Mennea/Wells/Borzov-100m.SF/Finals-1978 European Championships

Mennea on the way to the 100/200 double in the 1978 European championships held in Prague.Down the field were future and past 100m.Olympic champions:Allan Wells, not showing the sparkling form he had shown earlier in the season, and Valery Borzov in his last competitive season.

[@emilk3953]

I remember Pietro Mennea back in the early 80’s in Athens Greece at a meeting winning the 200 meter. I was about 15-16 then. After the receiving the gold metal, he approached a disabled person on a wheel chair who was in the field and gave him his gold metal. What a wonderful memory. Thanks Pietro !

[@salvatorepandolfo9196]

Emil K Pietro not Pedro. Mennea was italian not spanish.

[@emilk3953]

Thank you for the correction

[@willantonio6420]

instablaster.

[@dubbelhenke854]

Mennea wasn't tall or particularly muscular but his wonderful technique and relaxed running was astounding. He was my track&field idol. Also it was a joy to watch his style, he ran so beautifully. And today another Italian won the olympics in Tokyo. And a gold medal in high jump! Congrats Italy - European Championship in soccer, Eurovision contest and now this!

[@lucavendra9016]

Ten minutes First the high jump for Italy

[@urbanjunglegroove1238]

Yes, his style especially in the 200 metres was always fascinating! I always had the feeling that after the bend he would shift into 4th gear.

[@temp850]

Sadly, he admitted to using human growth hormone even though it wasn't illegal at that time. Still serious questions around using it though. And now, there is a strong narrative around Alan Wells and drugs. This doesn't diminish their great talents, it just reminds us they are human and given to failure like us all.

[@carlobrotto7132]

@@temp850 what time r u talkin' about ? Saying repeatdly " he admitted use of growth hormone" like you& someone else from english speaking countries usually and not underlining that he did ONLY ONE TIME after olympics 84, is an hypocrit way to not recognize outer

[@carlobrotto7132]

outer people's greatness. People like

[@stefano3715]

Tra anonimi volti nutriti di vittorie ce ne uno scavato come quello di un italiano del dopoguerra, sei tu nostro grande e amato Pietro ma, in mezzo a quegli zigomi sporgenti, due occhi pieni di struggente rivincita. Corri, anima indomita, corri come facevi allora, vola alto, spirito libero dal grande cuore. Nostro grande grandissimo Pietro ❤🙏

[@lucaspalvieri9252]

Pietro Mennea "la freccia del sud" il più grande atleta italiano di tutti i tempi,per spirito di sacrificio,dedizione e mentalità.Altro che Tomba atleta del secolo...non c'è confronto!Grazie Mennea per tutte le soddisfazioni ci hai regalato in una disciplina ostica ai colori azzurri.

[@tagstefmusic]

condivido!!!

[@enricos.9380]

Condivido al 100% 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@mariomarini3774]

Il solito neoborbonico.....Mennea non lo era.....

[@lucaspalvieri9252]

@@mariomarini3774 ...neanche io visto che sono bolognese

[@mariomarini3774]

@@lucaspalvieri9252 Un cervello di sardina.....

[@guslevy3506]

As a young kid who was watching sports on tv in the late 70s, Pietro Minnea was one of the first track athletes that stuck in my mind because it seemed so strange that a White man was so successful in the sprints which were dominated by Black men. His 200 record was one of those stats that just imprinted in my mind and has stayed there forever. Watching videos like this now on KZbin takes me back to those days when I was a kid…

[@mlccrl]

Grandissimo Pietro. Ha dimostrato di essere il migliore anche nei 100. Li ha messi tutti in fila a cominciare da quel pallone gonfiato di Wells. Avevo 18 anni e non posso scordare la finale che vidi in bianco e nero.

[@emmannamontini7252]

'pallone gonfiato' ?...non è bello, Wells è stato un grande velocista e ha vinto i 100 metri nell'Olimpiade del 1980 ed è stato appena battuto da Mennea nei 200.

