It will be interesting to watch Lelisa at medal ceremony.
Lots of people will interpret his finish line behavior as expression of individual arrogance. Those who know Ethiopia will see this very differently. Actually most Ethiopians find selfish and arrogant behavior abhorrent. Cocky, chest-beating personal displays are very un-Ethiopian. Ethiopians value self-sacrifice and humility in ways than people from other countries often cannot comprehend.
Sorry if he didn't shake Galen's hand. I bet he had other stuff on his mind: hundreds of his people shot dead by government, the fact that Ethio throws hundreds of dissidents in jail as "terrorists" and the fact that he just risked HUGE act of defiance against the same government.
Hard to judge from brief camera shots, but he seemed defiant. No shirt--I bet he REFUSED to wear singlet representing his govt. Did anybody see him with flag afterwards?
I don't think we saw arrogance. I think he intended this as act of solidarity and self-sacrifice. A better analogy is protests by US sprinters in 1968 in Mexico City.
Any Ethiopians here? Please speak up about how you interpret Lelisa's behavior at finish.