Paul Chelimo trying so hard to be loved in the US

stryker drilling wrote:

I don't get it. People complain about the sport losing popularity because of dominance by "faceless Africans" and then we get a guy who is not only good but has 1000 times the personality of Rupp and people are pissed that he is brash.

Consider me a Paul Chelimo fan.

He's brash and has a dry sense of humor. He makes me laugh. What's wrong with that?

PAUL CHELIMO

Chelimo smokes East Africans because of the superior physical conditional that being an ELITE soldier gives you.

Also, world, you're welcome. USA literally keeps 90% of the world from killing each other.

westsouthrunner wrote:

Are you saying that Chelimo does not pay taxes? How do you know this?

You act like he simply gives back in taxes all that he takes in?

Am I the only one who's not excited about the Army fielding an all Kenyan team and backdooring and fast tracking citizenship?

I don't know what bugs me more - this keyboard warrior post or the Founders of LetsRun who seem to try and jeopardize Chelimo's image every chance they get. He has literally revitalized the 5000M for the United States. He is literally the Prefontaine of the 21st century. He's different. He doesn't give a flip what you think. He talks the talk and walks the walk. Just because it wasn't Ben True or Ryan Hill that set the Championship Record in dominating fashion, but an individual who found his citizenship (whether you consider it a loophole or not) through WCAP doesn't mean you gotta pick to pieces every f'en thing he says.

Chelimo said "It's easier to make the Kenya team" and that BS is a headliner b/c this site loves to instigate. Can someone do me a favor and go count how many Kenyans were in the Finals of the Olympic Final 5K. I'll wait. And then "But Kwemoi" could easily take him. Ok, do me a favor, how did he do in London WC. Oh ok. Hate that the US now has a running version of Tom Brady and shows up when it counts.

"Dude never made a championship team for a major senior championship"

Well dude started running just shortly before he moved to the US to run in college - like MANY of Kenyan born athletes. He then went to college. Graduated. Then WCAP. "Dude" went 13:08 solo, yet he couldn't make the Kenya team? He literally has medaled in the last 2 Global Championships.

"If he comes back home he will never see the light of day in Kasarani or Nyayo". You're an idiot.

And for those who think it's sooo weird for a guy to go from 13:20 and then 4 years later run 13:03. Log off the internet.

13:20 in college with teammates much slower than him plagued by injuries

13:03 in Olympic Final with 1+ year of no injuries with teammate Shadrack (no intro needed) at Nike's campus with all the resources necessary.

- Fact King

"Opinions are for the weak"

Ok, maybe Chelimo should be a little more careful about what he says and how he says it. I believe that he might still have a few issues translating what he means into what he actually says in English, and the end result is interpreted wrong.

But there is a lot to like about the guy.

1) At least he has an opinion, personality and shares it. This will endear him to many, give others a reason to root against him, but overall he will gain more support than the silent runners.

2) He has put in the work to develop the fitness to succeed, and he has succeeded. And he wants more.

3) He has big goals and dreams, and shares them with the public. He talks about how he wants to win races AND run specific fast times, and lets us know which races we can expect him to enter.

4) He is willing to try to break the mold of sit and kick and try to make races hard and fast.

5) He saw opportunity in the USA and the Army and has chosen and embraced those to pursue his dreams.

6) He can be a little brash and cocky, which many people like, but overall is fairly humble. Blames himself and not others, and the solution he gives is to work harder.

7) He wears a different singlet at races (ARMY) which helps fans distinguish him from numerous other Nike runners.

8) He is willing to try bold risky tactics, like trying to push his way between Farah and Endris to win. It was a risk and earned a DQ, but at least he tried instead of just accepting 4th place.

9) He is generating more interest in the sport (and himself) which overall is good for the sport. What would we do if all runners were silent and just ran?

10) ETC.

The guy is not perfect, but so far I like him.

Paul Chelimo!

Where? What? wrote:

Well, for once I agree with Chelimo. He is right in that it would be easier for him to get on the Kenyan team than the US team, especially in the 5000. Kenya is not the strongest in that distance any longer. Power has shifted. They can't even run under 13:00 anymore. I would pick the combination of True, Mead, Hill, and Jenkins over any current Kenyan combination.

Because True makes it to all of the championship races....

Come on. I know it's what you want to be reality, but Ben True is not a good racer when it matters (for his level)

The Point Is wrote:

the point in championship meets is to win/place as high as possible.

that is why nobody cares about them after a year or two. It is much better to have ran fast, particularly if it's lots of times.

Galen Rupp has no chance to build a legend on his silvers. It's the 26:44 that might endure, as long as nobody breaks it for a while.

Fact King wrote:

And for those who think it's sooo weird for a guy to go from 13:20 and then 4 years later run 13:03. Log off the internet.

If you want to discuss this, read the thread and counter my arguments. His progress is extremely suspicious. I don't know why this riles you up so much. It would be suspicious for anyone.

ChaulPelimo wrote:

Paul Chelimo

Paul Chelimo

Unlike Chelimo who's still largely unknown in Kenya, Bernard Lagat got a lot of flack (from Kenya) for changing nationality. Partly because he was generally liked. But far from disowning the country, he fervently embraces it. He's a proud Kenyan-American. A cursory look at his social media shows that he actively seeks out other Kenyan athletes to hang out with at international meets and, from a far, almost seems to prefer their company probably relishing a chance to shoot the breeze in Swahili (or Kalenjin) with David Rudisha or Eliud Kipchoge. He even occasionally comments on stuff going on back home. But does that make him less American than Chelimo? Heck no!

My point? Be happy in your country, but trashing your old one, no matter how removed you feel, is classless and unnecessary. No one else does it. Not the Irish, not the Italians, not Mexicans, Chinese, Koreans, Moroccans, Ethiopians or Armenians.

The problem is that you interpret everything as “trashing Kenya”.

Next year has no medals up for grabs, it's all about times. On Chelimo's list should be:

-sub-12:53 for 5000. 12:53 is both the U.S. record and Farah's PB.

-a faster 1500. 3:39 is pathetic for someone who is consistently hanging with Mo on the final lap.

VENTOLIN^2 IS BACK, BABY!

i shoud try to be as precise as possible & whittle the estimates down to 1 line of fit

from lotta experience, i woud settle on this as his ability last year

50.00 / 1'46.15

->

3'29.49

3'46.02

4'45.70

7'22.04

12'45.06

26'47.00

10k can be ignored as he doesn't train for 10k & it's impossible to run your theoretical best 10k off 5k/3k training

paul is just outside 1500AR ability, can break webb's AR, absolutely crush the 3k, giving 7'20 a serious fright & certainly in calibre of top-6 in the 5k of paris-'12