Key Points

A ranking system was developed to evaluate the performances of all runners who have won a medal at the Olympic Games, World Athletics Championships, World Athletics Indoor Championships, or World Cross Country Championships or have set a WR at the standard track distances (and marathon).
Points were allocated on the basis of the current prize money awarded by World Athletics, which we feel is organic and tied to the intrinsic value of different competitions. Athletes who also competed in relays might have been undervalued, as only individual events were included.
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt was the male GOAT, having won six individual Olympic gold medals and seven individual World Championship gold medals and holds the 100-m and 200-m WRs. Faith Kipyegon was considered the female GOAT, having won three Olympic gold medals, five World Championship gold medals, and is the current holder of the 1500-m WR, as well as having previously held the 5000-m WR.
Because of differences in the availability of competition over the 124 years of the modern Olympic Games, athletes’ performances were assessed within identified historical competitive “eras.” Paavo Nurmi, winner of Olympic medals at the 1920, 1924, and 1928 Games in the 1500 m, 3000 m steeplechase, 5000 m, 10,000 m, and cross country and holder of WRs at 1500 m, 5000 m, and 10,000 m, was the standout performer of the early Twentieth century.