Jim Ryun vs Kip Keino, London 1967

[7agneskickingbird7]

Shame the 68 Olympics at to be at 7500 feet. Real disadvantage for any sea level athlete like Ron Clarke and Jim Ryun who at the time were the best in the world at their respective events.

[forest69ist]

shaked; sneaked; should be shook; snuck if americans bothered to write english correctly my ears would be offended less

[kozmon0t]

@forest69ist Check your punctuation, Mr. English.

[mavikings]

@take a shower stinky bit€h- u forgot the end of your stolen quote (... And we all came from Africa) suck that you half brained homoerectus

[gunnshop]

The reason Keino won @ Mexico City was simple...Ryun's training had been interrupted by a nasty bout of mono, earlier in the year...Ryun really never regained the DOMINANCE he displayed from 1965-1967... Elite middle distance running requires a long, unbroken training regimen...the difference between beating Keino @ any altitude, with any tactic, is staying healthy... Ryun only qualified for the Olympics because the games were late(Oct)..He ran only 3:48 @ the trials in Sept...Mono sucks

[athleticscoach2012]

Kip Keino set up and still runs an orphanage which has given hundreds of children some chance in life. Maybe he turned away to let Ryun do his victory lap, who knows, or cares!

I was watching the London marathon a few years ago near finish, with runners coming in around 4 1/2 hours. I saw this familar figure but though it can't be him. I shout out 'come on Kip Keino' He was 50m away by the up ahead but turned round and gave me a huge smile and wave

The guy is a legend and real gentleman

[plasticgazzaband]

Great run by Ryun,he got it right there,but failed to put into practice, this strategy in 68 Olympic Final.Sea Level/or altitude he got it wrong that day.

[stonekeeper86]

if it wasn't for the altitude, Ryun would have smoked keinos ass in '68....

[huskyjerk]

What was JRyun's time in this London race?

[Traviskula]

Jim Ryun was such a badass back in the day, man. If only american milers today were like this. Alan Webb was the man in 2007 but fell off form but I think he may have a comeback.

[sperez112995]

i saww Jim Ryun today at the lawrance ks, RImRock race(: very cool i also got his signitures,he inspiress me alot. i do run cross country and will be doing track this spring

[ftsjr]

Ryun was THE American miler in the late 60's-early 70's. Unfortunately, Olympic glory eluded him. The Mexico City altitude got to him in 68, and he collided with another runner in 72. Still, in American track, he'll always be a legend.

[JAVMAN83]

@ftsjr

Mexico altitude AND Kenyan team tactics!

[Ariamaluum]

@JAVMAN83. or NASCAR tactics.

[VLombardi01]

Ryun was incredible. Thanks for posting!

[TakeAShowerStinky]

Can anyone explain why the arrogant NEGRO did not shake Jim Ryun's hand?

[dredandmrbears]

@TakeAShowerStinky Well for one thing a lot of people don't like to lose and don't shake hands, I don't think being a negro has anything to do with it. Did the arrogant CAUCASIAN shake Kip Keino's hand after getting owned in the 1968 Olympics.

[TakeAShowerStinky]

@dredandmrbears. The uppity Negro should have shaked Jim Ryun's hand. Kippy Keino's arrogance proves he shouldn't have even been allowed to run and instead should have shining Ryun's shoes.

[dredandmrbears]

@TakeAShowerStinky Uppity negro? I know this may dissappoint you, but the Civil War was lost by the South a long time ago.

[TakeAShowerStinky]

@dredandmrbears. Keino was a Kenyan born uppity Negro. A real loser when it came to sportsmanship. The "boy" was liked by few in track and field. He had more excuses than "teleprompter boy" Obama.

[ashtonnesmith]

@TakeAShowerStinky Looks like uppity negros are still winning races. Winning so much you the chosen ones don't bother to try anymore.

[TakeAShowerStinky]

@ashtonnesmith. You're right. Blacks work with their legs, while whites work with their brains. Africa is the poorest continent on the planet.

