• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Click here to download the  free ebook of Alberto Juantorena’s  detailed training workouts leading up to the 1976 Montreal Olympics

SpeedEndurance.com

Success in Track & Field ... and Life

  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Track & Field
    • 400 meters
    • 800m & Mile
    • 1/2 & Full Marathons
    • Long & Triple Jump
    • Hurdles
  • Training
    • Weight Training
    • Abs & Core
    • Injury Prevention
    • Shoes & Spikes
    • Masters
  • Coaching
    • Freelap Friday Five
    • Interviews
    • Sports Nutrition
    • Sport Psychology
  • Archives
  • Shop
    • My account
    • Checkout
    • Basket

The Toughest World Record To Break?

You are here: Home / Track & Field / Olympic History / The Toughest World Record To Break?
0
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

May 30, 2008 by Jimson Lee 2 Comments

Last Updated on April 7, 2013 by Jimson Lee

What is the toughest world record to break? You need to look no further than the men’s 200-meters. Before Michael Johnson broke Italian Pietro Mennea’s time the then World Record of 19.72 had stood for 17 years.

But the real answers of the difficult to break the deuce world record lies in the psychology rather than physiology. Of course, ridiculous speed is needed to even approach 19.32 range at 200-meters but that is just the beginning of things.

Before MJ broke the 200 record it was a tweener race and not much attention was paid to the race. There are 100 and 400 runners but neither group of runner spent a great deal of focus and resources on the 200.

MJ changed the face of the game; he brought sexy back to the 200-meters. His performance at the 1996 Atlanta Games with the big clock displaying 19.32 is an Olympic moment. And more importantly, many of today’s pro runners were in high school at the time. This feat shaped track’s perception.

In the past many of the prolific 200-meter runners were 400-meter runners that were dropping down an event. They were fast, but lacked the crazy speed required to deliver 9.99 in an open 100-meter race.

The 200 takes a unique blend of pure speed, endurance, and incredible curb running. Michael Johnson boasted a personal best of 10.09 in the 100-meters, which he ran way back in 1994. What that time tells us is if he had focused solely on the 100 then Michael probably could have produced a sub-10 second time. He shied away from the 100 after graduating Baylor because he battled injuries while training for the race.

See also  Matt Bogdanowicz World Record pull ups chin ups attempt Oct 27

Many of the old school 100-meter runners were notorious for despising the 200-meters. Why focus on the 200 when you can run half as far and get paid twice as much? The big money and fame belongs to the “The World’s Fastest Man” title, which typically goes to the 100-meter Olympic or World Champion.

The constant focus and mental energy required to break the 200 is steep and that’s why it makes the 200 the toughest world record to break.

About the Author

Jay Hicks of PreraceJitters.com, a.k.a. Track Evangelist is a former Missouri high school state champion at 400-meters, an all-conference 800-meter runner at Baylor University, and track’s most outrageous blogger.

Category iconOlympic History,  Track & Field,  Witty Tag iconJay Hicks,  Michael Johnson,  speed

About Jimson Lee

I am a Masters Athlete and Coach currently based in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA) and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. skip hire says

    February 3, 2009 at 5:50 am

    The toughest record to break MUST be the greatest number of world records held at one time surely?
    Interesting reading……

    Reply
  2. Jimson Lee says

    February 3, 2009 at 11:18 am

    @skip hire – I can think of Jesse Owens 4/6 WR in one day (or 45 minutes), or Tommie Smith holding concurrent WRs.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Recommended

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xbs-aWxyLk

Shop Our Store

  • Bud Winter (9)
  • Championship Productions (6)
  • Clyde Hart (2)
  • Derek Hansen (1)
  • Electrical Muscle Stimulation (2)
  • Jim Hiserman (6)
  • Jimson Lee (4)
  • Uncategorised (0)

Articles by Category

Products

  • Jim Hiserman - Developing 800m Runners: Identifying, Categorizing and Developing 400m-800m Type Athletes $42.99 $39.99
  • Private Coaching - Monthly Plan $600.00 $525.00
  • Jim Hiserman-Developing-Distance-Runnersv2 Jim Hiserman - Developing Distance Runners Volume 2: A Systematic Approach to Developing Individual Success within a Dynamic Team Culture $34.95 $29.95
  • Feed-the-Cats-Clinic-3-Pack-701 'Feed the Cats' Clinic 3-Pack $64.99
  • Tony Holler's Feed the Cats": A Complete Sprint Training Program Tony Holler's "Feed the Cats" Complete Sprint Training Program $49.99
  • Bud Winter and Speed City presents Arthur Lydiard 509x716 Bud Winter & Arthur Lydiard MP3 [Download only] $9.99

RECENT POSTS

  • Oregon22 Coaches Club now Online
  • IFAC 2022: The Return of In-Person Conferences (with Virtual option)
  • Here is our 400m Discussion Recording… over 2 Hours Long
  • The Best Free Coaching Book – post Beijing 2022 Olympics
  • The Ultimate 400m Track Webinar for Coaches & Athletes
  • NACAC Athletics Coaching Science Series 2022
  • Top Six 400m Predictor Workouts (Number 4 is my Favourite)
  • Best 6 Podcasts for 2021 (and Beyond)
  • Why Karsten Warholm’s 45.94 400mH WR is my Highlight of 2021
  • Sprinting: 10 Research Articles for Effective Sprint Training [Part 23]

Copyright © 2023. SpeedEndurance.com is owned and operated by Aryta Ltd. Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}