Why are most people on this forum cheering for Femke Bol over Sydney McLaughlin and other US athletes?

I respect both athletes. I want to see a great race.

I try not to harbor any ill will toward either athlete.

So called patriots - I hope your comment was tongue in cheek. Republicans are the true patriots while the left has been teaching the last couple of generations to hate this country. It's not even debatable.

Bolt is probably the most beloved athlete in track history and he was the most dominant

Same with Phelps

I have favorite athletes in this sport. I lived in Europe for four years and spent many a day at various stadiums all over and was lucky enough to witness some great performances. I want to see great races whoever is in them, from USA or the Netherlands. I'm in Paris. I was also in London for the Diamond League meet to watch Femke, Keely, Gabby, and others. I think the race between Femke and Sydney will be one of the highlights of the meet. I'm predicting a new world record as both will go out hard.

I'll take that bet. You owe me 1000 euros.

Because Bol races a lot. Oh, also, she doesn’t mention god every interview.

syd has a husband now, thats why

While Syd doesn't race as much as Femke or on the diamond league circuit, the two main races she did run LA and NYC before the trials, which are the two biggest cities in the US. She races primarily in America and at lower-key meets, which prevents exposure, especially for those outside the US, but we have to give her some credit for going to big meets in the biggest US cities. It seems like she's gotten over her extreme anxiety of racing (unlike Athing Mu).

I have no rooting interest in either the 400 hurdles or the flat 400, but here's my 2 cents. Femke Bol seems to run and compete with a joy of sport and competition, win or not, that Syndey McLaughlin-Levrone doesn't. SM-L is just tough to embrace, as great as she is. She doesn't seem to really like competition. I wouldn't be surprised if this is her last Olympics.

I’m rooting for SM because there’s only two things I hate in this world. People who are intolerant of other cultures … and the Dutch.

The reason I root for Bol is encapsulated by one fact: she's already won the mixed relay this Olympics with a 47.9 leg. She'll run the women's 4x4 too, if Netherlands qualified.

How do you become a fan? Partly through familiarity. Femke shows up every week and dominates, congratulates her competitors, gives a short interview in a really high voice, and then does the same thing the next week.

Anyway, I can't imagine Syd running a relay before her marquee event.

Underrated

Kersee, religion, race, weren't an issue as long as she was single

And Femke is so bubbly and girlie and Sydney looks and acts more serious

I'll cheer for Sydney, and it'd be a big upset if Femke beat her, but I wouldn't be upset if she did. I love how she loves to compete, always gives everything, and is extremely gracious about Sydney whenever asked.

I’m cheering for Sydney but usually find the haters by reading comments. But now the headlines on this site doesn’t even congratulate the champions it’s leading off with hate for the champions. Where’s the congratulations first? This is a low for let’s run headlines

Not hide out in a cave all but two days of the year. Not look so... dour doing it. Not have a VERY suspect coach whose involvement in PEDs has been extremely well documented over the years. Do press, be good for the sport. Dont just be good for Syd. Theres talent, which she has in abundance, but its good for syd and then... well, maybe there wont be a sport for the next Syd to aspire to.

How abou this: if Syd retired tomorrow, we,d go "wow, she was fast. Next person." Or we would never knkw, because she races twice a year total (practically).

There is no transcendent moment that non track fans will remember. Lyles today, Bolt, Kipchoge and the sub-2. They transcended the boundaries of the sport with talent and with being open to the public. She does none of that.and looks unhappy even when shes winning.

Her problem is that she is introverted, anonymous, etc to the extreme. Just try a little? She could accomplish SO MUCH, yet she sits on her hands and takes no chances.

Abandon the hurdles. No doubt you win, so what? That line item has been checked off, scratched out, and lit on fire. Move on.

Be a 400 runner for the 6 weeks it would take to break the WR.

Then move on to the 800 or 200 and if you really can't WR in those, knock out the 600 and 300.

But act like you GAF, or just retire. Its not for only us either, its for you. If you want to be forgotten, carry on. If you want to be talked about in 20, 50 years...change course, asap.

Name some transcendent moments that non track fans will remember from a female athlete...

There have only been a handful of athletes in history who have been able to transcend the sport.

Also, are you seriously suggesting that track might disappear because Sydney is reserved and doesn't do press?

"Maybe there won't be a sport for the next Syd to aspire to"

Lol be for real, athletics has been around for thousands of years

I don't think we have to worry about it going extinct any time soon