[@mariomarini3774]

@@emmannamontini7252 Appunto.......offese gratuite dei soliti borbonacci che anche Mennea detestava.......n.b. Alle olimpiadi 1980 nei 200 metri Mennea fu penalizzato dalla ottava corsia, altrimenti avrebbe vinto più agevolmente, non a caso dopo quelle olimpiadi il regolamento è stato cambiato, chi vince le semifinali ha diritto alle corsie 4 e 5

[@sinagrunau2097]

Big Mennea R.I.P. (2013)

[@luigipelella7032]

Grande, grande Mennea. Riposa in "Pace", ciao Pietro e grazie x "Ttto". 😢

[@user-tx9ys8cn6x]

Made us all proud and attached to the tv with excitement and goosebumps... Roberto Baggio had the same Effect. And Italy in General during world cups. Ahhhh memories

[@russellkane9439]

Questo era mennea... un grande... volonta di vincere sempre in ogni gara...

[@MARMELADIKAKKUAFYTA]

BORZOV AND MENNEA ARE MY IDOLS

[@ichbinbluna3504]

Borzov last in the final race of the 1978 European Championships: After the season, Borzov had to have operations on both Achilles tendons. He was already able to train only to a limited extent for the 1978 European Championships. In 1979 he tried a comeback in Moscow (Spartakiade), but failed. He ran the 100m in 11 seconds and the 200m in just under 22 seconds. There he ended his career.

[@Quadrant14]

a brilliant runner Borzov.

[@mstrunn]

Mennea held the WR in the 200 meters for many years.

[@justinsincoise6693]

About 20+

[@mariogar766]

17!... 1979-1996... and it still is European Record...

[@draxelchang5411]

Phenomenal athlete. Best of a whole generation.

[@kixigvak]

I photographed the race he broke it in in Mexico City. 1979.

[@jj-nh8lz]

Yes, for a very long time. Did Michael Johnson finally best it?

[@Anastasia-qp4jq]

That feeling when Dad told you that he is on KZbin now, but it's a video from 1978 😅 Proud of you Volodimir Ignatenko. You were rocking 🔥❤

[@6262ronny]

Wonderful Pietro! Miss you RIP

[@adam872]

Mennea had a beautiful running action, very fluid and smooth. He was deceptively quick and of course was even quicker over 200.

[@kreol001]

First man to break 20 secs onnthe 200mts..19.96. Great runner

[@royaumeuni5730]

Not quicker, but better.

[@davidemaglio5745]

Not really, Borzov was more elegant

[@bernardm2528]

Didn't he run 200m in 19.72? I think so if I can remember 45 years ago. The 2nd 100m of this 200m race he ran very fast something like 9 sec. Or 9.10

[@danbotez1307]

@@bernardm2528 Yes, in 1979. That record lasted 17 years.

[@LEIJONALEIJONA-vc7oo]

ONE OF MY IDOLS IS MENNEA

[@turic95]

Wells without the starting blocks amazing !

[@wobblertv8083]

Pietro menea was a underrated great .

[@lekunberriko1]

in my opinion, Mennea was the best. Mennea forever.

[@dundukas7899]

name chrckd out

[@cristianpastarini4798]

La freccia del sud....rip

[@michelerossetto6147]

Ciao Antonio, com'era l'antidoping a quei tempi?

[@michelerossetto6147]

Com'era l'antidoping a quei tempi?

[@Nukity]

Funny how this footage from the late 70's is better than most footage from the late 90's, early 2000's on youtube.

[@BreuckelensFinest]

Nukity I thought the same thing! Hahaha

[@pmue437]

European Top Brodcast Quality Olympic Standard. Compare that with US TV Series Baywatch as example

[@giancarlocimatti6944]

Mennea era un Fenomeno.

[@gionncaomhinmorpheagh4791]

Ma veramente, vecchio! MsG

[@AfricanWithNoFlies]

Bad start and still wins, love this

[@archiewoosung5062]

Amazed that Borzov was still running in '78...must have enjoyed it...and he married the fabulous Tourischeva

[@cristixav]

Borzov also ran at the 1980 Moscow Olympics

[@user-xq1zp9bz9o]

@@cristixav Последним соревнованием для Валерия Борзова стала VII Спартакиада народов СССР (1979), после которой он завершил карьеру.

