Lagat is NOT an American

No wander US distance running sucks. It is the mind set like you that limit the break through.

So, US as a nation did great overall (not only in running) and attracted outstanding athelets like Lagat to run for US. I am sure there are tons of countries (i.e.: Japan, Korea, China, GBR...) would like to grant KB a citizenship, but that would never happen. Simply because KB did not live in that country and fall in love with that country to run proudly for them.

On the other hand, Lagat has grow love and passion of US after living here since high school and pround to run FOR US, which is a wonderful thing. It not only bring (Gold) medals for the US, but it is an motivation for US runners. I just can not see why this could possibly be a bad thing.

True American and all the other anti-Lagat trollers are just looking for attention.

No way do they actually believe their own foolishness, save for a few rednecks who may lurk here.

Unless you are a native american shut the f*** up. you're probably 3rd or 4th generation yourself. go move to canada where the rest of the people that think they're better than everyone else is from.

Let the jealousy and envy and thinly veiled racism begin! I love it.

2 golds for America and Americas running "fans" cant deal with the fact that a black naturalized CITIZEN wins them.

Ive been reading the threads and theres more concern for Mottrams bad run than for Lagats great wins. Plural.

How sad is that?

So, for many running fans, legal immigration is just as unfair as illegal immigration. Shows what a shallow group of individuals you all are.

And that you have NO CLUE how America runs. Or even stands for.

Lagat is very much an American. In fact, he is more American than my own grandfather ever was. My grandfather was an illegal immigrant from Russia.

I have voiced my negativity about Lagat in the past, due to his status during the 2004 Olympics, but giving his courageous 1500/5000 double, involving 5 races over 9 days. He has redeemed himself in my eye.

If lagat was a kenyan who emigrated to the US with his family when he was a child, then grew up, trained and lived in america, i could say he is an american.

But this is not the case, lagat is a kenyan champion who is wearing the US uniform, just like ramzi is a Morrocan wearing the bahraini uniform.

am 100% sure that even the ones who are saying lagat is american would have preffered and be more happy if webb won the 1500 instead of lagat and this explains everything.

He did grow up in the states. When he came here he was not a good runner at all. Shoot, even in college he was getting beat down by people like Goucher.

Lagat is a true American. He immigrated just like everyone else in this country.

Racism?? Did I say he wasn't a fine, intelligent, nice young man? No....I said he's not an American. A wonderful person, but not an American.

He is better than an american, he is DOUBLE WORLD CHAMPION !!!

Spoken like a true racist, conservative, white, middle-aged letsrunner trying to hold on to (albeit disillisioned) white supremacy. Don't feel attacked my friend, but what you just said is exactly what the founders of the Ku Klux Klan claimed after the African-American slaves were freed to support their terrorism.

Bravo!

Congrats, Kip! America is proud of you and embarrassed by ignorant racists like the original poster.

So, Lagat is not an American as he became a citizen in his late 20s. Then ....

Is Meb not an American as he moved to this country at 12 and became a citizen in his teens. He ran HS XC and finished second at footlocker to Goucher.

Is Alberto Salazr not an American as he was born Cuban and moved to this country when he was an infant?

Is Frank Shorter not an American as he was born in Germany to American parents.

Please tell me exactly when someone becomes an American so I know who to cheer for and against.

True American wrote:

Racism?? Did I say he wasn't a fine, intelligent, nice young man? No....I said he's not an American. A wonderful person, but not an American.

Lagat's not really a "young man." He's like 30 or so.

What is a true American I bloody well bet nobody posting on this forum is. Well done Mr Lagat a great performance.

First of all, who gets the right to define what an American is? By the letter of the law he is. You have another arbitrary definition that you have created, which has no basis in anything other than the that fact you 'know' he is less American than others.

However, a bigger question to me is 'who cares what country he is from?'

The nationalism we see in athletics is ridiculous, especially when one acknowledges that the top athletes are genetic outliers in the global (or any smaller sample) population. Essentially they are freaks of nature, regardless of how hard they have to work to achieve the success they have. From an athletic and training point of view, athletes from different countries or regions have much more in common with each other than they do with the people that reside in the same country that they were born or reside today.

Therefore, all this focus on Americans, Kenyans, etc is pretty tribal and racial in nature. Otherwise, one is arguing that competitions are 'our system/beliefs/ethnicity against theirs, which just doesn't logically make sense when you are on the track and only the top 0.00x1% by very specific athletic oriented DNA are the representatives fighting the battler.

I think that generally one should try to step back from cheering on athletes on a purely nationalist basis - otherwise one is just succumbing to the same primal reflexes to cheer on those of similar color, religion, country that have let to so many other horrifying excesses in human history. If that is what you want to do fine, but don't dress it up any other way.

Fvck off you 3-4 gen european honkey. I'm Apache and feel like Lagat is EVERYTHING American. We let you come over here so don't bitch when we start letting better men come over!

I think we're mainly excited because Lagat is a good guy and a major talent who, at 32, timed his season perfectly.

He's naturalized, got the paperwork in all legal & everything. What are you bitching about? I can't run as fast as he, can you?

Go back to NASCAR if it bothers you so much.

you tell 'em tonto!

True American wrote:

Why is everyone getting so excited about Lagat? He's not an American. An American citizen, but not an American. American distance running is on the upswing, but still sucks.