 37 is super impressive .i ran 2:01 at age 19 . i hated 800m so much I swiched to shot put next year.
@@cevahirlacin9118 LOL😂😅😂😅
I wonder how much the track surface and shoe technology plays a part in lowering the world record. The first world records were set on cinder tracks, and Snell's on grass.
A lot! Aerodynamics, weight, foot adjustments, grip, etc. They literally shave seconds for a talented athlete.
i don't care how perfect that grass was, it's night and day from the standard rubber tracks we have now. i wouldn't be surprised if snell was actually more talented than rudisha. training has come just as far as the track surfaces too, if not further.
@@billybob-wx2re Peter Snell was fittingly the New Zealand athlete of the century 😊
@@aguyfromnewzealand3392 wow, i had no idea. that's awesome
Anyone who has run on a cinder track will tell you they are great to train on but very slow to race on. Mondo surfaces do cut at least a second off. Still, Rudisha is the greatest with Kipkiter close behind. I think it is hard to argue Ryun would have been close. Ryun was a 1500m runner mostly, and never won an Olympic medal. It’s hard to compare him to a 2x Olympic gold medalist. Having said that, the amateur status requirements of those days made it extremely difficult for him to devote the training time and commitment of today’s professionals.
Rudisha and Snell are truly greats, but I thinks Coe's level of improvement probably the greatest of them all. He also broke 1500 and Mile records multiple times in an amazing head to head sequence with Steve Ovett (and Steve Cram ultimately) through the late 70s an early 80s . Perhaps ruined by failing to win the 1980 Olympic Gold when red hot favourite.
Agreed.
Nice video. Thanks. It's amazing the times that the old timers ran on dirt and grass tracks.
Love! Love! Love your mini documentaries of Track and Field. Please keep it up!
In 1965 , I was 17 and my best time was 1.59 and I was 3rd in Washington DC
coe's records were set over 40 years ago even so he's still to this day the 3rd fastest of all time. cant help thinking with todays tracks and equipment he would run under 1.40.
@@wxyz9035 As an Ovett fan as well..... I agree.
Seb Coe set his world record 40 years ago. He is still the third fast human ever at the event
I can still remember watching both sebastian coe and steve ovet both incredible athletes I belive it was in the 1984 losangeles Olympics, also Daley Thompson the 2 time gold medalist in the decathlon 🏴🇬🇧
@@mangococo8429 I know Daley. He's still a legend!
these videos you make must take so much work. So interesting to watch
The New Zealand record will go on for a century! Even with all the technology and training, the next generation aren't into doing the miles of hard yards that Snell, Walker and co did. People are barely running sub 1:50 anymore 😣 I guess that's how great Peter Snells record was and sadly he didn't live to see it broken. RIP legend
I remember that Walker was making a bid to be the first person to ever run a sub-4 at the age of 40. I didn't hear any more about it so I guess he didn't quite succeed, but boy was he a grinder!!
but you've got a world number one squash player in Paul Coll and boy does he work hard .. I've seen his training video and it makes my legs wilt just to watch it!
man this channel has such good content, keep it up
Shoutout to this channel .. its so nice to listen to and hear all the great stories ! .. thanks ssss
🙌🙌
Each one of these guys is a freak of nature, but they missed the contribution of Wottle. What he achieved was the even split. He didn't burn himself out the first lap and looked like a sprinter against the guys who did. Nick Symmonds learned that lesson. So did James Robinson, Olympic Champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy, who Symmonds beat and Amel Tuka among others.
What are you talking about?! Who cares if Wottle ran even splits in a slow Olympic final that happened decades ago...
@15:11 What's crazy is it looks like he let up on that last stride or two when he broke the world record as well. I think he could have gone 1:40:85 or so by driving through those last two strides.
Wonderful running and commentary. What great athletes. The 800 never receives as much attention as the 100 and 200m races. But it is one of the most brutal and enduring races, with speed and stamina needed in extreme measure. When we were in college, our hero was Sebastian Coe... the then 800m world champion.
Jim Ryun: World Record...Mile, 1500, 880 & American record in 2 mile; at one time (plus several team relay records). Hard to believe he's so forgotten.
As always so much depth in the video...solid with facts and timely graphics (im not refering to Amos though)...keep up the outstanding effort mate...
Poor Amos, even on non- running channels that talk about the pain of running or burning out, show that same clip🤣
Wouldn’t have guessed Kipketter wasn’t a natural born Dane unless I was told. Amazin’ thanks!
The big Cuban opens his legs and shows his class. @ Ron Pickering 1976. Marvellous.
