What do the Germans think of Bartelsmeyer and Parsons?

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Both have a German mother, Bartelsmeyer was born in Germany.

Their German is pretty good (obviously a noticeable accent and slightly limited vocabulary).

I haven't heard any criticism about their decision to run for Germany from fans, other athletes or the press.

As an American athlete I gotta say that it’s pretty pathetic. No one wants to say it publicly, but anyone who changes country allegiance, who is an American, is clearly a B level athlete and is scared to attempt to make the US team. It has nothing to do with ancestral pride or heritage. It has everything to do with knowing they aren’t good enough to make a US team

It's obviously an embarrassment for their native coaches and athletes that they've done so poorly in developing their homegrown talent that some disposable b-listers developed and based in America can swoop in and dominate so easily. It's similar to how a lot of Americans feel about Africans becoming US citizens and getting on the US teams at the expense of US homegrown talent. Some are okay with that, but many don't like it and rightfully see it as a sign of failure.

PaperAthletes wrote:

As an American athlete I gotta say that it’s pretty pathetic. No one wants to say it publicly, but anyone who changes country allegiance, who is an American, is clearly a B level athlete and is scared to attempt to make the US team. It has nothing to do with ancestral pride or heritage. It has everything to do with knowing they aren’t good enough to make a US team

Ever heard of Armand Duplantis ?

Germany has about a quarter population of the United States.

I can’t speak for German fans, but Amos is the real deal. 3:36 1500 runner which is the same as the top Americans nowadays.

He would be the 8th fastest American, and with Centro going to the 5k, the 7th. Certainly in a position to make the US team, and he just joined Bowerman so will most likely be making big improvements soon.

Sam Parsons on the other hand is slower compared to the American 5k runners. Around 17th, so not really in the running to make a US team

Dairyland wrote:

He would be the 8th fastest American, and with Centro going to the 5k, the 7th. Certainly in a position to make the US team.

Yes, if well over half the 1500m finalists at the OT fall down.

Dairyland wrote:

Germany has about a quarter population of the United States.

I can’t speak for German fans, but Amos is the real deal. 3:36 1500 runner which is the same as the top Americans nowadays.

He would be the 8th fastest American, and with Centro going to the 5k, the 7th. Certainly in a position to make the US team, and he just joined Bowerman so will most likely be making big improvements soon.

Sam Parsons on the other hand is slower compared to the American 5k runners. Around 17th, so not really in the running to make a US team

3:36 is far from being “the same as the top American nowadays “. He would barely make a Usatf final.

Original Lurker wrote:

I haven't heard any criticism about their decision to run for Germany from fans, other athletes or the press.

That's wrong.

No criticism from fans, yes, but that's due to indifference - they don't care about them, and most German runners don't even know them/have never heard about them, except maybe the die-hard track fans or insiders.

From athletes, there was massive criticism. Florian Orth was favorite for the German indoor championship 2019, since Richard Ringer didn't start, Bleistein ended his career and Benitz was injured. But out of nowhere, Parsons and Bertelsmeyer appeared and took #1 and #2. Orth was voicing his frustration over several media outlets and more than once said that any US runner could find European roots if he would just look far enough. He also said he doesn't understand what they are hoping by changing their track singlet to Germany and that he certainly won't jump into the air celebrating them starting for Germany.

The only ones cheering for them in Germany was the media, who for example said that Parsons is "sympathetic".

The only difference is what singlet he’ll be wearing when he gets dropped.

I've got a friend who lives in Germany and is on their national team, competed for them in Doha. Here's a quote when I asked pretty much this same question "What do German track guys think of this guy competing as a German", and here's the answer:

"Happy is probably the wrong word (laughing emoji) it's kinda weird when all of a sudden someone else shows up [out of nowhere] who you didn't know of and starts competing at German championships. but they are pretty fast so that's cool"

So I guess they aren't thrilled with it, but if they can help Germany do better on the world level then it's not so bad.

just pondering wrote:

Obviously the Americans ~in general~ are iffy about people switching allegiances. Amos does speak German pretty damn well though. Anyone know what the Germans think about it?

who?

denk nochmal wrote:

Dairyland wrote:

Germany has about a quarter population of the United States.

I can’t speak for German fans, but Amos is the real deal. 3:36 1500 runner which is the same as the top Americans nowadays.

He would be the 8th fastest American, and with Centro going to the 5k, the 7th. Certainly in a position to make the US team, and he just joined Bowerman so will most likely be making big improvements soon.

Sam Parsons on the other hand is slower compared to the American 5k runners. Around 17th, so not really in the running to make a US team

3:36 is far from being “the same as the top American nowadays “. He would barely make a Usatf final.

Look up the top American times from 1/1/2019 until today.

Original Lurker wrote:

PaperAthletes wrote:

As an American athlete I gotta say that it’s pretty pathetic. No one wants to say it publicly, but anyone who changes country allegiance, who is an American, is clearly a B level athlete and is scared to attempt to make the US team. It has nothing to do with ancestral pride or heritage. It has everything to do with knowing they aren’t good enough to make a US team

Ever heard of Armand Duplantis ?

Major touche!

My friend on their national team wrote:

I've got a friend who lives in Germany and is on their national team, competed for them in Doha. Here's a quote when I asked pretty much this same question "What do German track guys think of this guy competing as a German", and here's the answer:

"Happy is probably the wrong word (laughing emoji) it's kinda weird when all of a sudden someone else shows up [out of nowhere] who you didn't know of and starts competing at German championships. but they are pretty fast so that's cool"

So I guess they aren't thrilled with it, but if they can help Germany do better on the world level then it's not so bad.

Right, no doubt anyone who benefits from the efforts of a mercenary - who are liberated by the fighting of a foreigner who came along because he likes fighting and found someone who would give him the opportunity to fight and make a living at it - aren't unhappy with the results. Yet almost no one has a connection to the mercenary, doesn't understand his motivation and reasons for fighting to help their people and cause. There's always going to be a cold detachment because he is rightly viewed as an outsider to their tribe or way of life, despite any costume (clothing, language, customs) he may put on. A minority may look past that and see what's really in his heart (whether pure or cynical) yet most will assume he's little more than an opportunist.

Dairyland wrote:

denk nochmal wrote:

3:36 is far from being “the same as the top American nowadays “. He would barely make a Usatf final.

Look up the top American times from 1/1/2019 until today.

Engels 3:34

Mcgorty 3:36

Fischer 3:36

Centro 3:32

Thompson 3:34

Kidder 3:35

Prakel 3:36

Murphy- ?

Gregorek 3:49i

Blankenship 3:36

Brazier 3:35

As stated, far from “the top American”.

7th in time (assuming I haven’t forgotten anyone), and likely further down in an actual race.

denk nochmal wrote:

Dairyland wrote:

Look up the top American times from 1/1/2019 until today.

Engels 3:34

Mcgorty 3:36

Fischer 3:36

Centro 3:32

Thompson 3:34

Kidder 3:35

Prakel 3:36

Murphy- ?

Gregorek 3:49i

Blankenship 3:36

Brazier 3:35

As stated, far from “the top American”.

7th in time (assuming I haven’t forgotten anyone), and likely further down in an actual race.

Sounds like he'd make the final pretty easily tbh

Exactly. 7th in time would make the final and if you’re top 10 in anything in a country you do I would say you’re at the top.

would love to see them move to Germany and advance their language skills. Parsons especially. Not too late to become locals, plus it wouldn't make it look like they just pop over to Europe to participate in Europeans champs/Worlds and then just come home to the US.