Paul Chelimo is Leaving the Army, Has Signed With Nike

Will he still be based in Colorado Springs and training with the American Distance Project?

Little misleading on the title alone. As you say in the article, he is officially out of the army next week. He didn't leave prematurely.

So, he’s going from one shady organization to another.

They should actually make the "Army" man do a 9 month tour in Afghanistan before he's released.

grumpyoldman wrote:

They should actually make the "Army" man do a 9 month tour in Afghanistan before he's released.

Living up to your handle eh?

Thanks for your “service”, Chelimo and Kipchirchirchir...

Army Strong?

If you never went to Basic Training, never served your country, then you are the least to criticize anyone who has, especially when your critique is based upon race.

Sincerely, THANK you Specialists Chelimo and Kipchirchir for serving your country. THANK you SGT Elkanah Kibet for your service in Kuwait. And with so much respect, thank you SGT Julius Bor for your service in Afghanistan. All soldiers enlist knowing war time deployment is possible. Some do, some don't. Message-board quarter backs never deploy. Never serve our country. Negativity is easy online. Try Basic Training first and get back to me, you 10-minute milers who couldnt do a push up after a 13:45 5k if your life depended upon it.

True Americans, all.

Chelimo is a class act well rounded soldier

Paul yo wrote:

Chelimo is a class act well rounded soldier

Isn't he a water purification specialist?

mahmood wrote:

Paul yo wrote:

Chelimo is a class act well rounded soldier

Isn't he a water purification specialist?

Is that not a vital role?

As a former member of the unit (marathoner) I tend to agree with this. The WCAP Motto is "Soldiers-First". If you are there JUST to run with no intension of serving after your time there is up are you living up to the motto or just being an athlete? There are many Soldier-athletes at the unit who have deployed numerous times. CPT Robert Cheseret is an example of a Soldier who has served in regular support and line units and been a part of the WCAP team (still is unless he has been released), others such as myself served for a year or two in the unit, had deployed prior to being allowed in (and then after), went to line units after departing and continue to serve in uniform on active duty. Granted, Chelimo has done GREAT things for the Army in terms of morale and represented us at the highest levels unlike any other athlete at the unit but does he want to be a Soldier and serve outside of the unit? If he has a sweet deal with Nike I can partly see why he would want to depart but I think there should be a requirement for these athletes, for every year you serve in WCAP you are required to give 2 years back in regular units. That being said, the "real" Army is not for every athlete at the WCAP unit. Sadly, this is the case for many Soldiers who are a part of WCAP. They are GREAT athletes, spend their time there, some are so good they even retire there (I knew many Wrestlers there that did this) but never have any real goals of serving in regular support and line units.

Keep in mind Cheseret and Chelimo are two TOTALLY different athletes. One has a silver medal, DL win, sub 13 on his name, and many titles. He is the face of the track and field for America in the 5K and comes with a personality that is needed for the sport. I'm sure the offer put out by Nike made it a hard decision to leave. Once a Soldier. Always a soldier. But when money thrown in your face at an amount much more than what you're making because of a running career that looks flourishing = EASY decision.

This is sad to see. Of all the world class athletes, I've always guessed that the WCAP guys were the most likely to be clean. For him to go to Nike is unfortunate because everyone there seems tainted.

BingBongBing wrote:

If you never went to Basic Training, never served your country, then you are the least to criticize anyone who has, especially when your critique is based upon race.

Sincerely, THANK you Specialists Chelimo and Kipchirchir for serving your country. THANK you SGT Elkanah Kibet for your service in Kuwait. And with so much respect, thank you SGT Julius Bor for your service in Afghanistan. All soldiers enlist knowing war time deployment is possible. Some do, some don't. Message-board quarter backs never deploy. Never serve our country. Negativity is easy online. Try Basic Training first and get back to me, you 10-minute milers who couldnt do a push up after a 13:45 5k if your life depended upon it.

True Americans, all.

And you cannot critique a tv show or movie unless you made one, you can't talk bad about NFL players unless you've played in the NFL and don't you dare talk about the President unless you've been the President!

not a Nike fan wrote:

This is sad to see. Of all the world class athletes, I've always guessed that the WCAP guys were the most likely to be clean. For him to go to Nike is unfortunate because everyone there seems tainted.

So you think after earning a Olympic silver and a WC bronze as clean athlete, NOW he's going to start doping? If he did all that clean, I can't wait to see what a doped Chelimo can do.

BingBongBing wrote:

If you never went to Basic Training, never served your country, then you are the least to criticize anyone who has, especially when your critique is based upon race.

Sincerely, THANK you Specialists Chelimo and Kipchirchir for serving your country. THANK you SGT Elkanah Kibet for your service in Kuwait. And with so much respect, thank you SGT Julius Bor for your service in Afghanistan. All soldiers enlist knowing war time deployment is possible. Some do, some don't. Message-board quarter backs never deploy. Never serve our country. Negativity is easy online. Try Basic Training first and get back to me, you 10-minute milers who couldnt do a push up after a 13:45 5k if your life depended upon it.

True Americans, all.

10/10

Great

That phony saluting “look at me, I’m saluting to remind you i’m a hero” BS will hopefully stop now

BingBongBing wrote:

If you never went to Basic Training, never served your country, then you are the least to criticize anyone who has, especially when your critique is based upon race.

Sincerely, THANK you Specialists Chelimo and Kipchirchir for serving your country. THANK you SGT Elkanah Kibet for your service in Kuwait. And with so much respect, thank you SGT Julius Bor for your service in Afghanistan. All soldiers enlist knowing war time deployment is possible. Some do, some don't. Message-board quarter backs never deploy. Never serve our country. Negativity is easy online. Try Basic Training first and get back to me, you 10-minute milers who couldnt do a push up after a 13:45 5k if your life depended upon it.

True Americans, all.

Basically if after 4 years someone in the WCAP does not make an Olympic team then they will deploy. That being said, to make an Olympic team is crazy hard. Chelimo definitely did his job. Again he never would deploy after making the Olympic team. He basically got paid to just run during his time there. He realizes he can make more then the 40k-60k leaving the WCAP. For guys not making teams, it's a great way to focus on just training for 4 years and get paid when in reality most of them would not make any money running if it was not for the WCAP.