If you had to name the greatest Olympic track and field athletes of all time, who would you choose? Of course you would have to do some research. But I'm sure you have a few great moments in Olympic history that come to mind. And I'm sure you have a few sports that are your favorites.
I prefer the Pole Vault, Shot Put and Marathon for individual events.
From Times Online ~Calvin Schulman
Four years ago for Games in Athens, I devised a points system to rank the leading track and field athletes in the history of the Olympics. This year, the list has been updated and revised to include all the discontinued events that were left out in 2004. The inclusion of such events as the standing long jump and 56-pound weight throw has made a dramatic impact on the top 100 rankings and produced a surprise athlete in the No 1 position. Of course, it is impossible to compare the athletes of the early Games against the professionals of the modern era and such legends as Dick Fosbury and Bob Beamon, who made such dramatic impacts on the sport, are missing because they appeared in only one Games. But that's the beauty of a list - it gets people talking ... and fuming. The points system
All top-eight finishers in track and field events have been awarded points according to the following scale: 1st 12pts; 2nd 9pts; 3rd 7pts; 4th 5pts; 5th 4pts; 6th 3pts; 7th 2pts; 8th 1pt.
Competitors in relays and team events are given half the points: 1st 6pts; 2nd 4.5pts; 3rd 3.5pts; 4th 2.5pts; 5th 2pts; 6th 1.5pts; 7th 1pt; 8th 0.5pt.
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One of my favorites? "Babe" Didrikson #74. She was some athlete.
Mildred Didrikson (United States) 33pts
born 1911 Port Arthur, Texas; died 1956 Galveston, Texas
Gold 80m hurdles 1932; javelin 1932
Silver high jump 1932
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See if any of your favorites are included here in pages and in a picture slide show:
Top 100 Olympic Athletes
