I grew up 3 blocks from where he was born, he was often called " El Elegante de las pistas " "the elegant of the tracks " ... Proud Santiaguero, his brother is a good sportsman as well but in Karate ..
Kinda fun watching this as I ran against both Joaquim Cruz and Johnny Gray in 1981 when I was in college at Southern Oregon State College in Ashland Oregon. We would run at the twilight meets in Eugene back in the day. Course, I got my butt kicked by both of them but they were both great friends, tenacious competitors and even greater champions.
Its funny what you remember..... Ovetts shirt disappearing into the distance at 300 to go in a 15 (Southern counties champs uk 84)...... its then you realise the reality of a god given talent..
I’ve met Cruz, Coe, Ovett, Walker, Peter Elliot and Baumann. All gentlemen. Cruz was the friendliest most giving of time and Peter Elliot was also a good guy to chat to. To be fair Baumann was on the same track as me and very focused by doing some 400 reps, I forget his rep times but do remember he was smoking round the track with fairly short recoveries.
Thanks for mentioning Peter Elliot, he would have got an Olympic medal in the 1500 (1984) had he been allowed to go and probably Gold as at that point he was better than Coe.
@@archiewoosung5062 I wasn't that quick at school and could run national level later. Some people are behind others. Coe never trained that hard really. Watched him in the gym and it was a lot of face pulling doing next to zilch. You only saw the magic on the track.
22.9 first 200...that is amazing...more like a rabbit ...they kind of ambushed Alberto, but it was still fun to see his finish...a proud Cubano! Johnny Gray finished 4th,,,,,the end of an era!
Yes, and had he not gone out too quickly, he probably would have won in '88. Unfortunately, his left leg was several cm shorter than the right, causing chronic foot injuries. He never again reached his '84 level, although he was perhaps at 80% in '85 and late '88.
This must be the fastest and deepest field of quality class runners and times in the World today in 2019~! This for the 800 Meters is Unreal and Super Fast. Such Gifted and Talented runners indeed.
I actually talked with him last week, and he said he missed the '88 Olympics because he had been hurt. So maybe that injury had something to do with him going "downhill," but I'm pretty sure he still got gold in both '92 and '96
Nothing presents strength, grace, and endurance like the stride of Alberto....a once in a lifetime athlete....he started in basketball...Peter Snell was originally a tennis player....the competitive aspects of these two great athletes and role models was nurtured in their other sports activities. Only a few really race against each other...most just fall into the same pace regardless of the outcome...Dave Wottle....what a fluke gold medal! In his own world....Jim Ryan was a great competitor also!
Couldn't agree more. His nickname was "el caballo" or "the horse" because of his sheer size and power. He was definitely a freak of nature as it was unheard of for a middle distance runner to be built like that back in those days.
@@Ruda-n4h he had had injuries starting in 1974, when for the first time he had to to go through a surgery in one foot which kept him away from tracks for several months into 1975. He was not a lucky athlete.
Cruz was obviously determined to beat Coe's world record. 1984 was his best season and I think he went downhill after 1984. Cram beat him a year later in 800.
After the Olympic gold I think everyone thought the record was his for the taking...I assumed his falling off was because they couldn't care less about athletics in Brazil.
@@archiewoosung5062 Or maybe he was just had 1 outstanding season. He was still competing as late as 96. Coe didnt have this quality of field when he set the WR in 81.
Juantorena's prime didn't last more than two years because of injuries even before Montreal 76. For 1984 his career had been already finished for several years. But he had no choice, even in the case he didn't feel fit, he had to participate in competitions if that was what the Communist Party decided.
@@juliomiguel6597 In Helsinki 1983 he broke his leg. I was a kid reading about this "great champion of the past whose career is probably terminated", but he came back, still showed class despite age.
@@scouter-xn6zi I was a kid back in Cuba when he was in his prime. The most beautiful 400 m and 800 m races i have ever seen. Despite his physical assets, he had a big handicap for an athlete. flat feet. This warranted him injuries from the very beginning of his career. In fact it is almost unbelievable he got to be the best athlete in the planet for two years.
Looks to me he did a fine job, Cruz was the only athlete to be able to stick with him and he brought him through to within fighting distance of WR. Didn't notice him drop out but was prob lined up for P/M role.
![กี่หมื่นฟ้า | Your Sky Series EP.1 [2/4]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/qJbQs_nhjD4/mqdefault.jpg)
Juantorina has my respect. Its difficult to stay on top for 8 years, but he was still trying. What a champion he was.
My uncle Zygmunt Zabierzowski from Poland was Juantorena's personal head coach
The horse. Tough as cheap steak.
@@woffer3881 what was his training?
@@Gnomebe track & field 400 m and 800 m to Montreal Olimpics
@@woffer3881 yes.
