Men’s Olympic Middle & Long- Distance In the Modern Era
Posted March 27th, 2008 at 9:00 AM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, Olympics
The Modern Olympic Era
Of the 336 medals that have been awarded thus far in the men’s middle and long-distance track events during the Modern Olympic Era (1896-2004) here are some interesting statistics:
· A total of 42 Countries have won medals in these events.*
· Kenya (no surprise) has won the most medals, having won 43.
· USA is a close 2nd with 42.
· Finland (yes, Finland) is 3rd with 41.
· Great Britain is 4th, having won 35.
· Ethiopia rounds out the top 5 with 15 medals.**
· Finland can claim the most gold medals with 21. Kenya is 2nd with 15, followed closely by the USA and Great Britain with 13 each.
· In the silver-medal count, it’s Kenya (17), then United States (13), then Great Britain (12), then Finland (11). France rounds out the top 5 with a total of 9 medals.
· The top 5 in the bronze-medal count are: United States (16), Kenya (11), Great Britain (10), Finland (9) and Sweden (7).
* A total of 38 countries have won medals in these events if you combine all of the various geo-political permutations that Germany and Russia have chosen to adopt.
** If we combine all of the flags under which Germany has competed (East Germany, West Germany, Unified German Team) then Germany jumps to 5th in the standings with 20 medals.
The African Era
We’re definitely still in the midst of the African Era in middle and Long-Distance running. In terms of Olympic medals, Africans who have competed either for their birth nations or for their adopted, non-African countries, have won 59 of the last 75 Olympic medals (1984 - 2004). Here’s the breakdown:
Conclusion
The United States has represented well in the middle and long-distance events throughout the modern Olympic era. There has definitely been a lull in the action, but things look promising for the USA brand, thanks to the current crop of amazing athletes like Bernard Lagat, Alan Webb, Khadevis Robinson, Nick Symmonds, Matt Tegenkamp, Galen Rupp, Adam Goucher, Dan Lincoln, Abdi Abdirahman, Meb Keflezighi (and, many, many more!), all of whom are hungry for some Beijing hardware.
Let’s not overlook Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenhein, Brian Sell and and Khalid Khannouchi all who could easily step down from the marathon and vie for some Olympic medals in the shorter events.
Source: [Wikipedia]
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Tags: 10000m, 1500m, 3000m SC, 3000m steeplechase, 5000m, 800m, Abdi Abdirahman, Adam Goucher, Alan Webb, Andrew Carlson and Jon Rankin, Anthony Famiglietti, Beijing, Bernard Lagat, Brian Sell and and Khalid Khanouchi, Chris Lukezic, Dan Lincoln, Dathan Ritzenhein, galen rupp, Khadevis Robinson, long distance, Matt Tegenkamp, Meb Keflezighi, middle distance, Nick Symmonds, olympic medals, Ryan Hall
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The Final Sprint