David Torrence request to compete for Peru granted!

You inherit your mitochondria from your mom. He's as Peruvian as Manchu Pichu.

i find his reasoning about being an role model for Peruvians complete BS. Come on, bro, we all know you are doing this so you can complete in the Olympics with a heck of a lot less competition to get there. Stop trying to be some narcisstic hero and give us the straight talk.

WHAT?! wrote:

Just read an article saying that Torrence can officially race for Peru this summer, can someone shed more light on this please?! I attached the article but it will have to be translated.

http://www.andina.com.pe/Agencia/noticia-atleta-david-torrence-podra-representar-al-peru-los-juegos-olimpicos-rio-2016-615360.aspx

Editor's note: We have a lengthy Q&A with Torrence up on the front page here:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2016/06/qa-david-torrence-talks-hes-switching-nationalities-peru-seb-coes-criticism-wants-run-8001500-double-rio/

We need some details on what this means for his and others futures.

Does this declaration mean that Torrance cannot compete for the USA and disqualifies him from running in USA championships? He has dual citizenship yes but what does that mean in terms of USA representation?

I find it hard to believe he would give this all up to just run for Peru?

Can someone please lay out the facts of eligibility after declaring for another country?

I had to look up the Peruvian national records:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Peruvian_records_in_athletics

800m - 1:49.15

1500m - 3:43.68

3000m - 7:57.95

5000m - 13:54.66

10000m - 27:54.80

WHAT?! wrote:

Just read an article saying that Torrence can officially race for Peru this summer, can someone shed more light on this please?! I attached the article but it will have to be translated.

http://www.andina.com.pe/Agencia/noticia-atleta-david-torrence-podra-representar-al-peru-los-juegos-olimpicos-rio-2016-615360.aspx

Editor's note: We have a lengthy Q&A with Torrence up on the front page here:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2016/06/qa-david-torrence-talks-hes-switching-nationalities-peru-seb-coes-criticism-wants-run-8001500-double-rio/

I think it was a South American solidarity thing since these rio Olympics in the odd hemisphere will be significant for South Americans. The weather should be decent there. Too bad about the Zika. Did they manage to clean up the water there? ( rowing, sailing, triathlon). Looks like they put a lot of work into it even though forecasts were doubting their results.

Primo Numero Uno wrote:

This needs to stop and I would like to see a requirement that you have to make residence in the country you represent if you switch nationalities.

What problem, specifically, would you be aiming to solve with such a requirement?

My understanding of the IAAF rules is that once you declare to run for a new country, you cannot run for the new country for one year since last representing your old country in a race. Torrence barely made the cutoff for the Olympics. And no, if he is now running for Peru he cannot run in the USA Championships/Oly Trials. I don't think its that's big of a sacrifice to be ineligible for USA championships in order to run in the Olympics. He's not "just running for Peru", he will be running on the biggest T&F stage there is.

Upside for David:

- Competes at Olympics against the best in the world

- Massive professional exposure for his sponsors, his coach(es), the nation of Peru and their athletic programs, himself

- Exposure to new opportunities, business ventures, regional markets (Peru, S. America)

- Incredibly proud parents, family, friends

- Life dream fulfilled

Downside:

- Wave of meaningless fury from Letsrun trolls

Because Peru needs a runner as a "role model"? My question has he actively been participating in community outreach/services being this is his culture? Not just during the Olympic year but the past few years as well...It's the Olympic year and all of a sudden Peru needs a "role model." Very entitled and pompous to think this in my opinion. Not only that but what does some American born, American raised, schooled, prob govt aid his whole life person feel they can go sweep in and be a hero in Peru? What does he know about the country's hardships? What's with runners thinking they're role models or heroes? Most elite runners are OCD, selfish, lack personality, humans that have nothing to give other than fast times on a track.

David is full of shit.

You obviously don't know anything about Torrence. He has deep ties to Peru, including extended family, was raised in part by his grandmother who instilled the Peruvian culture in him, and has been going to Peru at least every two years since he was born. All this information was contained in just one interview he recently did. You might want to do a tiny bit of research before trashing someone based on your assumptions that are not based on one fact. What a turd. If you ever met David, you would know that he is none of those things that you just ascribed to him.

Ichabods Crane wrote:

Once you compete internationally in one uniform you should not be allowed to change except in the situation of a refugee that is from a war zone. I guess if David was from Chicago he could claim that/b] but he is not and he has competed for the US.

Welcome to Letsrun, where dog-whistle racism always finds a way.

Imp wrote:

My question has he actively been participating in community outreach/services being this is his culture?

Very, very, few American runners do this. Why is this your requirement?

What a joke.

afdafds wrote:

Peru doesn't have anyone that would meet the qualification standards in either the 1500 or 5000. He isn't taking anyone's spot. This highlights how stupid the Olympics are: People change nationalities because they want to compete at the highest level. If I were Torrence, seeing people slower than me competing at the Olympics or Worlds year after year, I'd be very annoyed. It should be about the fastest competing, regardless of his/her nationality. I mean, for f's sake, Bekele isn't allowed to compete in the Olympic marathon. How does that make any fricking sense?

The Olympics are all about countries competing against each other. Always has been. No different than colleges competing against each other or high schools competing against each other. How is that stupid?

If you want to compete and not worry about countries then stick with Diamond League Meets or road races.

If you correctly read my response I ASKED these as questions, they're not statements...jeez! Read!

Run for Peru that's fine but he should also be unable to run for the US from here on and shouldn't be allowed to take US prize earnings.

And again he should have stated his plans to run for Peru 4 years ago... Let their governing body or sponsors support him. It's just to convenient he does this now...

Well if he's stating he wants to be some "role model," and this is why he's decided to run for Peru, then clearly these steps should be necessary. Just running the Olympics for them doesn't make you a role model. Especially trading your home country just to get there. It's quite clear really...

You sound like Trump. It was obvious those questions you asked were rhetorical. You also made claims about "most distance" runners - clearly alluding to him. And you claim he was entitled and pompous. Read your own post. And, he is clearly following the IAAF rules. It doesn't matter if you think they should be different. The rules are the rules. If he should decide to try and represent the US again, he must reapply for status - and if approved must wait one year to represent the US after his last year representing Peru. So, he is ineligible for US champs and US prize money until then.

Oh, so now you're an expert on how to become a role model ? We have tons of American heroes whose only claim to that status is their athletic achievements. And in small under developed countries, having a single athlete do well does elevate them to role model status. Who the heck are you to judge how someone else becomes a role model in a country I doubt you've ever been to. And, Einstein - he's not trading his home country. You do realize that with dual citizenship he's still an American, right ?