News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Hollywood Movie Aside, Just How Good a Physicist Was Oppenheimer?. Parent comment

Re:Hollywood Movie Aside, Just How Good a Physicist Was Oppe... by goatlover on Friday July 21, 2023 @03:13AM (#36810898)
Running times? Are they confusing Turing with Roger Bannister, the guy who first broke the four minute mile? Track surfaces, shoes, nutrition and training methods were quite different then. Someone gave a Ted Talk in which they factored out all the technological advantages that modern sprinters have over Jesse Owens, and Owens comes in at 0.1 seconds beyond Usain Bolt in one of Bolt's Olympic 100 meter races. Which means that there great athletes in the past who would be very competitive today. Wilt Chamberlain in basketball being another example.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Hollywood Movie Aside, Just How Good a Physicist Was Oppe... by wging on Friday July 21, 2023 @04:08AM (#36811294)
> Are they confusing Turing with Roger Bannister, the guy who first broke the four minute mile?

I don't think they are. Turing was a runner. He ran in the 2:40s for the marathon, which is a reasonably good amateur time even today, and was a few places away from making the British Olympic team.

(It's also ironic that you (understandably) refer to Bannister by his mile - he himself would rather have been remembered for his achievements in neurology.)

[ Parent | on HN ]