Why is Galen Rupp so damn secretive?

...because he takes drugs

Bullet_Proof wrote:

the beagle wrote:

He's perfectly fine to avoid the spotlight. Not everyone is going to have the same personality. That said, those "narcissists" that actually promote themselves are a lot better for the sport than Rupp.

Um, no. They just talk talk talk. Blah blah blah. As they look into the camera "I couldnt do this without you guys, my fans, my audience. Love you guys. Thank you for your support." More talk. More blah. Thank God I have the free will to turn that crap off.

Talk is good. Promotion is good. "Shut up and run" is not good.

Miznerr2525 wrote:

another runner wrote:

Believe it or not, some people like to work hard and run without needing the world to know about it. It's called not being a narcissist.

The fact that the best American distance runner of all time is less known than some scrub on tinman elite is bad for the sport.

Maybe that's part of the reason Rupp is a two-time Olympic Medalist, World Major Marathon Champion, American Record Holder, and a multiple-time NCAA champion, while the Tinmen are the Tinmen.

The young retards who have become accustomed to vomiting their entire lives on social media consider that anyone who doesn't participate in that bit of grotesquery must be hiding something. That is a bizarre take on the world. I can never make sense of the stories I see about those who want to guard their privacy whilst knowing there are entire generations vomiting every aspect of their lives for the public to see.

co rona wrote:

...because he takes drugs

Pretty much this

I don’t love him and I don’t hate him, but I respect his decision to eat, sleep, train and be with his family and not give two craps about social media or what other people think about him.

His speed allows him to get away with this. If he weren't head and shoulders above other Americans, just another elite, he'd have no sponsorships.

Galen obviously has the right to keep to himself but the biggest stars in any sport should be very vocal and engaged with the fans. Look at Lewis Hamilton and F1. F1 already had a worldwide viewership but him being in the public eye and so accessible has shot his and the sports popularity upwards.

Like it or not Track and Field needs characters like Bolt. Bolt drew fans everywhere and not because he was the fastest man on the planet, it was because he was a character and connected with fans.

Being the best isn't enough, you also have to be visible and a face for the public to connect with. Setting aside all the NOP allegations and the likelihood anyone involved might be dirty, Galen will never get the respect his performance deserves because you have to be more than good, you have to be public.

It would be good for the sport overall if Galen were more open, but the fact is, Galen is not and does not need to be.

Galen is paid his money because of his results. #1 in the US at the marathon, and probably at the 10K too. Olympic medalist at multiple distances and able to compete internationally (podium) at the marathon and 10K. And he holds the AR at the 10K, and indoor 2 mile, 3000 and 5000. Based on those accomplishments, his base salary with Nike is extremely high. Could he make more money by putting himself out there and being a social media influencer, or endorse more products by putting himself out there? Yes. But he does not want to and thanks to his results/Nike contract, he does not need to either.

If people hate that, blame the financial system that the shoe companies have allowed to hold down our sport for way too long. (Yes, I appreciate that the shoe companies are in many cases, the only source of funding for the athletes, but they structure their contracts and apply the pressure on the IAAF in such ways to help keep it that way).

Those who share openly may be more extroverted. Some may also need to keep up that popularity and Q rating because that is what keeps them sponsored and earning an income. Unlike Galen, a strong majority of them are not winning or even competitive in international competitions.

25 min interview

It isn't about what Galen needs, it is about what is best for the sport. Like it or not results matter less than public persona. If doesn't matter what a bunch of LetsRun people think about him, to help track become more popular it matters what the general public thinks about him.

My 90 year old grandma knows who Usain Bolt is, she has never heard of Galen Rupp. We need more Usain Bolts in track and field, not more Galen Rupps.

Hi Casual. Full agreement, well said!

another casual observer wrote:

It would be good for the sport overall if Galen were more open, but the fact is, Galen is not and does not need to be.

...

maybe he has social anxiety

This sport is never going to be bigger or grow that much and I don’t really care hahaha.

Miznerr2525 wrote:

rekcart wrote:

Simple, because he's smart;). Technology has brought the influx of unnecessary information.

If he doesn't like social media fine. Why hasn't he written an article, a given a good interview, or started a book about who he is? He's been a pro runner for 11 years and all I can find on him is a wiki and a few interviews of him going "yep really excited about it".

Again, it's simple, he's smart. He probably has a great life with his family and friends and chooses not to waste time, time that he'll never get back, posting about something he just did. He's an anti-narcisst and has figured out that the secret to life is to live it, not post about it---hence why I rarely post here;). Time is precious friend, don't waste it as you won't get a refund;)

Miznerr2525 wrote:

Title says it all.

No instagram. Hardly anyone knows anything about his personal life. Last tweet was in 2012. What is he hiding?

whats wrong with you that you need to know about Galen? get your own life.

It's not really about that.

Truth is that in the USA, the overall popularity of Galen Rupp is similar to Usain Bolt's....except...there are many wishing for Rupp to fail rather than succeed. They watch and evaluate races to see what Rupp can't do. Heck, there was more support for Hillary Bor to succeed in the 2016 trials than for Rupp.

It is a baseless hatred of Rupp....

As it was for Ryan Hall...

As it was for Alan Webb...

As it was for Mary Cain...

It's sad that the popularity of many of the nicer athletes is to see what they can't do.

We're killing our own sport.

What on Earth did Frank Shorter, Mary Decker, Johnny Gray, Joan Benoit, Bill Rodgers, Jim Ryun, Madeline Manning, et. al. . . . do without social media at the height of their careers? How did they manage their place in the sport while unwittingly being 'secretive' in an era when social media wasn't a thing? I'm barely, . . . barely, on social media. Why does the OP here think Galen ought to be there . . . inferring that since he's not, he is somehow being 'secretive.' ? Galen owes no one a window into his personal life. He's a talented, well-mannered, seemingly happy young guy who wins a lot of races and sets records . . . and patiently gives interviews after many of his races. In a pre-social media world, he'd likely have comported himself with similar grace. As a footnote, . . . before social media, there was plenty of acrimony to go around, between athletic stars and a voracious press (on behalf of a public voracious to know more about its stars). For example, baseball's Splendid Splinter . . . Ted Williams.

https://vault.si.com/vault/1956/08/20/ted-williams-defies-his-critics

Not true. While we certainly could have done better, we did institute reforms after both Vin Lananna and Alberto Salazar complaind to Weldon at an NCAA indoor meet about Rupp being bashed on the boards. Our view at the time was that he was a public figure and people say lots of stuff about the Yankees, Tom Brady, etc. After listening to them, we took a more active roll and institude an automatic filter so they words gay and Rupp couldn't be used together as there were a lot of homophobic complaints.

There is plenty of evidence that he took a ton of things - the only question is if he ever took anything illegal. We know he was on some sort of testosterone supplement in HS. Alberto has admitted to that. We know he was sent prescription drugs in a hollowed out book. L-Carnitine, etc.