This just shows how talented you have to be to be an Olympian. At my high school, the 800m record was set in 2011 and was 1:53.4. I'm in 10th grade and struggle to get under 2:40 hahaha
With hard work, dedication and a passion for running you will be surprised how quickly your PB (PR) will come down by the time you graduate high school (speaking from my own experience). Good Luck and embrace the pain👏🏿💯👍🏿🏃🏿♂️
@@jpolweny welp... 6 months later and i can confidently say that I can run an 800 in under 2:30... i put in the hard work, dedication, and running is my passion. i still got a year and a half left of high school.
Wow beast I went from 2:50 to 2:19 and I can't get under that anymore
@@jameshenry6655 And you are half way to a 5 minute mile.
@@runcaz7802 Yessir, my mile time before was around 6:50 and now it dropped to around a 5:40
This is a brilliant production. Bravo and many thanks TRP.
Would love to see an 800m race, maybe in wonderland, with Peter Snell, Mal Whitfield, Dave Wottle, Alberto Juantorena, Sebastian Coe, Joachim Cruz, Wilson Kipketer challenging David Rudisha!!
Man, the 800m was my main sophomore. I made the smart choice and decided to drop down to the 400m - at least I tried.
Don’t ever let anyone tell you that Sebastian Coe is not the greatest middle distance runner of all time. He was. Let’s look at the facts: from 1955 to 1977 (22 years), the 800 m world record was improved by 2.3 seconds. But over the next three years, Sebastian Coe took another 1.7 seconds off, and held the record for an astounding 18 years total. Finally, in 1997 Wilson Kipketer took a mere 0.6 seconds off, and another 15 years went by before David Rudisha was able to barely squeak past Kipketer’s WR, by an embarrassingly minuscule 0.2 seconds. That’s a total then, since Coe’s 800 m WR in 1981, of only 0.8 seconds faster than Coe, after 31 years! Now, 8 additional years have passed, and still no one has run faster than the paltry 0.8 second improvement over Coe. Meanwhile, it is Coe’s overall abilities from 800 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, and the mile (with 12 WRs and back to back 1500 m Olympic gold medals) that lifts his legend, and makes him easily the greatest, rising far beyond the success of all the others. No one destroyed records by such margins as Coe and at such a wide range, over 800 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, and the mile. And no one before or since has had anywhere near the majestic form and the incredible final kick as Coe.
Illogical
why don't you get on some pair of shoes and run instead of barking too much
I saw Coe’s races in the 80s including his amazing world record mile runs. I fell in love with racing then and still hold Coe as my favorite track athlete of all time. It broke my heart to see him lose his mile world record to countryman Steve Ovret (?) in world championships I believe in 1985, another great British middle distance runner. Watching Coe
expend himself going all out was like watching Secretariat dominate the
Race track in the early 70s , just beautiful man beautiful.
@ First Witness: I totally agree with you.
I love Coe. He is one of my favorite runners, but that doesn't take away from Kipketer and Rudisha's accomplishments.
Your analysis is so educative. Thank you!
great one. I would have liked to know a bit more about Wottle racing style. Fiasconaro was a rugby player who ran track only from 1973 to 1975.
It pains me to think that injuries cut his career so short, but I'm eternally grateful to have watched him in full flow live. A biomechanical marvel!
I usually wouldn't want to run the 800m but right now with track canceled I would love to run the 800m 😥
thank you again .. your videos are the best. Your commentary seethes with emotion that truly reflects the awesomeness of these amazing athletes .. it's lovely to watch and to listen. Bravo.
Interestingly, Coe's PR in an open (i.e., non-relay) 400 meters was only 46.8 seconds, which is just slightly faster than the WR James Meredith set in 1916 (47.4 for 440 yards - 0.3 seconds = 47.1 for 400 meters). So it must have been Coe's emphasis on speed-endurance that allowed him to run full 10 seconds faster than Meredith for 800/880.
Hi Randy. With the huge benefit of hindsight/review of their running careers, we can see that Meredith was a 400/800 runner whereas Coe was a 800/1500 runner. With the added benefits of better tracks and shoe design, Meredith would have run quite a bit faster than he did without even delving into the different training methods, "professional" status etc. It's always interesting doing the "what if..." comparisons, isn't it?
