Tell me how I'm wrong: Keira D'Amato's record is the coolest story in the sport this century

wejo wrote:

I just called Jon Gault with the statement above and he said maybe this decade.To prove me wrong, you must post a better rags to riches story.Dreams do become reality.Meb winning Boston was pretty cool but he was already was an Olympic silver medalist.

Of course you mean a figurative (running) rags to riches story, not a literal one. Yes, Kipchoge was fatherless and penniless and Hassan was a refuge, but Kipchoge sprang fully formed as a teenage world champion, so his is not a “running” rags to riches story. Seidel’s story is likely equivalent to d’Amato’s. Molly may not have been quite as far out of it to start, and it depends on whether you value an Olympic bronze more or less than an AR. As an old timer, I always held Bill Rodgers as the greatest rag to riches running story. Solid but unspectacular HS runner, D3 athlete of no reknown, out of running and 25 pounds overweight and smoking 2 packs of Winston’s per day to the American distance running hero for my generation.

What about Gwen Jorgensen winning the gold in the triathlon and then switching to the ‘Thon and ... Okay, not a good example.

What about Coebra, attempt to make the Olympics in the steeple from complete LRC obscurity... Again, not the best example.

What about Jordan Hasay reviving her running career after stepping away from the sport and achieving all her dreams... to be continued?

I went to college with Keira and Samia at American University. They were talented then and only needed some time to become who they became. Keira was always an incredible talent, detail oriented and it's the most awesome story. Let the chips fall where they may and don't Kill My Vibe.

Joan Benoit also didn't have the shoes and contracts that the runners have now. I don't think Joan even trained at altitude.

high school xc coach wrote:

everything in track and field is suspicious. but then again, we are 5.5 minutes off the world record here, so nobody is going to get too bent out of shape trying to explain it.

I agree with this. I do have a hard time believing someone who was away that long is able to compete at a high level.

llort_vbo wrote:

high school xc coach wrote:

everything in track and field is suspicious. but then again, we are 5.5 minutes off the world record here, so nobody is going to get too bent out of shape trying to explain it.

I agree with this. I do have a hard time believing someone who was away that long is able to compete at a high level.

Was she away that long? I think her being away from the sport is a little exaggerated. She ran 2:22 in 2020 and 2:28 last year. And what does being away from the sport mean? She wasn’t competing and probably wasn’t doing any workouts but I’m sure she was probably still running and staying in shape

It was impressive but even the poorest American is rich by the standard if most of the world. The bare minimum in government assistance in one month is more than much if the planet sees in a lifetime.

Just about any African or refugee runner in Europe is a better rags to riches story.

Yeah, I’d recommend reading a little more about her and you can make up your own mind. From what I recall, she couldn’t break 3 hrs 4-5 years ago after a long break from running. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m not willing to give her a pass because she looks like a wholesome soccer mom

Just looked it up:

USADA tested her 0 times in 2019, 1 time in 2020, and 1 time in 2021.

michimanx wrote:

and consider this:

Joan Benoit ran 2:21:21 for the marathon MORE THAN THIRTY FIVE YEARS AGO! Is it that hard to believe the American record could improve by merely 2 minutes in that time? Most of you weren't born then. Maybe it's a crime that the American record isn't 2:15 and times of 2:17-2:19 common by now.

This. Also, the shoes? The PEDs accusations are predictable and silly.

I've got two words for you:

Tim Tebow

OK, shut down this thread.

eagle scout wrote:

…

but overall this century (for us runners beating the odds) ill take billy mills.

This century?

Meb, Molly Seidel, Athing Mu have stories every bit if not more compelling. Why do brojos hype stuff the way they do? Can anyone explain?

That said, kudos to Keira! Outstanding run today.

Questions answered.... given the questions this board, letsrun as a site and runners that we all are ask daily it at the very least has to be a part of the conversation

Berkshire Billy wrote:

This. Also, the shoes? The PEDs accusations are predictable and silly.

I didn’t see any accusations - only questions. Why are you invested in defending her? Why are they ‘silly’ on their face?

How long was Lynn Jennings out of the sport after Princeton? She was way out of shape, building houses in New England and then she came back to be one of America’s goats.

twin story wrote:

A better rags to riches story is the twins who were only born on third base and overcame massive disability to learning yet won the junior local sub-neighborhood regional peewee special spelling contest, and went on to retire before ever being employed.

Brilliant

ga ga gai pan wrote:

Meb, Molly Seidel, Athing Mu have stories every bit if not more compelling. Why do brojos hype stuff the way they do? Can anyone explain?

That said, kudos to Keira! Outstanding run today.

The BroJokes think they're scooping everyone else on this, which is actually what always happens to them.