[@timoaksel9320]

​@@cristixavNo. He retired 1979.

[@gicosound]

Intramontabile. Indimenticabile. Indimenticato. Grande Pietro mennea

[@Giannifan1]

Pietro Mennea. A superchampion in a normal body. And most of all without drugs...

[@michaelgiammarino5033]

Gianni Fanetti Mennea admitted to using drugs I believe

[@immoralanimal]

Mike Giammarino He admitted to trying to extend his career, when he was in his mid-thirties, by taking growth hormone, but then retired anyhow. There's nothing in these old races that screams out "dope." Ray was jacked, like all the East Germans, but Mennea was legit.

[@coolro3684]

Виктор Кадий he admitted himself that he took drugs all through his career.

[@ewaf88]

coolro Do you mean Ray?

[@stevecrocker6904]

coolro no, Mennea admitted he injected his own oxygenated blood back into his body before competition. But it was legal to do so then

[@jean-mariepierre2629]

Magnifique Pietro, Malgré, son départ moyen,.

Indeed..he left this world too soon...may he rest in peace...😑😑

[@horrortackleharry]

Mennea did brilliantly in the final considering that the guy in Lane 8 was pretty much over into his lane at about 20m.

[@brambillafumagalli9535]

RIP LEGEND

[@snakepliskeen064]

Pietro Mennea " son of Wind" Italian Pride 🇮🇹 rest in peace

[@nicolagianaroli2024]

I think his nickname was “la freccia del sud” (the southern arrow)

[@cristianpastarini4798]

La grande freccia del sud....rip Pietro

[@user-zj1ht8qo3h]

Yeah I recall watching these guys run loved it then and now

[@LEIJONALEIJONA-cn5pi]

MY IDOLS BORZOV MENNEA

[@Alex_Gordon]

Mennea was built like 5000m runner. incredible

[@maelughran6981]

Brilliant old footage: the incomparable Frank Bough the consummate media professional, absolutely lovely man ( I met him personally many years ago) - a real gentleman, no different from his screen personna. David Coleman, unforgettable commentator, one of the best in the business with the ability to enthuse his audience. Not sure that 'bulldozing' for a sprinter was quite the right metaphor in this case though. As for the sprinters, sadly it was at the peak of drug-taking but testing/monitoring wasn't up to standard, and so hard to know which if any, of these guys were actually clean.

[@TheJaxsonjack]

The physiques of these guys. Prob never lifted a weight in their lives, either.

[@uliuli8997]

I live for these Magical Moments.

[@alexmares2984]

Many thanks for this Highlight with Mennea and our E. Ray, from GDR.

[@antantonio9017]

Pietro Mennea è stato il più grande talento naturale che l'atletica italiana, e forse mondiale, abbia mai espresso.

[@giancarlocimatti1894]

Italiana ed europea. Mondiale mmmmm

[@6262ronny]

Almeno non era pompato.. tra il 77 e l'80 pure mondiale

[@Giuseppee62]

Sa paragoniamo,il fisico e il peso di Mennea è quello che è riuscito a vincere, compreso un record mondiale durato 17 anni frutto di durissimi allenamenti, credo, come nessuno al mondo abbia mai fatto. Per questo credo che sia stato il più grande della storia.vero che ci sono atleti che hanno vinto più di lui, prendiamo Bolt, col fisico di Mennea proviamo a immaginare cosa avrebbe fatto? Per me nulla. Prendiamo invece Mennea col fisico di bolt ? Avrebbe fatto record del mondo dei 100,200, 400 metri e sarebbero durati come ho già scritto, almeno 100 anni.

