What is everyone' thoughts on athletes like Sarah Attar (245 800m runner at last Olympics)competing in the Olympics?

Weird that her participation in the London games didn't inspire any Saudi women to become athletes.

Eddie the Eagle hasn't inspired too many Brit ski jumpers either. First they imported Canadian-born Glynn Pedersen (finished 40-somethingth), and then James Lambert was banned from the big hill since the admins thought it was "too dangerous" for him, and had one of his jumps "estimated" due to falling short of the electronic measurement.

ANTI Semitism really sucks.

But I am sure we will see 1000's of guys from.peru taking up the sport

Bring Back the 880 wrote:

Weird that her participation in the London games didn't inspire any Saudi women to become athletes.

Every country should get 1-2 athletes into something, no matter their ability. The more countries that compete, the better. I'd say good for Sarah Attar becoming a 3:11 marathoner, that is light years better than a 2:45 800m. It's amazing she even gets to compete when most countries in the middle east don't let women do anything at all.

Every country should get 1-2 athletes into something, no matter their ability.

I will be representing some private island at the next Games, just need to write my check to Billionaires Incorporated.

I would say that every state should get 1-2 athletes in each event, or 1-2 teams in team events. Every province and prefecture too.

Look like John Capriotti is spewing more hate on L.A. runners.

Yeah, I'm a little confused by the inspiration thing since she's obviously American in terms of where she was born and raised, dual citizenship notwithstanding.

One thing I don't get is how she seems to wear her head covering only for show -- she'll wear it during the Olympic competitions and related fanfare, but if you google for pictures of her and look at her social media accounts and other stuff, she is not covering her head. That inconsistency makes it all seem a bit disingenuous... but then again, I'm not a young Saudi girl, so who am I to say she isn't inspiring to the target audience?

Everyone should be allowed into the Olympics, but in just one event.

charlieAlphaTango wrote:

Yeah, I'm a little confused by the inspiration thing since she's obviously American in terms of where she was born and raised, dual citizenship notwithstanding.

That's the thing. She's not going to inspire anyone. Except perhaps other mediocre athletes who happen to have dual citizenship with some country where women are not allowed to do anything.

She is enabling the Saudi delegation to continue NOT providing opportunities for women athletes in their country. She should be ashamed.

There are dozens of athletes like this in the Olympics. But of course LRC'er had to pick a muslim woman...

Coach Cookie wrote:

There are dozens of athletes like this in the Olympics.

No, there's not. The vast majority of the uncompetitive token "competitors" are actually from the countries they represent.

Saudi Arabia had to pick an American because they didn't really want their women competing.

This isnt like those countries so small they don't have any athletes with the standard. This is a rich country choosing not recognize women's sports.

Troll post. Too stereotypical of a millenial. Or is your argument really that Saudi women are so privileged that it's unfair to women from other nations that they get to compete?

VoR wrote:

Coach Cookie wrote:

There are dozens of athletes like this in the Olympics.

No, there's not. The vast majority of the uncompetitive token "competitors" are actually from the countries they represent.

You sound like a typical LRC'er. Do some research, Trumpster.

Coach Cookie wrote:

You sound like a typical LRC'er.

Thanks!

I actually really enjoy the sub-elites lined up to those at the peak of the sport. I find it a fascinating watch to witness the gap between very athletic people and those that are elite athletes, truly gives perspective as to the talent and exclusivity of being world-class.