Sam tweets:
I wouldn't recommend racing in Africa. Super thankful for 11th place overall .@NikeRunning #TeamUSA #iaafkampala2017
To which Lagat responds:
@SamChelanga While the IAAF tries its best to bring sports to Africa, pple like u keep dragging the continent down the mud. You're lost.
I thought Sam's tweet was just an acknowledgement of the conditions, but people are jumping on his back about the tweet. Stanley Kibenei also took some shots at Sam.
Isn't it kind of hypocritical for Lagat to say that? He switched nationalities from Kenyan to American! If he is such a big fan of Africa, why doesn't he live there himself?
Becoming a citizen of the United States, which all of these athletes did, does not mean that you are criticizing Africa, the continent.
Lagat graciously ran for Kenya when he wasn't even a Kenyan citizen
Racing in Africa, not for.
placist not racist wrote:
Racing in Africa, not for.
He would have run a trials race in Kenya too
Diane Nukuri called him out, too.
Yes, Sam's comment is quite general.
Nowhere in Africa? Africa is pretty big.
At no time in the year?
Very strange.
The African nations came n full force. They were amazing races.
Sambu jumped in too. Maybe sams sarcasm was too subtle for Twitter and those who speak English as a second language
Sam chelanga is numba 1 wrote:
Sambu jumped in too. Maybe sams sarcasm was too subtle for Twitter and those who speak English as a second language
I agree, I think something got lost in the translation
AnotherLRCCommentor wrote:
Isn't it kind of hypocritical for Lagat to say that? He switched nationalities from Kenyan to American! If he is such a big fan of Africa, why doesn't he live there himself?
The hypocrisy is astonishing.
Who doesn't know Sam Chelanga is a Trump supporter who thinks that black people are horrible. I remember he used to say negative things about Ugali back when he was in Liberty and now he is not recommending anyone to go race in Africa. Someone should tell him that he is stupid to think that white people is going to take him in if he acts like whites, he African and he will remain a African forever.
Sam used to train with Lagat too. Maybe they didn't get along.
It was pretty clear to me that he was joking about how tough the competition was. Sort of like, "If you don't want to get your ass handed to you by the best runners in the world, I don't recommend racing in Africa." Perhaps a little confusing, but it's crazy how people misinterpreted him.
No Sam Chelanga is well known for saying negative stuff about his home town. Ask his fellow Kenyans. In his head he thinks that he is not from BARINGO, KENYA
AnotherLRCCommentor wrote:
Isn't it kind of hypocritical for Lagat to say that? He switched nationalities from Kenyan to American! If he is such a big fan of Africa, why doesn't he live there himself?
No. I think even though Lagat is incredibly happy, grateful, and proud to be American, he understands the hardships of African nations and that bringing sports to Africa helps the people there, as well as the negative (and not always true) stereotypes people have about the continent. His tweet is no more hypocritical than someone saying they love America while doing volunteer work abroad.
AnotherLRCCommentor wrote:
Isn't it kind of hypocritical for Lagat to say that? He switched nationalities from Kenyan to American! If he is such a big fan of Africa, why doesn't he live there himself?
Are you aware that there has NEVER been an Olympics/World Championships in Africa? It's the only major continent that has not hosted one. The IAAF very seldom has events there. World Cross is the first stepping stone to building the brand in Africa and Chelanga's comments are not helpful. Imagine an Oakland Raiders player going on Twitter and saying Las Vegas is a cowtown and couldn't possibly support an NFL team.
Jack M. wrote:
AnotherLRCCommentor wrote:Isn't it kind of hypocritical for Lagat to say that? He switched nationalities from Kenyan to American! If he is such a big fan of Africa, why doesn't he live there himself?
No. I think even though Lagat is incredibly happy, grateful, and proud to be American, he understands the hardships of African nations and that bringing sports to Africa helps the people there, as well as the negative (and not always true) stereotypes people have about the continent. His tweet is no more hypocritical than someone saying they love America while doing volunteer work abroad.
Lagat is so happy and proud to be an American that he kept his American citizenship secret. Fvck Lagat. He's the only African convert that I dislike. Hate actually.
Bulls×××Lagat is a giant hypocrite here.
Jack M. wrote:
AnotherLRCCommentor wrote:Isn't it kind of hypocritical for Lagat to say that? He switched nationalities from Kenyan to American! If he is such a big fan of Africa, why doesn't he live there himself?
No. I think even though Lagat is incredibly happy, grateful, and proud to be American, he understands the hardships of African nations and that bringing sports to Africa helps the people there, as well as the negative (and not always true) stereotypes people have about the continent. His tweet is no more hypocritical than someone saying they love America while doing volunteer work abroad.
Africa wrote:
No Sam Chelanga is well known for saying negative stuff about his home town. Ask his fellow Kenyans. In his head he thinks that he is not from BARINGO, KENYA
Sam does not have "fellow" Kenyans to ask, as he is not a Kenyan citizen. He has fellow Americans.
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