[mapscannotcontainme]

@dredandmrbears

Don't feed the trolls.

[huntersingle]

man this is fun to watch, i hope i have as much fun sunday watching someone beat tigger woods

[rentslave]

I want Jim to run one more race-against Obama in 2012.This time he'll face the Kenyan at sea level(We'll mostly,anyway).

[oldaardvark]

Ryun destroyed Keino in every race they ran below 8000 feet, a mile, a 1500m, and a 2 mile.

[papmjny]

Keino was a real winner type at olympics games. 1968 beat Ruyn with 3 seconds at 1500 m - never done before or after. 1972 won (after suffering bad moments at 1500 m) 3000m steeples, which ever tried before.

[franknjess]

@papmjny - Wrong. Keino had run the steeple as early as 1962. If Ben Jipcho had been 100% in 72, Kip would not have run the steeple. But since Ben was not at his best, Kip felt it was best for the team if he ran the steeple.

[franknjess]

WacheniUshenzi is not correct. Obama is NOT Barack Obama jr - and in fact his name is Barry Soetero. It's likely he was born in Kenya, but with the US Govt basically in foreign hands, with Rahm Emanuel and his superiors running things, the truth will be buried for years to come.

[WacheniUshenzi]

@downwithfedr.

Please, lets not mix politics in sports.

... Barack Obama Jr. is an American and not a Kenyan.

[markfran11]

Keino showed his typical poor sportsmanship, while Ryun showed his typical class by turning around to Keino, who bolted away. No matter, Ryun has had a wonderful life and has a wonderful family.

[domedeed1]

what do you mean "No matter, Ryun has had a wonderful life and has a wonderful family." ok so Keino can't b/c he's black, why is all that  people see is race it's so close minded and counter productive. BTW I'm white in case you where wondering

[markfran11]

You're the one who just introduced race into the discussion, you must be a typical liberal. Ryun had more class in his finger than Keino had in his entire body.

[knightsxc06]

Explain "class:" class as a RACER or class as a human being?If you are referring to the latter, then Keino has it all over Ryan. Keino has adopted more than 20 children and has opened up an orphanage and a training center in Kenya. Ryan while in congress scored a whopping 0 on environmental protection scorecard, voted against prescription drug benefits, and lied about his relationship with Mark Foley, the would-be kiddie fiddler.That being said, Ryan OWNED Keino every time.Except when it counted

[rentslave]

@knightsxc06 How come liberals see adoption as a good thing for third worlders but encourage abortion for Americans?Ryun's objections to these bills are all about cost.Bush was giving away the store.I grant that he could have been more honest about Foley.

[knightsxc06]

@rentslave Well, i consider myself a moderate, but as an American, i do feel that i can speak for my countrymen and i can say that "Americans" are not anti-adoption, seeing as how two of my cousins came into the family that way. i would hope that Ryan would oppose the bills because of cost, but seeing as how he voted for war financing/Bush spending agenda every time, i find that claim dubious. I prefer to think of Ryan as a racer than a politician. In 1967 he was the best ever by yards.

[oldjoe5]

@rentslave .  What american liberals have encouraged abortion?

[racketer]

looks like u just got raped up the ass mate with knightsxc's reply. And yes he is 100% right

[knightsxc06]

Thank ya kindly!

[jmcd2v]

@domedeed1 - Any and all of you who injected race and politics into a discussion about a competition over 40 years ago are a bunch of weak, brainwashed eunuchs. 

Both runners had great careers, set records. Keino has his gold medals. Leave it at that. Have any of you ever asked yourselves just who you're trying to appease by grandstanding, by trying to show how "tolerant" you are?

[PihaSandDunes]

Interesting how Keino turns away after the race, makes no attempt to congratulate Ryun. I'm guessing this race with the catalyst for Keino winning in Mexico, as it was clear here if Keino trailed Ryun at the bell he had no chance of passing him. He had to carry a 15 yard lead at the bell.