Alberto still ran 1:45 in this race. That is incredible at the end of his long 800m career.
I grew up 3 blocks from where he was born, he was often called " El Elegante de las pistas " "the elegant of the tracks " ... Proud Santiaguero, his brother is a good sportsman as well but in Karate ..
Kinda fun watching this as I ran against both Joaquim Cruz and Johnny Gray in 1981 when I was in college at Southern Oregon State College in Ashland Oregon. We would run at the twilight meets in Eugene back in the day. Course, I got my butt kicked by both of them but they were both great friends, tenacious competitors and even greater champions.
good times
Its funny what you remember..... Ovetts shirt disappearing into the distance at 300 to go in a 15 (Southern counties champs uk 84)...... its then you realise the reality of a god given talent..
Great story, thanks for sharing!
I’ve met Cruz, Coe, Ovett, Walker, Peter Elliot and Baumann. All gentlemen. Cruz was the friendliest most giving of time and Peter Elliot was also a good guy to chat to. To be fair Baumann was on the same track as me and very focused by doing some 400 reps, I forget his rep times but do remember he was smoking round the track with fairly short recoveries.
Thanks for mentioning Peter Elliot, he would have got an Olympic medal in the 1500 (1984) had he been allowed to go and probably Gold as at that point he was better than Coe.
A good run by Garry Cook. A fine athlete and a very reliable member of our 4 by 400m relay squad at the time.
ewaf88 my cousin said he beat cook easily in school days
I think Coe too, was not particularly good as a schoolboy...deliberate ploy to mature late, I've always thought
ewaff88 Well said. I couldn't agree more.
@@archiewoosung5062 I wasn't that quick at school and could run national level later. Some people are behind others. Coe never trained that hard really. Watched him in the gym and it was a lot of face pulling doing next to zilch. You only saw the magic on the track.
i remember he married kathy smallwood she was pretty useful at 100 200 and later 400
Joaquin Cruz rozo el record de Coe, junto a otra leyenda el "caballo" Juantorena, tres de los mejores ochocientistas de la historia.
"The Horse" Yes! He was quite the specimen back in the day. =)
My uncle Zygmunt Zabierzowski was Juantorena's head coach
22.9 first 200...that is amazing...more like a rabbit ...they kind of ambushed Alberto, but it was still fun to see his finish...a proud Cubano! Johnny Gray finished 4th,,,,,the end of an era!
ok....still a breakneck pace...oxygen debt must have been tremendous at 600 meters!
49.74 at 400 meters!
a fast race!
Cruz was 23.6 for the first 200 in LA in '84.
I ran a 1 59 in 1983. If I had known I only needed to improve by 17 seconds I would have trained one more year.
In 1976 juantoreno was unbeatable...still looked good on 1984!
Cruz didn't even run 800 at the Olympics in 92 and 96. He ran 1500 in 96, but didn't make the final.
El Caballo was still holding on to that 70's hair! Cruz was rolling!
From his greatest season - days later he would become just the second man at the time to run under 1.42 in Cologne
Did Coe ever race Cruz again after the LA Olympics? If they did I can't recall it.
@@Sean-zg4iy Good point - I don't think so
@@Sean-zg4iy th-cam.com/video/gj7PdjvgZy4/w-d-xo.html
@@Sean-zg4iyyes in 1985 in cologne I believe, Cruz won in 1:42.5 ish from Coe 1:43.07
Cruz went downhill after 84? didn't he win silver in Seoul 88 in a very high quality race?
Yes, and had he not gone out too quickly, he probably would have won in '88. Unfortunately, his left leg was several cm shorter than the right, causing chronic foot injuries. He never again reached his '84 level, although he was perhaps at 80% in '85 and late '88.
love this guy
Juantorena ❤❤❤❤🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺👌👌👌
Ferner seems to have made little impact on the european circuit following his 1982 gold medal.
He got the silver medal in 1988, so not sure what you mean by he "missed the '88 Olympics".
Silver medal in what, in 1988?
@@archiewoosung5062 1988 Olympic 800m.
@@redrum4100 According to Wiki; Medalists: Paul Ereng, Joaquim Cruz, Saïd Aouita
th-cam.com/video/E_3tYXaopDo/w-d-xo.html
@@archiewoosung5062 I was referencing Cruz.
This must be the fastest and deepest field of quality class runners and times in the World today in 2019~! This for the 800 Meters is Unreal and Super Fast. Such Gifted and Talented runners indeed.
This final in 2012 was faster. 8th place was 1:43.77. First place was 1:40.91.
th-cam.com/video/YKEOjWEzVGs/w-d-xo.html
I actually talked with him last week, and he said he missed the '88 Olympics because he had been hurt. So maybe that injury had something to do with him going "downhill," but I'm pretty sure he still got gold in both '92 and '96
Ocho monstruos de una de las pruebas que más convocan, saludos!!