Coe's open 400m pb in 79 is not really reflective of his ability over 1 lap. 800m runners tend to lose time as they are not fast out of blocks (don't train for it) and they rarely run serious 400m at the height of their seasons. Coe ran a 45.5 relay split in 79, which is probably worth a 46.low for an open 400m, and in 81 he ran a 45.65 relay split, where he tripped at the takeover and was practically at a standing start on the finish/start line at the beginning of his split. See link to video below. It was run 90 mins after front running a 1:44.0 and came a week before his WR of 1:41. So I'd say he was at least a 46.0 open 400m runner at his best.
ruclips.net/video/AhZGonCBaOM/видео.html
Still think Coe's PB 1:41.73 on a dirt track is the greatest run ever. Give him a modern track that night and we might have seen something better than Rudisha's WR.
And someone who could keep up with him.
Coe only has two 800m times in the top 100. I have no idea where this weird faith that he could challenge Kipketer or Rudisha even comes from. He has two good times and all his other ones are pretty mediocre. Rudisha has literally 6 800m times that are in the top 10 fastest times ever ran... The man rabbited a field to some of the greatest 800m times in history.
@@rimun5235 Do you realize that Coe spent his energies also running the 1000, 1500, and the Mile - indoors as well. Surely if he concentrated ONLY on the 800, outdoors, he would have more times in the top 100. And you seem to forget that Coe's PB was on a freaking dirt track. That time is comparable to Rudisha's WR given modern synthetic tracks. Coe held the WR in all those events (800, 1000, 1500, and the Mile). So please!
@@rimun5235 You haven't got a clue. 800m wasn't even Coe's favoured distance so its not surprising he doesn't have lots of fast times compared to an 800m specialist.
@@VeridicusMaximus Absolutely. Rudisha's run was magnificent, but had Coe focused purely on the 800m (btw how many top mile or 1500m times does Rudisha have?) and run on a modern track with state of the art shoes, he'd have broken 1:40.
I was a lousy High school long distance runner. My record is 2:29. Makes me really impressed to see how fast these guys are.
no I was lousy running 2.15 at 15 years. your time is abysmal.
Dude, I've become a huge fan... there was more thrilling excitement in this presentation than a whole raft of those lame Hollyweird so-called "Action" films....and this was real!
The harbig time of 1:46 was absolutely insane for this time. Maybe it was the greatest performance in track and field history if you consider the era and advancement of training, gear and nutrition at the time.
I am a masters sprinter. Even the 400m sprint hurts me like being pierced with sharp spikes in the buttocks. I can't imagine the pains of sprinting the 800m.
Come on, give it a try, it won't kill you , they said 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I run a 2:16.33 in the 800 in 7th grade and for me that's extremely painful so I'm just blown away at all of this
Thats very fast! if you dont mind telling me your name so i can look u up on milesplit or something?
@@bonzai9174 is 2:28 good for a 6th grader?
@@neutronstyle4740 Very good. Expect with training to go sub 5 in the mile come 8th grade
@@bonzai9174 oh yeah I tried the mile and got 5:35
Rudolf Harbig best 800m runner ever. 1:46 in 1939 was incredible
I wonder if he survived ww2
If Coe had not spent so many of his best races chasing the mile and 1500 records - and been dogged by injury in 82 and 83 - he likely would have been the first man inside 1.41. On todays fast tracks and with todays shoes - his 1.41.7 is worth inside 1.41.
I’m surprised Rudisha would risk the Olympic medal for the world record, simply unthinkable!
They hand out medals every 4 years a world record is better
Seb Coe was one of my absolute hero's growing up. 141.73 was incredible and Seb was so humble when his world record was beaten
Rudisha was unbelievable, amazing, impressive, flawless, always loved everything about the athletes. Tho i think as he was running in the era of Bolt, he didn't get the light he deserved.
Pretty cool to see other people loving the Rudisha's vibes !
But how long this WR will hold ? It's already been 9 years !
Thanks for the videos tho ! Keep up the good work ;)
2:05 800 at a 16 year old, love from Texas❤
me too 1:55 15 year old
2:01 for me, 16
Weenie Dog .. 2:02 when I was 17 like 100 years ago 😭
Slow and Texas sucks
Show me where I asked
One of your best videos !
You are the best narrator of this century. Keep up the work buddy.. big fan..
Not even a comment that Jim Ryun equaled the 1:44.3 en route in his 880 yard world record in 1967?
Jim Ryun...could take Rudisha...ditto Snell and Alberto...these runners raced the competition...especially Alberto Juantoureno...took the measure of those attempting to pass him...COE...BLood doping era...Rudisha...a 23.5 first 200...that does seem fishy!
@@johnrogan9420 Jim Ryun had tremendous speed. Put a young Jim on today's rubber tracks and he would definitely have the ability to make it a race.
Always love watching Dave Waddle's Olympic race!
Dave who?
That’s one race I literally still replay and take my hat off. Goat Rudisha.
awesome vid, well done🙏