1968 Olympic 1500m Final

Jim Ryun wins the silver medal at the 1968 Olympics

• Category

  Sports

[Kidsgrove49]

Ryun stuck to his race plan, which with hindsight was wrong. He felt that 3:39 would win at altitude, and there was a danger of completely blowing it with a hot early pace. The brilliant Keino had real experience with altitude, having lived there. He knew on the day he was OK at that pace, and that won him the race.

[lewickerman]

First ever appearance of EPO

[PongGod]

Did it ever occur to you that there's an enormous difference between middle distance racing and long jumping? The thin air is a big advantage to any jumper or thrower, but a hindrance to anyone in an event that requires a great deal of aerobic endurance.

[PongGod]

Has nothing to do with arrogance. He's an American broadcaster doing a television broadcast for an American audience. Obviously they're primarily interested in Ryun's performance.

[Chris Alexander]

marty liqouri was only 19

[7agneskickingbird7]

If a sea level athlete had gone out at that pace he would've suffered the same fate as Ron Clarke. After Ryun finished Jack Daniels was the first to congratulate him on what a great race he ran. He could've been a bit closer but a 56 first lap at that altitude would've affected Ryun whereas to Keino it made little to no difference. The 1967 mile in London would probably be pretty close to this race had it been at sea level.

[Adam Renfro]

What's amazing is that he was a sophomore at Kansas at this time.

[kozmon0t]

Nothing to do with the altitude. Ryun simply let the lead pack break contact. When Keino broke the lead pack, Ryun was left having to beat two breaks. Extremely difficult to do.

If Ryun had a bit more experience he would have stayed glued to that lead pack.

[pedrofisherman73]

Yeah. Its been 44 years and stlll Americans think Ryan should have won! What arrogance. That American commentator was too much. We heard only Ryan mentioned. Keino was always 25 yards ahead of him and Keino left him for drad. But he was hardly mentioned. It was Ryan Ryan Ryan Ryan...

[pablo16825]

It is never to late for you to learn something about track and field. Keep at it!