Alberto's heart was not in this race...but he did not disgrace himself or Cuba either!
John Rogan At his best a brilliant runner and ahead of his time.
Nothing presents strength, grace, and endurance like the stride of Alberto....a once in a lifetime athlete....he started in basketball...Peter Snell was originally a tennis player....the competitive aspects of these two great athletes and role models was nurtured in their other sports activities. Only a few really race against each other...most just fall into the same pace regardless of the outcome...Dave Wottle....what a fluke gold medal! In his own world....Jim Ryan was a great competitor also!
Couldn't agree more. His nickname was "el caballo" or "the horse" because of his sheer size and power. He was definitely a freak of nature as it was unheard of for a middle distance runner to be built like that back in those days.
This was 8 years after winning Olympic gold. Most Olympic champions now days are long gone by then. He was a fantastic runner!
@@666zerowolf I agree with everything you said except for Dave Wottle's win being a fluke. He earned that gold medal. Also, it's Jim Ryun. Not Ryan.
Fun to watch...so much heart!
Love Alberto Juantorena. Past his prime though in here.
Yes and sad to see really.
@@stevebbuk The bad injury he had in 1983 didn't help.
@@Ruda-n4h he had had injuries starting in 1974, when for the first time he had to to go through a surgery in one foot which kept him away from tracks for several months into 1975. He was not a lucky athlete.
Cruz was obviously determined to beat Coe's world record. 1984 was his best season and I think he went downhill after 1984. Cram beat him a year later in 800.
After the Olympic gold I think everyone thought the record was his for the taking...I assumed his falling off was because they couldn't care less about athletics in Brazil.
@@archiewoosung5062 Or maybe he was just had 1 outstanding season. He was still competing as late as 96. Coe didnt have this quality of field when he set the WR in 81.
If Coe had a field like this in ‘81 … laughable to think what he might have achieved.
This was the greatest gathering of 800m athlete ever assembled up until now.
Did Juantorena ever race against Ovett at 800m after Montreal?
The greatest ever Coleman ball " Juanterino opens his legs and shows his class". not in this race though.
Juantorena's prime didn't last more than two years because of injuries even before Montreal 76. For 1984 his career had been already finished for several years. But he had no choice, even in the case he didn't feel fit, he had to participate in competitions if that was what the Communist Party decided.
@@juliomiguel6597 In Helsinki 1983 he broke his leg. I was a kid reading about this "great champion of the past whose career is probably terminated", but he came back, still showed class despite age.
@@scouter-xn6zi I was a kid back in Cuba when he was in his prime. The most beautiful 400 m and 800 m races i have ever seen.
Despite his physical assets, he had a big handicap for an athlete. flat feet. This warranted him injuries from the very beginning of his career. In fact it is almost unbelievable he got to be the best athlete in the planet for two years.
Thank you Juantorena🥂🙏🏽
Poetry in motion n classy act.👌
Coe's WR is shown as 1.41.71 on the screen. I thought it was 1.41.73?
That was me, I beat it by 2 seconds 1 week before that meeting but I failed my drugs test.
You are correct, the record was 1:41,73
Thanks for posting!
Cruz's son goes to my school!!!
thats fast, damn
Nobody hung back, back then people ran all out
With a pacemaker....
CUBA 🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🏅
when you see great athletes like these nowhere near Coe's 1;41 makes you think.
Steve Martin cruz had just run 1:41'77"!!!!!! 1984 after winning 800 at the Olympics
nowhere near? cruz just missed it and without a pacemaker
@@TheMrbc74 In this race?
nowadays its sub 41 a sub 140 has to be like the 4 minute mile of old
Wheres Coe n Ovett ??
No numbers on their backs looks strange.
Lol what was that guy from "The Sudan" doing going out so fast? Wonder if he got paid to set the pace....
Pacemaker with no experience. Often the case at these events.
Looks to me he did a fine job, Cruz was the only athlete to be able to stick with him and he brought him through to within fighting distance of WR. Didn't notice him drop out but was prob lined up for P/M role.
Who got gold in 92 and 96? Certainly not Cruz. He won in 1984.
short shorts
2:40 Where is Ostrowski classified???
The horse the best forever juantorena a master
Good Times
Some of the comments here are pure face palm
CRUZ VOAVA. .....
amazing a country so mad on football produced such a great 800m runner
Хуанторена слишком засиделся,между 450-600 метрами!
😅
Had cram Coe or Ovett been racing things would have been very different.
only coes pb was faster than that so no
Cruz would have won anyway. He had just comfortably beaten Coe at the Olympics and Ovett and Cram were never as fast as that over 800m.
Ma ritirati Juantorena che fai miglior figura