[@antoniojeraca5173]

in europa in quegli anni non dimentichiamo il grande valery borzov (CCCP) e negli stati uniti il grandissimo TOMMY SMITH

[@angelinellanotte1487]

@@Giuseppee62 ma che discorso è? boh....lei premia Mennea perché fisicamente era mediocre? per il peso?? Mennea con 10.01 sui 100 non è neanche tra i migliori 20 al mondo

[@PAARYNAKAKKU-pd8ej]

MENNEA IS MY IDOL

[@andream61]

"They introduced me to Muhammad Alì as the fastest man in the world. He was surprised and said 'I believed the fastest man in the world is black'. I replied: 'I'm black inside'" [Pietro Mennea, 1952--2013]

[@onigbajamo]

What a funny thing to say.

[@kennethwoods6525]

I love that! Makes me smile that 2 legends met and had a moment. I would not have been able to control my laughter.

[@andreaselleri400]

Grande Pietro e grazie per tutto quello che ci hai regalato

[@fedelemario]

che emozione nel vedere un ragazzo del sud italia SALIRE sul podio piu alto del Mondo in una delle discipline piu IMPORTANTI delle OLIMPIADI

[@brambillafumagalli9535]

Che emozione vedere un ITALIANO....... sud nord centro........

[@angloscalia7697]

Mennea era un prodotto sportivo "genuino", qualche altro lo era di ... "laboratorio".

[@redd605]

Pietro had some tremendous battles with Wells , who refused to have blocks.

[@flaviopiscopo]

Great Mennea forever

[@raynardi2326]

Che emozione....grazie Pietro

[@jean-mariepierre2629]

Prague 1978 Magnifique

[@baiadigrotta]

grazie Pietro

[@Ghostmanriding]

My two favorite sprinters of all time are Mennea, and Bolt.

[@antoniojeraca5173]

and tommy smith (200)

[@andersonarmstrong2650]

Don Quarrie, Evelyn Ashford, Merlene Ottey..All clean!

[@robertmiller2173]

I got to race some of these guys at QE2 Stadium in Christchurch New Zealand in the South Pacific Games, needless to say I remember being scorched by Alan Wells, Don Quarrie and Halsey Crawford. I did a 10.8, I would have loved to go faster but that was it. Alan Wells and Don Quarrie signed my Singlet, but Hasley Crawford told me to "Fuck Off"......I've never forgotten that as these guys were my heroes!

[@simoneparbuono1218]

mennea, un fenomeno

[@redrum4100]

Carl: the guy you are talking about is Nikolay Kolesnikov, who came 7th. Earlier that year he had won the European indoor 60m title and had a bronze medal from the 1976 Olympic 4x100m, but I don't think he is related to anyone famous (I could be wrong, though).

[@visieraverde]

Masterpiece of Pietro Mennea !!!

[@ronmexico1874]

Borzov was a cart horse. Never broke 10s.

[@tiikerilijatiikerililja]

BORZOV IS MY IDOL

[@angelomercolino3880]

Yes Borzov is you idol but Pietro Mennea is the best.

[@stewartwalter407]

@@angelomercolino3880 where’s Mennea’s Olympic 100m gold medal?

[@alfredodallalibera5091]

​​@@stewartwalter4075 olimpiadi di cui 4 consecutive in finale. Chi altri al mondo sui 200 metri? 19,72 è ancora record europeo.

[@tiikerilijatiikerililja]

MENNEA IS MY SECOND IDOL

[@user-tx9ys8cn6x]

Lol

[@TheEctomorph]

It was sad to see the great Valeriy Borzov fail to make any impact in that race at the European Championships, which took place in the August of 1978. Less than six years earlier, in September 1972, he had triumphed in both sprint events (the 100 and 200 metres) at the Munich Olympics, and been hailed as one of the biggest stars in world athletics. Moreover, Borzov subsequently went on to win another individual medal (the bronze) in the 100m at the Montreal Olympics - only 2 years prior to those European Championships of 1978. Sadly, however, when he competed against Pietro Mennea, Eugen Ray and Allan Wells (among others) in Prague, he was a shadow of the sprinter that he had been in Munich, just six years earlier. :(

[@stevecrocker6904]

***** he was still only 28 at the time. I guess lots of miles in those legs by then though.

[@dereckdean578]

Borzov was known as the doctor of sprints . He had an amazing track career

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

Maybe he ran out of drugs.

