A Nigerian runner claims that Kenyans and Ethiopians are not special.

He has a point. I wonder how fast the Kenyan runners would be without the italian doctors. Oops, I mean coaches, or are they agents? I get so confused.

The Somalian's have proven to be just as or if not more talented than Ethiopian and Kenyan's, Sudanese as well are talented but both these countries lack a culture of running. Remember, running is huge in Kenya, if it was like this in other countries it would be interesting to see what they could do.

Nobody invested in Bill Rodgers to make him the best.

SUPERBEKS wrote:

Remember, running is huge in Kenya, if it was like this in other countries it would be interesting to see what they could do.

You're mixing cause and effect. No country comes close to the depth of Kenya. If it was like this in other countries, most would still struggle to get 3 A qualifiers to the Olympic marathon.

OP is a racist.

not true.japan beats kenya out by far on depth of talent.look at world rankings,and youll see.theres a lot more good japanese runners than kenyans,especially in the marathon.

I can't name a single japaneese runner.

Until someone identifies an endurance running gene, I don't see why we can't conclude that it's a combination of hard work layered on a favorable body type. I mean, is it just a coincidence that Kenyans and Ethiopians are slimmer than average?

There's nothing special except high altitude, dirt roads, conducive temperatures for distance running, a huge regional distance running culture, financial incentive, relatively unpolluted locales (try distance running in crowded places in West Africa--no fun), international agents and coaches, and plenty of people with the right build for distance.

Nigeria's performance at World XC indicates how little this heavily populated and oil-rich country has a national distance running culture. But it is not about money invested in the sport. Countries near Kenya (other than Ethiopia, of course, and maybe Uganda) have many of the same ethnic groups and even altitude, but not the running culture.

Nigerians are the GOAT scammers. And that probably brings in more $$$ to Nigeria than distance running does to Kenya or Ethiopia.

awesome blossom wrote:

Until someone identifies an endurance running gene, I don't see why we can't conclude that it's a combination of hard work layered on a favorable body type. I mean, is it just a coincidence that Kenyans and Ethiopians are slimmer than average?

You can and that favourable body type internally and structurally is because of genes, ya Moran.

"It's not true"

So you genuinely believe that Kenyans and Ethiopians are just different (better) than other human beings? And more so, different to other Africans?

Ok. Those land borders have amazing physiological effects.

You may conclude wrote:

awesome blossom wrote:

Until someone identifies an endurance running gene, I don't see why we can't conclude that it's a combination of hard work layered on a favorable body type. I mean, is it just a coincidence that Kenyans and Ethiopians are slimmer than average?

You can and that favourable body type internally and structurally is because of genes, ya Moran.

Oh so there's a slim gene? What's the name of the gene? My point is that there's a greater pool of people who could be potentially fast because they have the right body type. The ones who actually become fast get there through hard work.

awesome blossom wrote:

You may conclude wrote:

You can and that favourable body type internally and structurally is because of genes, ya Moran.

Oh so there's a slim gene? What's the name of the gene? My point is that there's a greater pool of people who could be potentially fast because they have the right body type. The ones who actually become fast get there through hard work.

Oh so there's a right body type gene? What's the name of the gene?

SUPERBEKS wrote:

The Somalian's have proven to be just as or if not more talented than Ethiopian and Kenyan's, Sudanese as well are talented but both these countries lack a culture of running. Remember, running is huge in Kenya, if it was like this in other countries it would be interesting to see what they could do.

Most inhabitants of eastern part of Africa going from Jordan all the way to Cape Town(South Africa) are of a different kind of breed, giften in endurance running. With good staple govts and investment in the sport including introducing rewards, that part of the word is rich in talent. In fact there is a possibility that the best runners in the world are not in Kenya or EThiopia bu in some of those countries like Somalia, Tanzania, Uganga, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Namibia etc.

Sambusa wrote:

SUPERBEKS wrote:

The Somalian's have proven to be just as or if not more talented than Ethiopian and Kenyan's, Sudanese as well are talented but both these countries lack a culture of running. Remember, running is huge in Kenya, if it was like this in other countries it would be interesting to see what they could do.

Most inhabitants of eastern part of Africa going from Jordan all the way to Cape Town(South Africa) are of a different kind of breed, giften in endurance running. With good staple govts and investment in the sport including introducing rewards, that part of the word is rich in talent. In fact there is a possibility that the best runners in the world are not in Kenya or EThiopia bu in some of those countries like Somalia, Tanzania, Uganga, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Namibia etc.

I think a certain Somalian has been showing Kenya and Ethiopia they aren't necessarily the top track distance nation for some years now.

If Somalia had more money and invested into athletics like that Nigerian guy said, they would absolutely have more world class talents.

I agree that your a moran wrote:

awesome blossom wrote:

Oh so there's a slim gene? What's the name of the gene? My point is that there's a greater pool of people who could be potentially fast because they have the right body type. The ones who actually become fast get there through hard work.

Oh so there's a right body type gene? What's the name of the gene?

"Genes" , Moran. Why does my ability to name them prove the existence? I have no clue how to fly to the moon but that doesn't mean techniques to do that don't exist.

Letsmoron wrote:

"It's not true"

So you genuinely believe that Kenyans and Ethiopians are just different (better) than other human beings? And more so, different to other Africans?

Ok. Those land borders have amazing physiological effects.

Yes, they are different. The land borders do roughly contain these gifted people with some of the "Kenyans" trapped on the Ugandan side of the fence.

Do you realize there are varied ethnic groups that diverged in specific evolution a longer time ago from each other in Africa than almost all of ethnic groups outside Africa? Do you have any idea how stupid you are?