[milerman]

Keino had 5 seconds on Ryun at the 1200 mark - 2:53 vs 2:58. At that altitude, no sea-level runners could have gone through at that pace and finished with any speed at all. Ryun was making up a lot of yardage on the backstretch and final turn, but eased up when he realized he couldn't make up all the yardage. Keino was known for poor sportsmanship which isn't PC to mention. He'd have bizarre excuses and over the top stories to explain losses, like 'death threats', non-existent illnesses etc.

[62liimis]

Well, this is what Ryun should have done in Mexico. What a fantastic race !

[papmjny]

Jim Ruyn was not a winner type. Good runner but that's all.

[bumblebeemoi]

That's a remarkable insane comment. Simply because you don't win a gold medal hardly qualifies you as "not a winner type." He set a world record, then beat his own record. He beats Keino here and beat Snell when he was still in high school. Perhaps you weren't around when he almost always won. Do some research before such an outrageous comment; absolutely insane.

[bumblebeemoi]

Here's evidence...

World records in outdoor and indoor mile

World record in 1500 meters

World record 880 yards

Oh yes...you have to WIN those races..

In the 72 Olympics, he was fouled by tripping, but the IOC (International Olympic Committee) denied his reinstatement. Of course, that group in those Olympics was awful.

Not a winner type.....amazing

[franknjess]

@bumblebeemoi - If Ryun were an African these guys criticizing him would kiss and lick his arse. That's simply how these dopes are. Keino did luck out in 68 with the Games being held at altitude. He was never able to handle Ryun at sea level. Most of it due to Keino being more of a 1500/5k type, not having the speed the 800/1500 guys had.

[GetUpAndTryAgain]

im starting to wonder if we will ever have another miler as superb as this one. bernard lagat (who is American, but he is naturalized), alan webb, etc. all have the potential, but they haven't proved it in the olympics yet. we haven't had an American in the olympic 1500m final is so long. :(

[newromantic888]

Jim Ryun was an amazing talent...........one of the greatest ever. Kip Keino represented the begining of Kenyas rise to prominence as one of the greatestathletic nations on earth. How good could have really been. I sometimes wonder. For me Jimmy Ryun was something special.

[donotenter666]

Ryun had more natural talent than anyone before or since. There just wasn't enough knowledge about training back then to work him to his ultimate potential. Kip Keino was a great all around runner. Who's the British announcer? I've heard him on other track videos.

[Dazzler23]

That's David Coleman, legendary commentator.

[franknjess]

Actually few remember Keino as a miler. Most accept he was lucky that the Games in '68 were at altitude (with some 'help' from John Velzian that wasn't really illegal in 1968). Keino had a good career, hung on for 2nd in the '72 1500 and a gold in the steeple. More people remember Ryun at the 1500/mile because of his records, something Keino was incapable of under 3k.

[scleroderm]

We all know what happened a year later in the olympics on the world stage. Lets just say the world remembers the name Kip Kieno... who's the other guy again?

[bloozintro]

I remember Jim Ryun running in the Texas Relays at UT Austin in 69. I was running for a small school (Stephen F Austin St Univ) and was honored to be participating in the same meet as Ryun. His performance against Keino in Mexico City was a disappointment, to be sure, But that doesn't diminish his career achievements. The guy ran like a freight train... he was so powerful. It doesn't show on the films, but the guy seemed unstoppable.

[haldenver]

Great use of youtube!

[Sol009]

1) the first 700m 1.37.6

2)the last 800m 1.57.26 all by KK

3)1500m 3.34.86

fair and square.

Kenyans are excellent at 1500m,

1968, 1988 and 2000.

distance runners are good and fair people.

sprinters are different story an event USA are good at it.

[milerman]

Jipcho was asked to rabbit the Oly final in 1968 once he made the final. He admits to that on film if you watch "The Africans" episode of "The Olympiad" series from Bud Greenspan. The Africans knew Ryun and most of the others would not go out fast, fearing the altitude. Watch that program, it's very interesting and has great footage of different African runners like Keino, Wolde, Gammoudi, Bikila etc.