[@JazzFunk22]

😇.....💉🧪💊💉

[@salvocfe1553]

Il più Grande...Pietro da Barletta !

[@octopusmagnificens]

Mennea from last to first in the final.

[@JazzFunk22]

Mennea was a OG

[@neildsouza3085]

I love Allan Wells

[@TheEctomorph]

Sprinting is generally considered to be a sporting activity for big, robust, heavily muscled men.... yet it was noticeable that the Italian guy [Pietro Mennea], who triumphed in the 100 metres at the European Championships in 1978, was a relatively small, slight fellow (at any rate, in comparison to the vast majority of world class sprinters). In fact, Mennea was only about 5 foot 10" in height, and weighed a mere 155lb (a fraction over 11 stone) when he was in his prime as an international sprinter. By contrast, Eugen Ray (the burly East German dude who finished second behind Mennea in the final of the 100 metres at those European Championships of 1978) was well over 6 foot tall, and his biceps were about twice the size of his Italian rival's! I suppose that the point I am trying to make is this: Whilst sheer strength and power is of SOME relevance to sprinting, it is certainly not the be-all-and-end-all. If it was, then Arnold Schwarzenegger would have been a great sprinter in his prime!

[@stevecrocker6904]

william kinch there was only about 1 1/2" difference in heght between them but ,yes, Eugen Ray was much closer to 90 kgs than the 72/73 Mennea raced at

[@octopusmagnificens]

Look at Christophe Lemaitre now.

[@rishabhraj2308]

exactly

[@maxglendale7614]

Wells got huge over two years! Very slim here compared to the increased muscle at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

Yep, he bulked up on steroids and became almost unbeatable.

[@maxglendale7614]

@@golden.lights.twinkle2329 Really? Any proof?

[@MrListenerman]

@@golden.lights.twinkle2329 It' called hard work and training.

[@aerodrome4427]

@@maxglendale7614 Drew McMaster allegations which Wells has denied.

[@Fatima502]

I don't think so, he was always a big lad. Watch him at the 78 Commonwealths, which was his focus for that year. That's the reason why he didn't run so well in Prague a few weeks later.

[@pasqualearena8253]

Atleti così non sono ancora nati. 17 anni record imbattuto

[@fema1340]

Bellissimo.

[@NevaUndaPressure]

Pietro was a very handsome man! 🤩🥇

[@TheEctomorph]

"Borzov could fly." In 1972, yes definitely..... but, alas, not in 1978, David! :(

[@danieleferri9809]

Da Barletta, Puglia, Magna Grecia italica,il mito Pietro Mennea, la freccia del sud Italia....💚🤍❤️

[@kurtfrancis4621]

The announcer keeps saying "Russian" when he should be saying "Soviet". Borzov is from the Ukrainian S.S.R., now just Ukraine. He is definitely not Russian.

[@trickygoose2]

Back in those days, Brits and Americans often tended to call all USSR athletes Russian. Now I see some of their names and can see that someone was Lithuanian, Estonian, Georgian and not Russian.

[@RossKempOnYourMum01]

Allan Wells no blocks!!!

[@ewaf88]

RossKempOnYourMum01 No false could be calculated either

[@RossKempOnYourMum01]

Good spot

Not really the commentator made a point of mentioning it!

[@trickygoose2]

@@ewaf88 By Moscow 1980 the rules had changed and he had to use blocks. I don't think the reaction time equipment was used to call false starts until a few years after that though.

[@ewaf88]

@@trickygoose2 Yes I remember when he had to start using blocks. He would have hated modern systems

[@giovannidepadova1257]

ancora piango!

[@siralphons6762]

Mennea , stallion 🇮🇹 italian !!!

