He should be a hero to every Letsrunner who has ever complained about sit and kick jogfests. I never cared to watch sit and kick races and with Jakob I know every race he's in will be a fast one and that also makes all the competition run faster in the process.
He’s without a doubt a hero of sport. He is an athlete that elevates all competition through his participation. Grateful to be a fan of track & field during his time and others out there really going for it.
He is a hero who singlehandedly demolished the myth of East African genetic supremacy that was killing the sport. Of course, he is a villain to some of the freaks here who are emotionally or even financially invested in the perpetuation of that myth.
He is a hero to you because you NEED your heroes to be white. Otherwise your worldview just crumbles and you cannot even look into the mirror without feeling like a loser. This is all very sad.
Jakob is polarizing in the same way Aouita was in the 80s....ultra selfconfident and he tells everyone including his competitors that he is gonna win and in effect he totally doesn't care who they are or what they do. Then he delivers. Just like Aouita. Bold and strong. Just like Aouita he believes if he executes his race plan correctly he is unbeatable.
But regardless of how long he runs or how many medals and WR at 15 2k 3k 5 k one thing he won't accomplish that Aouita did - that Oly 800 medal....
Hero. He’s honest, open, transparent and entertaining, both in interviews and when he races. What’s not to like?
He’s arrogant. Doesn’t show some of his opponents mutual respect despite them complimenting him. He was a bit of a sore loser when he lost to Whiteman.
True sports heroes are athletes who are champs but still show humility. Steph Curry, Tim Duncan, GSP, Roger Federer, etc.
Hero. He’s honest, open, transparent and entertaining, both in interviews and when he races. What’s not to like?
He’s arrogant. Doesn’t show some of his opponents mutual respect despite them complimenting him. He was a bit of a sore loser when he lost to Whiteman.
True sports heroes are athletes who are champs but still show humility. Steph Curry, Tim Duncan, GSP, Roger Federer, etc.
You don't understand the difference between your opinion and objective truth.
While I'm a fan, I see why others may not be. But I still wouldn't say he's either a "hero" or a "villain." He's the best at what he does. Since his chosen field is a sport, it carries tremendous entertainment and inspirational value. But just because someone is the best at what they do, I see no need to elevate them "hero" "God" "villain" or other exaggerated status.
Stay grounded and expect others do the same.
This post was edited 2 minutes after it was posted.
The Aouita who was kicked out of coaching the Austrailian NT for telling them they had to dope? That Aouita?
Bad, but still not quite villainous.
What they were writting about David Rudisha in 2011.
A quiet, thoughtful middle distance runner, Rudisha has studied Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, Said Aouita, Steve Cram, Wilson Kipketer, Joaquim Cruz, all of the masters of last several decades. He appreciates the training and dedication that it takes to run a fast 800 meters. One other point: Rudisha’s front running is fearless.
we can go back and forth and see who were the biggest influencer of middle distances in the last 30 years.
Aouita was never kicked; there was an investigation who concluded nothing.
He’s arrogant. Doesn’t show some of his opponents mutual respect despite them complimenting him. He was a bit of a sore loser when he lost to Whiteman.
True sports heroes are athletes who are champs but still show humility. Steph Curry, Tim Duncan, GSP, Roger Federer, etc.
You don't understand the difference between your opinion and objective truth.