To be brutally honest, I'm often not thrilled when someone brought up in one country, entirely a product of its developmental system, and still living there, decides to represent another country with a team that's easier to make. And in this case, not a Third World country that needs stars from elsewhere to advocate for growing its training infrastructure and such. What of patriotism, and what's even the point of national teams if nationhood is treated so loosely?
However, each person and their journey is different, and I suppose there can be individual factors we don't know about that could make this more understandable.
To be brutally honest, I'm often not thrilled when someone brought up in one country, entirely a product of its developmental system, and still living there, decides to represent another country with a team that's easier to make. And in this case, not a Third World country that needs stars from elsewhere to advocate for growing its training infrastructure and such. What of patriotism, and what's even the point of national teams if nationhood is treated so loosely?
However, each person and their journey is different, and I suppose there can be individual factors we don't know about that could make this more understandable.
To be brutally honest, I'm often not thrilled when someone brought up in one country, entirely a product of its developmental system, and still living there, decides to represent another country with a team that's easier to make.
She’s a dual citizen and it’s not like the vast majority of children have a say in where their parents raise them.
Obviously. So?
They DO have a say in what country they CHOOSE to represent (or attempt to represent). That is the athlete's choice NOW; it is not about what their parents did decades ago.
Many think that people should CHOOSE the country that got them to where they are.
To be brutally honest, I'm often not thrilled when someone brought up in one country, entirely a product of its developmental system, and still living there, decides to represent another country with a team that's easier to make. And in this case, not a Third World country that needs stars from elsewhere to advocate for growing its training infrastructure and such. What of patriotism, and what's even the point of national teams if nationhood is treated so loosely?
However, each person and their journey is different, and I suppose there can be individual factors we don't know about that could make this more understandable.
We welcome Mia Barnett to Hälle, and what a debut she made this weekend! But first, let us introduce her: born in 2003 on the American East Coast, but living in Eugene, Oregon, for the past two years, a city by the Pacific Ocean. It is the same size as Borås and is known in the USA as 'track town,' the number one city for athletics. The World Championships were held here in 2022, and many American championships have taken place here. Mia studies at Oregon University and runs middle distance. Mia has Swedish connections on her mother's side and has gained Swedish citizenship through her, with the hope of being able to compete internationally for Sweden in the future. Mia is now also a member of Hälle IF and indeed made her debut this weekend at home in Eugene. On Good Friday, she first achieved a 2nd place in the 800m with a new personal best time of 2.03.75, and on Easter Saturday, she took another second place, this time in the 1500m with 4.08.75, which was tenths away from her previous personal best. Mia thus enters Hälle's all-time high list as second in the 800m, hundredths before Linn Nilsson. In the 1500m she finishes in third place, one second behind the aforementioned Linn. From the American university season, we can also note that her peer Viktor Idhammar has been actively competing, first with a time of 14:22.38 in the 5000m in Durham, North Carolina, and then 3:42.18 in his favorite event, the 1500m, from Salem in the same state.
Sounds like she just got the citizenship. Interesting as her Oregon teammate Wilma Nielson is Swedish and they run the same events. I guess there is not that much competition to make teams
To be brutally honest, I'm often not thrilled when someone brought up in one country, entirely a product of its developmental system, and still living there, decides to represent another country with a team that's easier to make. And in this case, not a Third World country that needs stars from elsewhere to advocate for growing its training infrastructure and such. What of patriotism, and what's even the point of national teams if nationhood is treated so loosely?
If Mondo can choose to represent Sweden because of the US system of selection to Majors when he's a lock barring a Dan O'Brien situation, then Mia Barnett who has little chance of making a US team should feel free to find a country to represent.
If Mondo can choose to represent Sweden because of the US system of selection to Majors when he's a lock barring a Dan O'Brien situation, then Mia Barnett who has little chance of making a US team should feel free to find a country to represent.
I see it the opposite way.
Mondo is a GOAT-level athlete who could make any team in the world. There is not some team-making advantage for him.
This Oregon runner seems to be getting a HUGE change in opportunity. Very different.
To be brutally honest, I'm often not thrilled when someone brought up in one country, entirely a product of its developmental system, and still living there, decides to represent another country with a team that's easier to make. And in this case, not a Third World country that needs stars from elsewhere to advocate for growing its training infrastructure and such. What of patriotism, and what's even the point of national teams if nationhood is treated so loosely?
However, each person and their journey is different, and I suppose there can be individual factors we don't know about that could make this more understandable.
To be fair, with only 3 spots to make the US team and with how track is, it would be close to impossible to make it a full time career if she were to try to run for the US. One could say that the solution would be to remove national teams and just have qualifying for worlds based on times and the ranking system. But then for events like the sprints or distance races it would be dominated by Americans or Kenyans which would potentially hurt track and field.
Sounds like she just got the citizenship. Interesting as her Oregon teammate Wilma Nielson is Swedish and they run the same events. I guess there is not that much competition to make teams
Vera Sjoberg (Boston U) was in NCAA mile final, then ran World indoors for Sweden (her nationality). There isn't much depth there at the moment in the middle-distance, so certainly an opportunity to compete internationally for Mia, that won't happen for her competing for spots on the USA team. Sometimes you have to what is expedient, rather than live up to the restrictions others may want to place on you. This site is well known for having posters trying to tell people how to live their lives.
To be brutally honest, I'm often not thrilled when someone brought up in one country, entirely a product of its developmental system, and still living there, decides to represent another country with a team that's easier to make. And in this case, not a Third World country that needs stars from elsewhere to advocate for growing its training infrastructure and such. What of patriotism, and what's even the point of national teams if nationhood is treated so loosely?
However, each person and their journey is different, and I suppose there can be individual factors we don't know about that could make this more understandable.
If Mondo can choose to represent Sweden because of the US system of selection to Majors when he's a lock barring a Dan O'Brien situation, then Mia Barnett who has little chance of making a US team should feel free to find a country to represent.
I see it the opposite way.
Mondo is a GOAT-level athlete who could make any team in the world. There is not some team-making advantage for him.
This Oregon runner seems to be getting a HUGE change in opportunity. Very different.
You clearly don't understand. Yes Mondo is a GOAT but if, at the US OTs as a for instance he ends up no heighting, having a bad day or has an injury he's not on the team. That's unlikely but still a possibility.
I also pointed out the better situation for Barnett.