Apparently Aregawi is one African who DOESN'T want to live in Sweden...

It's not exactly unprecedented for European athletes, even Swedish ones like Bjorn Borg, to evade taxes.

"Sure, I live in Sweden if you mean do I live here for citizenship? but no, I don't live in Sweden if you mean that I have to pay taxes."

But what else is she lying about?

Bernie Sanders, are you listening?

Just another immigrant taking advantage of a system, while refusing to integrate into the culture or even learn the language.

Sweden was all too happy to have a top runner land in their lap. (Greece, Croatia too, somewhat different scenarios but similar sentiment).

Developing homegrown talent isn't a priority, setting draconian standards to catch up with russians and importing foreign talent is. If someone is legitimately immigrating, fine, but it seems like some federations are increasingly depending on that and neglecting to build the sport.

It never said in the article that she doesn't speak Swedish. All her post-race interviews for Swedish television are always given in Swedish. Not perfect Swedish, but at a level that shows that she is continuing to make an effort to improve her Swedish language skills.

gplusa wrote:

It never said in the article that she doesn't speak Swedish. All her post-race interviews for Swedish television are always given in Swedish. Not perfect Swedish, but at a level that shows that she is continuing to make an effort to improve her Swedish language skills.

I've decided not to ask for a clip of her speaking Swedish because I know it'd be an exercise in futility as such a clip doesn't exist; I'm however linking a clip of her speaking to the Swedish media and, you guessed it: she has a translator on hand to translate her Amharic into Swedish. Based on this, I venture she speaks no Swedish at all and therefore infer that Sweden hired a mercenary.

Carry on.

and yet, back in 2013 ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pm2aiRXKwA&index=20&list=PLknAF3pxMGNJzSJN4F_vwZSSsq0xMaUTH

Carrying on.

Beat me too it ! And that was 3 years ago. Interviews with her on Swedish television late last year shows that she has clearly been attending the Swedish language school more regularly. Big improvement. No reason to learn the language if you aren't living there.

took 20 seconds to find wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pm2aiRXKwA

I'm guessing that was the Swedish version of the classic African wins a marathon interview:

Interviewer: What a fantastic run, you must be delighted.

Athlete: I..am..very..happy

Interviewer: When you kicked away at 22 miles and went with you, how did you feel, were you confident?

Athlete: I..am...very...happy.

Interviewer: It's been a tough time for you too, with all your family dying and then doctors mistakenly amputating your arm and attaching a cricket bat instead for no apparent reason.

Athlete: I...am...very...happy.

I never understood how she was able to change countries so quick, she was running for Ethiopia is August 2012 and Sweden April 2013. She ran for 2 countries in a span of 8 months.

gplusa wrote:

Beat me too it ! And that was 3 years ago. Interviews with her on Swedish television late last year shows that she has clearly been attending the Swedish language school more regularly. Big improvement. No reason to learn the language if you aren't living there.

What a burn to the liar guy who said there were no videos of her speaking Swedish.

According to Swedish media at the time, Aregawi applied for Swedish citizenship prior to 2012. Her application was withdrawn after the Ethiopian authorities announced that, should she do so prior to London OS, then she would be stripped of her Ethopian citizenship and be barred from entering Ethopia again in the future. Once the London games were over, Ethiopia consented to her dual citizenship application.

I agree that there should be a stand-down period for athletes who decide to run for a new country. I am surprised that there isn't already such a rule, especially from back in the Zola Budd days.

By the way, her quote on the video was to announce that she would be competing in the upcoming Sweden vs Finland meet, and that she hoped that everyone would turn up and support the team. Not overly complicated, but complicated enough for a second language.

How do you not see this? wrote:

Just another immigrant taking advantage of a system, while refusing to integrate into the culture or even learn the language.

In this case, you're right. She doesn't want to be Swedish? Fine, go try to represent Ethiopia in the Olympics.

almost by feel wrote:

gplusa wrote:

Beat me too it ! And that was 3 years ago. Interviews with her on Swedish television late last year shows that she has clearly been attending the Swedish language school more regularly. Big improvement. No reason to learn the language if you aren't living there.

What a burn to the liar guy who said there were no videos of her speaking Swedish.

What a burn... maybe she knows this phrase in Swedish now? HahAhahha

So, she has refused to pay taxes. In return, they release her drug cheat records. Big surprise there. How long have they had them and been protecting her? Ban Sweden from the Olympics??

surprise surprise wrote:

So, she has refused to pay taxes. In return, they release her drug cheat records. Big surprise there. How long have they had them and been protecting her? Ban Sweden from the Olympics??

Exactly. I hope Aregawi gets back at them by telling everything about the Swedish state-run drug program.

I think I can understand why she doesn't want to live in Sweden NOW.

How do you not see this? wrote:

Just another immigrant taking advantage of a system, while refusing to integrate into the culture or even learn the language.

The people behind this, the ones who allowed things like this to happen, are the ones to go after. And it's the same group of people all over the West. The same group who portrays themselves as eternal victims while actually living as a privileged elite. They even print your money. lol