The most exciting race I ever saw. I had been in Finland earlier that summer which made it even more thrilling.

Pretontaine gave it all he had. It wasn't enough. I will never forget hearing about his death on the radio a few years later--an awful shock.

Is with great sadness that we learnt today of the passing of Mariano Haro, fourth in this legendary Olympic race and one of the biggest Spanish athletes of all time. Rest in peace.

VIREN🥰🤩

Steve ran with the balls of king kong, and not just at this race.

What makes no SENSE is why the field is getting lapped.. qualifications are imbalanced.. embarrassing for olimpics standards...

Amazing runner. Even better human being.

Very cool video. Thanks for posting.

My first Olympics.

Valerij Borzov

If not dropping the actions in Moscow olympics this would have been one of the greatest documentaries in sports ever!

I recall watching the original series in Ireland on RTE just before Montreal 76. Brings back a lot of memories of one of the best summers ever. Excellent series and thanks for uploading!

They look like the line up from a Monty Python sketch.

that chunky american

I watched this as a little boy in Finland....at that time we still only had a black and white TV, but it didn't stop me from cheering like crazy when Lasse Virén won the gold medal. 😅

Дорогой дядя Володя, ты не забыт! Часть твоей семьи живет в Австралии с 1979 года, у тебя офигенная племянная внучка и обалденные правнук и правнучка! Мы гордимся имея такого ДЯДЮ!!! RIP UNCLE VLAD!

V. Kutz - what a great memories! He is my uncle , I' m an australian from 1979, last time visited him in Moskwa in 60s , he was driving us in Moskwa nights drunk, in his brand new Volga! Visited his family in 80s after his passing. RIP UNCLE VLAD!!!!

Pre only knew one way to run and that was all out. He made a tactical error on the last lap, going for the lead on the back stretch. If he had waited to the home stretch, he likely would have won the bronze. Of course, he ran only to win, 4 minute last mile.

bedford's best lap was his first

With out the hat Wottle would be just another runner

He wasn't running for bronze or silver, he was running to win.

I will be at the Mystic Mountain Run July 14th ! Not to run but to cheer the runners and help out ! Mystic will always be 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️ a special place in my heart! See some of my best friends and of course see 2 of my best friends Dennis and Pat Lunstrom ! Who are great race directors! I will always miss my friend Jim Brown ! Rest in peace Jim ! I love you! Homer Mountain Man Hastings! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

Nobody shook the American' s prefontaine hand...think about that..he was definitely not a humanitarian..

the duke of plaza toro, leading from behind, says the word of the day was-appalling!

Sorry, but the greater middle distance runner of all time by some margin is Paavo Nurmi. Lookup his record. Zatopek was certainly one of the greats, but as great as Nurmi.

Bedford must have been happy to beat Väätäinen!

Amazing Athlete, in the pantheon of long distance runners, he ranks alongside all of them, Nurmi, zatopek, Gebrselassie, Bekele, and farah.

We was a champion, he ran with guts, he wanted to be the best, his attitude got him places ao everyone saying he was cocky, well thats what it takes to battle the best to be the best.

It's 'metre'

I remember watching it live!

Go athletic beatle!

His tactics weren’t too bad until last lap. He kicks about 3 times in last 400. If he would have just gone steady and kicked once w 100 to go he might have gotten a medal, but don’t think anyone was going to beat Viren that day.

Lasse Viren, one of the best.

He was arrogant and hadn’t even hit his prime yet, If he had lived another couple of years he could’ve achieved great things internationally

My favorite event ❤ Dobie Wan Kanobie ❤ revisited May 21 2024❤❤❤❤❤

Do they have carbon fibre plates. I have them but I have been wondering if they do

<3

Viren falls, the commentator barely mentions it. I thought he would be screaming away.

For me, the real winner of this race was Steve Prefontaine. He would have deserved gold here. It's always easy to stay behind and let others set the pace. It may be tactically clever, but not the right way to do it in my opinion. Steve Prefontaine always gave his best in every race, for me those are the true heroes of the sport, not this tactic of runners. Letting others set the pace and then sprinting ahead at the end. In Prefontaine's defense, he lived right near the Israeli athletes who were killed in the attack. Not a good situation for this race.

Shorter last after 2 laps. Ends up 5th. Great pacing.

Great commentary. David Coleman?

EPO ERA

He would have been 170 meters ahead at the finish line, if he had run his normal race and nobody would come close to catching him...

they ran so slow because they were afraid of the Little Guy from Coos Bay and knew what times he was capable of.. . The leaders were cautious and had to slow the pace because they could never keep up if he got the chance to run his race.

One of only 4 people to ever win the 100 and 200 in the same Olympics. One of the 4 goats 🐐.

He would of be doped like many Russian athletes and Eastern European athletes too. USSR and its satilittes began doping in the early 60's.

Yes .. hope he doesn't get infected.

Best intro!

Don't you just love it when a white guy wins the Olympic 100m gold 😅

Bedford was great, but compared to Veren's form Bedford lifted his knees way higher and threw them out more.