David Torrence request to compete for Peru granted!

Really puzzled guy wrote:

I challenge anyone on here to name one single person who is legitimately worse off because of this decision. For the life of me, I can't think of one.

Nobody is really worse off when you post that stupid selfie on social media, but damn is it self-serving and annoying. Hence our anger.

Former DT fan wrote:

Really puzzled guy wrote:

I challenge anyone on here to name one single person who is legitimately worse off because of this decision. For the life of me, I can't think of one.

Nobody is really worse off when you post that stupid selfie on social media, but damn is it self-serving and annoying. Hence our anger.

You're comparing all of this:

- 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

- Hopes to inspire an entire new population of runners

...to a selfie?

At least he has genuine ties to Peru and speaks Spanish which isn't the case for some like Ruth Jebet or Wilson Kipketer.

Fuctfvfttvftvf wrote:

Star wrote:

Torrence has the fastest 1500m time for an American so far this year.

...

So now the fastest American "outdoor" (as of June 4th) is Mead with a 3:37.65, but he won't run the 1500m.

...So the next guy is Yorks...

Mmm...

Ok, Colby Alexander now surpasses Yorks (and Mead). 3:37.32 for Alexander. That's still much slower than Torrence.

I heard he had a bet with a friend that he would run in the Olympic games by the end of 2016.

I read the first 3 pages of this thread but I'm not reading the rest

All I have to say is, when the Olympics come on in August and he's got that Peru jersey on, I'll still be cheering for him, he's one of my favorite runners

For too long, Kenyans, Somalians, and Ethiopians have come over here and taken American spots on the team and they get little criticism and get praised

But the second one of our natural born citizens who has connections to another country wants to change citizenship we're so quick to criticize them

I don't see any transparency there

NOP Skeptic wrote:

I read the first 3 pages of this thread but I'm not reading the rest

All I have to say is, when the Olympics come on in August and he's got that Peru jersey on, I'll still be cheering for him, he's one of my favorite runners

For too long, Kenyans, Somalians, and Ethiopians have come over here and taken American spots on the team and they get little criticism and get praised

But the second one of our natural born citizens who has connections to another country wants to change citizenship we're so quick to criticize them

I don't see any transparency there

In my mind, the poster child for a US to other country switch is Shawn Barber

Many years ago, when he was the US HS record holder, he tried to qualify for the US junior team. He had a terrible meet at the US junior trials and didn't make the team. He then decided to compete for Canada instead (he had dual citizenship). He ended up winning world juniors that year. He probably projected forward and imagined himself having a sub par performance at the US Olympic trials, so thought that representing Canada may make more sense.

Anyway, the rest is history. He is now a world champion for Canada.

Really puzzled guy too wrote:

Former DT fan wrote:

Nobody is really worse off when you post that stupid selfie on social media, but damn is it self-serving and annoying. Hence our anger.

You're comparing all of this:

- 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

- Hopes to inspire an entire new population of runners

...to a selfie?

Yes. Again all those things sound great on paper as justification, but are complete bs. This decision is really all about how DT feels at the end of the day.

That said I'm stoked for the looming Peruvian running boom, and glad DTs family and friends can finally not be embarrassed by their complete failure of a son/relative/friend.

Does this mean he will NEVER run any USATF events again or is the game plan to bounce back and forth?

Former DT fan wrote:

Really puzzled guy too wrote:

You're comparing all of this:

- 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

- Hopes to inspire an entire new population of runners

...to a selfie?

Yes. Again all those things sound great on paper as justification, but are complete bs. This decision is really all about how DT feels at the end of the day.

That said I'm stoked for the looming Peruvian running boom, and glad DTs family and friends can finally not be embarrassed by their complete failure of a son/relative/friend.

If DT's career has been a failure up to this point, then I would hate to see what your life/career has been like. You must be a serious badass!

Also, doesn't seem like you were ever a DT fan at all, might want to change that handle to "from the start DT hater."

DT is not Peruvian. He wasn't born in or ever lived in Peru. The Africans that came to the states and gained citizenship actually live and train here. DT doesn't and it such scam that he goes to the Olympics for Peru.

How many athletes can say they hold a NR in two countries?

Does he still have a piece of the Indoor USA 4x800 record?

What are the NRs of Peru?

all I have:

10,ooo

27:54.80 Luis Ostos Palo Alto 2016

3000H

8:28.67 Mario Bazán Berlin (WC) 2009

There is nothing wrong with mercenary athletes. Olympic track is a joke because only two countries are good at sprints and only two countries are good at distance. Even out the teams and you've got a league.

I'd add that this thread seems to reinforce the extent that runners and fans continue to see professional track and field solely as a contest rather than a business. This is a job. As a runner, this is your livelihood. No entrepreneur or self-employed person on the planet is going to pass up the biggest business event of their career on a technicality. I can understand the sentiment to the contrary but it is incredibly misguided. If the sport is going to turn itself around runners really need to gain an understanding of the business side of the sport.

Former DT fan wrote:

Really puzzled guy too wrote:

You're comparing all of this:

- 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

- Hopes to inspire an entire new population of runners

...to a selfie?

Yes. Again all those things sound great on paper as justification, but are complete bs. This decision is really all about how DT feels at the end of the day.

That said I'm stoked for the looming Peruvian running boom, and glad DTs family and friends can finally not be embarrassed by their complete failure of a son/relative/friend.

Failure? Huh? I have a very strong feeling that you've never even met Dave, let alone know him. Sit back and rethink your priorities, man. You've got a really looooong and troublesome life ahead of you if you continue this way of thinking.