Here's a little more context that this simple list left out.
The 400 meter hurdles world record was set by American Kevin Young about 29 years ago. His world record was 46.78. About a month before the Olympics, Norwegian Karstom Warholm broke this long standing record, running 46.7. At the Olympics, it was expected that Warholm and American Rai Benjamin would compete for first and second place, and that's what happened. Warholm shattered his previous world record, running 45.94. Rai Benjamin also broke Kevin Young's previous world record and Warholm's recent previous world record, running 46.17. It's very unusual for a world record to be broken by this much at a short distance, let alone by two people. Benjamin ran the second fastest time in history and still placed second at the Olympics. Benjamin later ran an outstanding final leg on the men's 4 x 400 relay, which the U.S. won. So is the fact that Benjamin placed second in the Olympics by running the second fastest time ever somehow a sign of decline in U.S. men's track and field? I don't think so. Benjamin has faster times at the 100 meter, 200 meter, and 400 meter sprints than Warholm, but Warholm is incredibly strong in the 400 meter hurdles. It's expected that Warholm and Benjamin will continue their rivalry and people think more world records from either of them are possible. As I've said before, this Olympics could just be a sign that other countries in the world are catching up with U.S. men's track and field. It's easy to compile lists like this in attempt to prove the point you want to make. It takes more time and effort to present a more balanced and nuanced picture. I don't know if Mr. Doom and Gloom considers the 400 meter hurdles in his top tier of athletic ability in his pompous list of athletic ability, but if he's ever run the 400 meter hurdles he'd know it's an extremely demanding event.
The U.S. men did win gold medals in track and field. They won the gold medals in the 4 x 400 relay and shot put. I don't know why the 4 x 400 mixed (men and women) relay is listed here but not the 4 x 400 men's relay. By my count 29 countries won medals in the men's track and field events. By my count the U.S. men's team won 10 medals. The next country was Canada with 5. I excluded the two race walk events and my count may be off by a little. I'd say what's wrong with this picture is that Mr. Doom and Gloom cherry picked things to fit the story he wanted to tell. The U.S. men's team didn't do as well as they usually do, but they still won the overall medal count. It could simply be that the rest of the world is starting to catch up with the U.S. men in track and field, not that the U.S. men's team in declining from within. In the 1500, for example, Cole Hocker from the U.S. broke the previous Olympic record for the 1500 meters and yet finished sixth because it was the fastest 1500 meters in Olympic history. Hocker is only twenty. Two years ago he was ranked as the 18th fastest high school miler -1500 meter runner in the U.S. In two years time he has moved up to having the all time sixth fastest Olympic time. He should have many good years ahead of him. Of course, Mr. Doom and Gloom didn't note this. He simply noted that Hocker finished 6th because it fits the viewpoint he wants to share. The U.S. women's track and field team did well. They won around 15 medals, five of them gold.
If this has anything to do with the hierarchy of athletes you were speaking of previously, the USA did not place in first in any of these pure athlete categories.
Well, you've certainly got my brain spinning... okay, I'll bite. What's wrong is that the United States didn't win ONE gold medal in Track and Field. What's right is Canada won TWO. Bonus what's wrong is that 24, count 'em TWENTY-FOUR countries won medals. What do I win?😁
The U.S. men's track and field team DID win a gold medal in the 4 x 400 relay. The U.S. women's team won 7 gold medals and led the overall medal count with 26. The next closest team in the women's overall medal count was Kenya with 10. Sorry, you don't' win anything because of incomplete and inaccurate information. Why is it "wrong" that 24 countries won medals? I think it's good if there is depth in competition across countries. I mean, what a bummer that Norway won the men's 1500 and the men's 400 hurdles! They aren't supposed to do be able to do that!
Here's a little more context that this simple list left out.
The 400 meter hurdles world record was set by American Kevin Young about 29 years ago. His world record was 46.78. About a month before the Olympics, Norwegian Karstom Warholm broke this long standing record, running 46.7. At the Olympics, it was expected that Warholm and American Rai Benjamin would compete for first and second place, and that's what happened. Warholm shattered his previous world record, running 45.94. Rai Benjamin also broke Kevin Young's previous world record and Warholm's recent previous world record, running 46.17. It's very unusual for a world record to be broken by this much at a short distance, let alone by two people. Benjamin ran the second fastest time in history and still placed second at the Olympics. Benjamin later ran an outstanding final leg on the men's 4 x 400 relay, which the U.S. won. So is the fact that Benjamin placed second in the Olympics by running the second fastest time ever somehow a sign of decline in U.S. men's track and field? I don't think so. Benjamin has faster times at the 100 meter, 200 meter, and 400 meter sprints than Warholm, but Warholm is incredibly strong in the 400 meter hurdles. It's expected that Warholm and Benjamin will continue their rivalry and people think more world records from either of them are possible. As I've said before, this Olympics could just be a sign that other countries in the world are catching up with U.S. men's track and field. It's easy to compile lists like this in attempt to prove the point you want to make. It takes more time and effort to present a more balanced and nuanced picture. I don't know if Mr. Doom and Gloom considers the 400 meter hurdles in his top tier of athletic ability in his pompous list of athletic ability, but if he's ever run the 400 meter hurdles he'd know it's an extremely demanding event.
The U.S. men did win gold medals in track and field. They won the gold medals in the 4 x 400 relay and shot put. I don't know why the 4 x 400 mixed (men and women) relay is listed here but not the 4 x 400 men's relay. By my count 29 countries won medals in the men's track and field events. By my count the U.S. men's team won 10 medals. The next country was Canada with 5. I excluded the two race walk events and my count may be off by a little. I'd say what's wrong with this picture is that Mr. Doom and Gloom cherry picked things to fit the story he wanted to tell. The U.S. men's team didn't do as well as they usually do, but they still won the overall medal count. It could simply be that the rest of the world is starting to catch up with the U.S. men in track and field, not that the U.S. men's team in declining from within. In the 1500, for example, Cole Hocker from the U.S. broke the previous Olympic record for the 1500 meters and yet finished sixth because it was the fastest 1500 meters in Olympic history. Hocker is only twenty. Two years ago he was ranked as the 18th fastest high school miler -1500 meter runner in the U.S. In two years time he has moved up to having the all time sixth fastest Olympic time. He should have many good years ahead of him. Of course, Mr. Doom and Gloom didn't note this. He simply noted that Hocker finished 6th because it fits the viewpoint he wants to share. The U.S. women's track and field team did well. They won around 15 medals, five of them gold.
If this has anything to do with the hierarchy of athletes you were speaking of previously, the USA did not place in first in any of these pure athlete categories.
Well, you've certainly got my brain spinning... okay, I'll bite. What's wrong is that the United States didn't win ONE gold medal in Track and Field. What's right is Canada won TWO. Bonus what's wrong is that 24, count 'em TWENTY-FOUR countries won medals. What do I win?😁
The U.S. men's track and field team DID win a gold medal in the 4 x 400 relay. The U.S. women's team won 7 gold medals and led the overall medal count with 26. The next closest team in the women's overall medal count was Kenya with 10. Sorry, you don't' win anything because of incomplete and inaccurate information. Why is it "wrong" that 24 countries won medals? I think it's good if there is depth in competition across countries. I mean, what a bummer that Norway won the men's 1500 and the men's 400 hurdles! They aren't supposed to do be able to do that!