Inside scoop on Abdi's fall yesterday at .US Championships

I didn't even know he was still active. What races has he done during the past 1-2 years?

Just finished his first book as well. Well done mr. klim

It was a load of crap that no one (the police or course marshals) went to help Abdi when he ate it. The people in the best position to make a good decision and contact/radio the correct people just sat on they butts.

In high school races you are DQ'd if you receive physical assistance. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a similar rule for road races. If I knew touching Abdi could disqualify from $1,000's of dollars in prize money, I might be cautious to help, too. Especially if I saw he was conscious, didn't see blood, and didn't hear him call for help (none of which that brief description says). And from the description you don't know that the correct people weren't contacted.

pqom wrote:

I didn't even know he was still active. What races has he done during the past 1-2 years?

A bunch of 10ks like Falmouth and Peachtree and the US 20k

tse wrote:

In high school races you are DQ'd if you receive physical assistance. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a similar rule for road races. If I knew touching Abdi could disqualify from $1,000's of dollars in prize money, I might be cautious to help, too. Especially if I saw he was conscious, didn't see blood, and didn't hear him call for help (none of which that brief description says). And from the description you don't know that the correct people weren't contacted.

Yeah it really doesn't sound like a big deal that no one helped him. I used to help out with the Special Olympics and those kids would go down really hard but rules are rules. You don't help them unless they ask you to, at which point they'll be disqualified. I don't see why Abdi can't be allowed to take care of himself when we let mentally challenged kids do it.

He hit his head and lost consciousness for about 20 seconds. It is tough to ask for help in that case.

Olympic marathon trials in 2012. Dropped out

Not the case wrote:

He hit his head and lost consciousness for about 20 seconds. It is tough to ask for help in that case.

Source?

Now he knows what it is like to race on the trails.

luv2run wrote:

Olympic marathon trials in 2012. Dropped out

If by dropped out you mean made the olympic team then yes

John Clendon wrote:

It was a load of crap that no one (the police or course marshals) went to help Abdi when he ate it. The people in the best position to make a good decision and contact/radio the correct people just sat on they butts.

If the same thing happened to a white runner, there would have been a flock of (white) officials two-deep around him in seconds.

pqom wrote:

I didn't even know he was still active. What races has he done during the past 1-2 years?

That is because you are a moron.

Third place, Olympic trials, 2012.

Drooling idiot.

tyguh wrote:

Not the case wrote:

He hit his head and lost consciousness for about 20 seconds. It is tough to ask for help in that case.

Source?

ABDI. Ask him, I did.

Thanks to RoJo for linking this story to my blog...

My impressions:

- Abdi did go down hard.

- Those watching (including a local police officer) didn't know any "rules" re: helping Abdi or not helping him. They simply looked on. They should have done more IMO.

- I have no idea if Abdi lost consciousness or not. I do know that he was pretty banged up.

- Race was NOT a factor (the cop was black).

Klim wrote:

Thanks to RoJo for linking this story to my blog...

My impressions:

- Abdi did go down hard.

- Those watching (including a local police officer) didn't know any "rules" re: helping Abdi or not helping him. They simply looked on. They should have done more IMO.

- I have no idea if Abdi lost consciousness or not. I do know that he was pretty banged up.

- Race was NOT a factor (the cop was black).

Yo Klimmy- You ever consider some of these volunteers may have volunteered for one of the Nations tri's and been told at those events not to help if someone goes down? There could be many multiple explanations for their not helping.

Even if no one helped him up, someone should have at least warned and redirected the runners coming around the corner.

baeccc wrote:

Even if no one helped him up, someone should have at least warned and redirected the runners coming around the corner.

No kidding. And maybe asked Abdi if he *needed* some assistance. That would seem the logical move.

I was there BTW, and totally missed this whole episode somehow.

My opinion for HS and all levels. A runner falls they can get up. If they fall back down they recieve immediate medical atention. They are in medical need.

I see too many invites where the medical tent is like a war zone. Kids can't handle a three mile run. I don't remember it being like this 20 years ago.

Someone will die and the rule will change. But bottom line, if someone is unconscious you help no questions asked.