[@igliadami4404]

Grandissimo Pietro Mennea

[@lucauccio8689]

La Freccia del Sud/The Arrow of South 💥

[@StanleyPinchak]

Back when Europe was European

[@Madam3_x]

GRANDE!!!!❤️❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@massimilianobelloni237]

Pietro Mennea che idolo

[@jimso771]

Wells was better at 100m than Mennea by the time the 1980 olympics came around as he won the gold but Mennea pipped him to gold in the 200m

[@paolomatucci2527]

Mennea you will win

[@SuperBoscaino]

Pietro Mennea, la grande freccia del sud.

[@goldrake69]

Un fulmine...GRANDE

[@MassimoX]

fuoriclasse assoluto dell'atletica

[@flaviobraido7593]

Fantastico Minnia.

[@RichardUpton]

Some improvement from Alan Wells to go from unplaced here to Olympic champion in two years

[@simongleaden2864]

I'd forgotten about him not using starting blocks. I wonder why he didn't use them. I believe you've got to use them these days because of the electronic sensors for false starts.

[@RichardUpton]

@@simongleaden2864 I maybe wrong but I think he was using them by 1980. I remember his wife / coach being rather fierce

[@archiewoosung5062]

@@RichardUpton I think they insisted he use them at the 1980 Olympics

[@201081hero]

Part of the reason why may have been due to the Commonwealth Games held only a few weeks before, a number of athletes had difficulty raising themselves for a second time.

[@RichardUpton]

@@201081hero thats a good shout and the games were held in Canada and so jet lag to get over…

[@billbailey8600]

I remember reading he was 12 stone in weight for the 80 Olympics, not sure what he weighs here.

[@Bloxdio_God]

He was 6feet tall and looked more like 13stone plus in 1980.

[@michelef3491]

enorme campione..a livello del mare scese sotto i 20 s. a Barletta ( io c ero😍)..e sotto i 20 s. a livello del mare non scendevano nemmeno gli americani e gli sprinter di colore.( dobbiamo aspettare un certo Carl Lewis).talento naturale, non dopato, solo sacrificio e dedizione....x me tutti i top sprinter dagli anni 90 in poi so tutti pompati..lo stesso Bolt ( che chissa perche tutti i giamaicani sono stati beccati e lui no😁

[@S2000Y]

Wells with no blocks!

[@carlhunton9516]

Bonkers eh?

[@BladeRunner-td8be]

Just listen to the masterly commentating here. After Jim Mckay passed RIP the vocation of sports announcing drifted South, to put it mildly. I realize the commentator here is not Jim Mckay but he came to my mind immediately when I started to think about great sportscasters of the past. IMO Jim Mckay is the best of all time when it comes to sports journalism. As an aside, I almost couldn't believe it when I saw one contestant line up without the benefit of using the block at the start of the race. Times have certainly changed. I can only come up with two possible reasons that the runner didn't use the block. 1. Incredible ignorance. 2. He didn't have a running coach. Cheers

[@archiewoosung5062]

His wife was his coach and he won gold at the Olympics two years later. He didn't use blocks because he didn't like them.

[@steveosborne2297]

Mennea was a wonderful runner but the fact that Alan Wells never bothered using starting blocks at this time totally confused me

[@alex-qi9ll]

Pietro il grande, il nostro sovrano per sempre

[@Dave-lr2wo]

...euro champ in a time slower than several *decathletes'* 100m PRs... Times sure have changed, quite literally.

[@joyrideautovermietung1156]

Eugen Ray, the east german Bulldozer ❤

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

This was before Alan Wells bulked up on steroids, after which no-one could beat him..

[@ochjim]

His SB in 78 was 10.15 and in 1980, Olympic year, it was 10.11 . . Not a big margin at all. Source, world athletics site. On Wells' page select progression button. I've linked the actual url above.

[@ShunyamNiketana]

Slow starts from Mennea in both races. Given that habit, it's no wonder he'd be better at the 200.

[@jrnumex9286]

borzov, 28-29 yrs old was done. the great soviet training regime didn't offer longevity in his case.

[@6400az]

Yes Sir...the little man 4:23 !!

[@johnscone9382]

Completely different Wells who was at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton 2 weeks earlier.

[@harttsteen9128]

Duneky defeated Wells.Wow!

[@salvatorepennino2226]

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