[kozmon0t]

@milerman when does anyone go out fast in an Olympic final, altitude or not?

[Woodhead25]

you all r loser's :L ur soo pathetic u no jus cause keino can run man ....nd anotha thing wat has being kenyan got to do wiv this u dicks go hate on otha ppls...tht is my great uncle ur hateing on i mite aswell come along to ur house nd say ur uncles r cheaters nd sum bloody ting bout rabbits...u fools go die in a fuckin ditch :L lLOSERSSSSSS i

ily uncle K

[newromantic888]

Sorry Deano i forgot to mention this man. he could have been anthing

[Lyndehouse]

Jim Ryun was a superior middle distance runner--better than Keino by far. On a modern track with modern training, tracks and tactics, he would run at least 1:42 for 800-meters and 3:45 for 1-mile.

[mnandi984]

easy win at the end ryun was left gasping for air no excuses.

[bigtimetrackfan]

The Kenyans didn't cheat in 68. Ryun wasn't at his best at altitude and after mono, but no one cheated in the race. Ryun and others were robbed because of altitude.

[Amras1]

Kenyans raced mostly in team, one blocking the other running, they raced dirty, Keino was one of the best, but the guy was an ass and a cheater, also the kenyans they still are a bunch of cheaters, Ryun was THE Best, and was cheated in Mexico, wich proves Keyno feared and envy Ryun and knew he couldn't win Ryun so he had to cheat him, shame on kenyans who are cheaters.

[lrgpp]

Total agreement

[yourfave]

Amras1, how did kipkeino cheat in Mexico, please watch the race on youtube and then tell us how he cheated! With the few resources Kenyans (and Ethiopians) have they sure kick a lot of a@#. Please do not hate watch the video and then tell me how

[augydoggy2]

Keino did not cheat; he spent his whole life living and training at high altitude (thin air) in Kenya. Mexico City was also at high altitude so this gave the Kenyans a natural advantage over runners that trained at sea level. Ryun had also just recovered from mononucleosis before Mexico City and wasn't at his best. BOTH runners were great.

[Amras1]

Ben Jipcho...Ben Jipcho blocked him..the cheating there's no honor in running in teams...like Keino and Jipcho did.

[thugress]

excuse you one thing kenyans dont do is cheat. that is not even a kenyan thing. we have great sportsmanship why should we cheat if we have talent?

[HeshimaJameni]

Just watch the Mexico 1500m final in Mexico and tell us how Keino cheated.

[prrolg]

Well they ran a team. One pacer Jipcho and Keino following in 3rd place. This is very common in middle distance running but illegal in the Olympics. Jipcho set a fast pace at altitude that caught the runners by surprise or they couldn't match. Keino followed and took the lead with a lap to go. It is known as rabbiting and I'm sure they worked on it in practice leading up to the olympics.

[HeshimaJameni]

As far as I am concerned any runner in the pack is allowed to paced himself with any of his competitors. Jipcho was not a rabbit he was a qualified finalist, among the best. Pacers or rabbits are introduced in races for record-breaking purposes only. And a rabbit can also hang on and win a race as it has happened on rare occasions! But the olympic finals is a race between the best eight finalists in the world, period.

[prrolg]

It was against the rules in the olympics and the Kenyans definitly did it against Jim Ryan in Mexico City. The Olympic ideal is not to promote countries but mankind. The Kenyans used their 2nd and 3rd runners in Mexico City so that a Kenyan,Kip Keino would win and he did.

[Amras1]

Vassala in munich fucked Keyno and Kenians in a clean way eith kick ass finish, Kenians are not good finishers.

[thugress]

stop hating on kenyans because they can run. we have no desire to cheat

[HeshimaJameni]

Amras1. I think you are a sick man. In Munich Keino was not fucked as you state. He ran bravely and finished second earning a silver medal. He had previously won the gruelling 3000m steeplechase gold medal with Ben Jipcho earning a silver medal.

