Bernard Lagat, who won Bronze and Silver medals for Kenya in 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games in the 1500m is now proudly American and is set to capture Gold medals in both 1500 and 5000m in 2008 Olympiad that open on the 8th of August and close on the 24th of August in Beijing, China. Lagat is not the only former Kenyan born and trained, who poses a real obstacle to Kenya's medal hopes!
Olympic Games
Olympic Games, celebrated after every four years, have always given Kenyans an opportunity to shine on the international stage. The good performances create a wave of patriotism among Kenyans at home and those scattered around the globe. Our runners have made as proud.
Those of us who live in the USA can attest to the fact that any mention of Kenya in the introduction elicits further queries to confirm whether you too can run! The excellent performances date back to the 1960's with the likes of Ezekiel Chumo, Kipchoge Keino, Naphtaly Temu, Amos Biwott, among others. Since 1964, it is a habit for Kenyans to see their flag hoisted during the medal awards.
Post election violence in Kenya
For 2008, the anxiety is even more given the politically instigated violence relating to the 2007 presidential election fiasco. Many people lost their lives, among them, former and aspiring athletes. The questions many observers ask is whether the Kenyan athletes were adversely affected by the three to four months of inter ethnic troubles.
Can the Kenyan team, comprising of members from different ethnic groups gel together and bond as a team? Will the Kenyans, irrespective of their ethnicity, rally behind the athletes as they strive to win Gold? Will the Kenyans be affected negatively by former Kenyans now running for USA, Netherlands, Bahrain, Qatar and France?
New National loyalty
The change of national loyalties by Kenyan runners such as Bernard Lagat is particularly painful. After clinching Gold in both 1500 and 5000m in 2007 World Athletics Championships, he declared his love for United States of America:
"I love this country," he says. "I've stayed here for a long time, you know, since my college times at Washington State."
And America is happy to have him reap medals at championships. The native Kenyan runner became a U.S. citizen in 2004, and now he is the country's best hope for an Olympic Gold medal in the 1,500 meters - the metric mile - in a century. The last American to win the event was Mel Sheppard in London in 1908. The last American to win any medal in the event was Jim Ryun, who won Silver in Mexico City in 1968.
Lagat, 33, is the reigning world champion in the event, as well as the 5,000-meter run.
It's not unusual for elite Kenyan runners to switch citizenship. A number of them are running for Bahrain and Qatar in exchange for monthly salaries while others like Lorna Kiplagat are married and taken the husband's citizenship which is Dutch. Those enjoying monthly stipend and bonuses in the middle East include the likes of Saif Shaheen aka Stephen Cherono and World Record holder in 3000m Steeple Chase; Abdullah Ahma Hassan (Albert Chepkurui) for Qatar and for Bahrain Abel Cheruiyot and Gregory Konchellah, who sacrificed a family name with a proud reputation - his father, Billy Konchellah, was the 1987 and 1991 world champion at 800m - as Youssef Saad Kamel among others.
For Bernard Lagat, American citizenship offered better training facilities, a higher profile for endorsements and a safe environment. "I just wanted to raise my family here, live here, work here and, you know, just be one of the American people," he says.
Painful lose in Athens
Lagat hopes to win gold in Beijing. Four years ago in Athens, he lost by .12 seconds in the 1,500 meters to the sentimental favorite, Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj. Lagat says he still thinks about that race, but he deeply respects his opponent. I wonder whether too much respect for Hicham cost lagat the Gold.
This respect is what the Kenyan 1500m runners will face in Beijing. Lagat may be 33 years, but he is still the best 1,500m runner in the world currently and I am not sure Kenya's representative at that distance Augustine Choge, Asbel Kiprop and Nicholas Kemboi will take him out of the race. Hopefully they will dig deep, ignore the respect they have for him and strive to upstage their elder track hero so as to raise the Kenyan flag.
Sudanese threat
The other threats come from Sudanese runners who trained in Kenya and now run for Sudan (Hamisi Kaki in 800m) and USA (Lomong Lopez in 1500m). These are all formidable runners with Kaki having emerged as the hottest prospect in 800m to take over from the ageing Wilfred Bungei of Kenya at the middle distance event.
As we look forward to the start of the Track program at the Olympic Games, it is going to boil down to ending of an era for some and launching of careers for others. For Kenyans around the world, it is time to enjoy the spectacle of team running in red, green and black. It is time to be proud of our country, our athletes, and our flag! It is time to sing our national anthem as one people!
But be warned that it is not going to be easy in Beijing.
