Maybe he wanted to move to a more non-commercial society? Maybe he prefers African women? I must admit I don't get it either, since its a harsh environment and there are many training opportunities in other parts of the world. I really suspect he's somewhat non-neuro typical and one of those types who is always going to be searching for what will make him happy.
The most viable way to come to the U.S. at that age from NZ would be through the NCAA system. And he doesn't strike me as someone who would have the grades or temperament to be recruited by a D1 school and given financial assistance.
Not sure what world you're imagining in the America where they wouldn't have financial pressures as a runner outside the college system.
He moved when all the media was attributing East African running success to the simple low cost living, altitude, and dirt roads. Turns out it was just epo.
He moved when all the media was attributing East African running success to the simple low cost living, altitude, and dirt roads. Turns out it was just epo.
Actually EPO played a very small role in Kenya’s runners success vs the rest of the world.
I believe his rationale was “get rich or die tryin’”
One of the twins said this in a very old flotrack interview. There reasoning was that they wanted to try to go all in on running/risk it all in the hopes of “making it”.
This is an awesome option if you have some cash and don’t mind a little risk.
Cost of living in a good US training spot means you’ll probably want at least 50k/yr to be comfortable. So an aspiring pro has to work full time and find a way to race around that.
Meanwhile the average salary in Kenya is ~$7500, which flows down to the cost of everything.
Third world country with parasites in the water supply, mosquitoes carrying malaria, which is a permanent parasite if you get it.
Had he established a base in America, he would have had an endless supply of racing opportunities.
He would have never had financial pressures.
Last I checked it was Kenya dominating the sport, not the US.
Last I check there are no financial opportunities in Kenya. If he ran in the US it would be like fi$hing with dynamite. The opportunities on the track and roads are endless. There are no money races in Kenya.
Last I checked it was Kenya dominating the sport, not the US.
Last I check there are no financial opportunities in Kenya. If he ran in the US it would be like fi$hing with dynamite. The opportunities on the track and roads are endless. There are no money races in Kenya.
It is pretty hard to make 100k/year from racing in the US. And between flying around to races, health care, ... You better be grossing something like that. And I am willing to bet their EPO budget would be at least 10x in the US...
1. Before EPO, no Kenyan broke 2:09 for the marathon, and they had no runner in the top 150 all time fastest for either the marathon or half-marathon. 2. What success they had on the track before EPO was due being effectively full-time professional runners in a largely amateur sport, able not only to run full-time, but to compete into their mid thirties (compared to the likes of Bannister and Snell, working or studying full time, and having to retire at their peak by age 25.)
Coe ran 2 seconds faster than Mike Boit. Ovett trounced Rono at Rono's event while waving to the crowd. Keino NEVER came close to reproducing his (highly suspicious) performance in Mexico. His fastest sea level 1500m was 3:36.9. Jim Ryun had run 3:31.1 Less than 10 years later and Coe and Ovett were running 3:31.
Before EPO, no Kenyan had broken 3:32.5. That performance (Kirochi) was the 57th best of all time. It took over 19 years for a Kenyan to run (0.03 seconds) faster than Jim Ryun (1986 - Cheryiut). Before EPO, Brazil had more performances in the top 25 all-time 800m list than Kenya. Before EPO, only four Kenyans had broken 13:14 for 5000m, and one of those was suspended for evading tests, and another's brother later banned for EPO use. Before EPO, ZERO Kenyans had broken 2:09 for the marathon, while FOUR Japanese had, THREE Australians, THREE Ethiopians, and TWO Brits had.