[HeshimaJameni]

I feel sorry for you prrolg. There were only 2 Kenyans in the final in Mexico City. The other one was the young Ben Jipcho who later broke the world records in 3000m steeplechase. There was no 3rd man. As a matter of fact there were 3 americans in the race. And they were all running together in the rear. It is all on youtube. Watch it again with an open mind.

[prrolg]

Ok I watched. The Americans ran in the rear but two were behind Ryun where they couldn't help him. Jipcho ran in front very fast setting the race pace for Keino in 3rd place. Keino took the lead in the final lap. It was a team effort of rabbiting,very common in middle distance but illegal in the Olympics. The altitude and the fast pace caught the runners by surprise. A brilliant race but definitely cheating.

[HeshimaJameni]

I don't think you know what you are saying. Jipcho was not entered in the race as a rabbit. He had to first attain a qualifying time and then qualify in the Kenyan olympic trials, then go through the grueling heats to reach the olympic final. He was a legitimate contender. The fact that he started ahead of everybody does not mean he was a rabbit. And even if he was then he would have been the rabbit of the entire field and not only one runner! They were all at the starting lineup together.

[prrolg]

"..they were all at the starting lineup together". Yes that is true but at altitude a fast pace is much harder. The other runners did not know that Jipcho was going to sprint out and set a fast pace except for Keino. He knew,it is obvious. Norpath from East Germany always tried to stay right behind the leader and that is why he was ahead of Keino. Norpath helped because without him and Jipcho running first with Keino in 2nd right behind and there would have be inquiry and maybe disqualification.

[Pillroller11]

First of all get your facts right. Keino moved to the front with 800m to go, not at the last lap. Ryun tried to move up too late. You can say what you want about Keino having the advantage because of the altitude, but coming into the race Ryun severly underestimated the effort he would have to put forward in this race. Some years after the race he said We thought that running a 3:39 would get me the gold. Mentaly he was not prepared to battle Keino at the pace that was set.

[HeshimaJameni]

What rules? Man you sound so miserable. I did not know that Kenyans could change the rules in the Olympic finals! I guess the IOC officials were all Kenyans? Grow up man!

[prrolg]

Kenyans cheated in mexico city 68. not allowed to run a rabbit team. Jim Ryan,the greated miler the world has ever seen.

[cheeseboy25]

lol "greated"...is he cheese?

[prrolg]

I'm not swiss (holes in the head,ha ha). Meant GREATEST. Didn't mean grated!. Thanks for the grading (not grating). The Kenyans did cheat and Jim was the best. So long.

[cheeseboy25]

"Rabbiting" was only not allowed because they wanted world record attemps to be made so that the runner was the only one putting in effort, however i dont believe this was even used in the race?

[HeshimaJameni]

The great Jim was smoked. He finished second and it was not even close. That was the widest margin for the distance in Olympic history. Had Jim caught up Keino and won would you have accused him for being a rabbit also? How bitter can one be even after 40 years have gone by? Where was Jim in Munich? He was younger than Kip Keino!

[cliff467]

Jim Ryun was seeded in a loaded heat in 1972 as the time the US management put forward for him was a mile time of about 3. 52. therefore the computer thought he was no good and put him in with a load of other good runners making it harder to qualify. in the rush he was tripped (or tripped himself) and fell and was out.

[phidippides26]

Great race! The Kenyans were just about to become dominant, but Ryun was able to hold off Keino. Shows how a great rivalry is great for both competitors.

[seatownfan]

There is little question in my mind after watching this that Jim Ryun would have won the gold medal in 1968 if the Olympics were at sea level rather than in Mexico City.

[basilcruncher]

thanks for posting

[NCrun4fun]

Kip Keino was an ass in that vid... he didn't even shake Ryun's hand when Ryun turned around.