Is Jakob a Hero or Villain?

he's my hero

I think he’s more hero than villain. Now that he’s at the top, it’s fun to root for chaos/the underdog. I’d say it’s most fun just to see a competitive finish like the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. In his head he thinks he will win going away in Budapest but it will be fun if at least 1 runner is attacking and we see him have to hold them off or reaccelerate.

Neither, he is an anti hero that wins

Yes

other than doping, how does an elite track athlete be a villain?

Hitting people like Mekhissi-Benabbad isn't enough. A true villain has to have an evil plan of some sort, some great sneaky mischief noone suspects. Jakob has the arrogance, but is too much a simpleton for true villainy.

Same reason you can't be a villain on this forum.

Stephen Cherono was a villian for Kenyans. Switched nationalities for money and then beat his former countrymen.

He is a hero who singlehandedly demolished the myth of East African genetic supremacy that was killing the sport. Of course, he is a villain to some of the freaks here who are emotionally or even financially invested in the perpetuation of that myth.

traitor, but where's the sneakiness? Not crafty.

Example of good past villain was Salazar, though his villainy was overblown by witch-hunters who could ultimately only pin grey-area stuff on him.

Contemporary villain? How about Bobby Kersee. Takes his athlete out of worlds and won't compete until next year? Doping or not, that looks like he's up to something. Villainous.

Does anyone think he is clean? We question a lot of elite athletes at his level.

Absolute hero/legend. Insane expectations from a young age and yet Jakob has met/exceeded said expectations. I am excited to see what he can do at Worlds and if he can break the 2000m record in Brussels.

Villain: I think he was behind the Topanga, CA, flash mob that just looted the Nordstrom store there.

Hahahaha!

"Hero" might be a bit hyperbolic, but certainly not a "villain" when he eagerly shows up to races big and small all over the world ready to compete and win.

No matter one’s viewpoint on Jakob or East African genetic superiority, one example wouldn’t prove or disprove anything. The differences within any ethno-racial group are vast, while the differences between ethno-racial group averages are relatively small (if they exist at all). That’s why racism is inherently stupid. You can’t draw any conclusion on an individual’s ability based on their race.

All down to opinion, but I consider him an awesome heel. Slicked hair, bad tattoos, insanely talented, rich, hot GF.

I root against him always, but damn is he fun to watch

At 22 yo, I think Jakob has lived long enough to see himself become a villain.

Personally, I like Jakob. He runs hard in every race & is constantly trying to raise his own personal bar.

But I can see why some don't like him. His interviews come across a type of way. He's 22. I imagine that'll change a bit with age.

His tattoos say villain, his good looks say hero.

Wants to be the villain, is actually the hero. Ironic given most sports stars are the opposite