RuntheBall
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Haha I love how this just gets out now- I mean he medaled 3 days ago.
First off I'd like to start with a huge congrats to Leo- he really is a class act in everything he does. A great gentlemen. Winning a medal of any kind was a HUGE HUGE HUGE upset. It was unlikely he would even make the final, and once he was definitely only 8th-11th best in the field of 12. Normally, their aren't that many upsets- the best normally win. I mean for goodness sakes he ran 4:01.7 for a mile about a month before the Olympics (for comparison the top guys had run 3:48-3:50 for the mile. 11 seconds is just sooooo huge- given it wasn't Manzano's best race). Manzano was the last automatic qualifier fin the prelims(6th) then the 2nd to last auto in the weaker of the two Semi's (4th). To end up with silver is incomprehensible. He won the first medal in the 1500m since Jim Ryun. Crazy. (Also Mexico has never won a men's track and field record on the track. They only have one woman's medal, 400m from 2004). Manzano is also 5' 5"- hardly an imposing figure. His success is very surprising because of how short his legs are.
Alright, so that had nothing to do with carrying to flags. But its important. Why?
First because he was probably so overcome with emotion (despite what he says I doubt even he thought he had a shot at the medals), he probably wasn't thinking to much about anything right after that was over.
Second: it shows that any ethnicity can compete with the Kenyans/ East/ North Africans with enough work. (Even if it is less common). That has been huge this Olympics. A REAL (edit; means not Kenyan Americans, not in reference to Manzano) American was 2nd in the 10000m (Galen Rupp) and we had to in the top 4 in the 1500m (Matt Centrowitz was the other in 4th), and at least 2 in every distance final (something only Kenya can also say). Distance running isn't just Africa any more, and Manzano want's to show Mexico (and those of Mexican heritage) can compete as well. Remember not too long ago (and some still do) say that the East African's are genetically superior to everyone else as it regards to distance running.
Thats without going into politics. Of course, Leo could have been trying to promote Mexican Americans (who are certainly discriminated against).
ALOT of Leo's family (cousins, aunts, uncle, granparents, etc.) are still in Mexico. He is representing them as well. They have supported him through it all. When he steps on the track he isn't just representing USA or USATF- they only support him 2-3 times EVERY FOUR YEARS. I mean he loves the US but they don't support him nearly as much as his family does. (The US, and USATF in particular, does a horrific job supporting their athletes).
Also the process of getting the flags for the victory lap makes it less of a deal to me. I mean a group of fans just handed Leo their flags, what is he going to do give them back the Mexican flag and insult his native country and ancestry? He didn't really have too much of an option- and he did keep the American flag much more prominent throughout.
One final point is some of you said if you won a medal you would do a lap with your ancestors flags either. I know I wouldn't either. But none of us (I think) are 1.) dual citizens 2.) born in another country. In addition none of our countries (again generalizing here) are discriminated against as much as Mexicans- Americans. I would compare it to Irish Americans back in the early 1900's- they really identified with their heritage, many were immigrants, and were discriminated against. I think this created a real tight community among Irish Americans (now Mexican Americans).
Personally I have no problem with it, because, in my mind, he represents America, but also himself and his family. (and he made it clear America was the more prominent of the two)
First off I'd like to start with a huge congrats to Leo- he really is a class act in everything he does. A great gentlemen. Winning a medal of any kind was a HUGE HUGE HUGE upset. It was unlikely he would even make the final, and once he was definitely only 8th-11th best in the field of 12. Normally, their aren't that many upsets- the best normally win. I mean for goodness sakes he ran 4:01.7 for a mile about a month before the Olympics (for comparison the top guys had run 3:48-3:50 for the mile. 11 seconds is just sooooo huge- given it wasn't Manzano's best race). Manzano was the last automatic qualifier fin the prelims(6th) then the 2nd to last auto in the weaker of the two Semi's (4th). To end up with silver is incomprehensible. He won the first medal in the 1500m since Jim Ryun. Crazy. (Also Mexico has never won a men's track and field record on the track. They only have one woman's medal, 400m from 2004). Manzano is also 5' 5"- hardly an imposing figure. His success is very surprising because of how short his legs are.
Alright, so that had nothing to do with carrying to flags. But its important. Why?
First because he was probably so overcome with emotion (despite what he says I doubt even he thought he had a shot at the medals), he probably wasn't thinking to much about anything right after that was over.
Second: it shows that any ethnicity can compete with the Kenyans/ East/ North Africans with enough work. (Even if it is less common). That has been huge this Olympics. A REAL (edit; means not Kenyan Americans, not in reference to Manzano) American was 2nd in the 10000m (Galen Rupp) and we had to in the top 4 in the 1500m (Matt Centrowitz was the other in 4th), and at least 2 in every distance final (something only Kenya can also say). Distance running isn't just Africa any more, and Manzano want's to show Mexico (and those of Mexican heritage) can compete as well. Remember not too long ago (and some still do) say that the East African's are genetically superior to everyone else as it regards to distance running.
Thats without going into politics. Of course, Leo could have been trying to promote Mexican Americans (who are certainly discriminated against).
ALOT of Leo's family (cousins, aunts, uncle, granparents, etc.) are still in Mexico. He is representing them as well. They have supported him through it all. When he steps on the track he isn't just representing USA or USATF- they only support him 2-3 times EVERY FOUR YEARS. I mean he loves the US but they don't support him nearly as much as his family does. (The US, and USATF in particular, does a horrific job supporting their athletes).
Also the process of getting the flags for the victory lap makes it less of a deal to me. I mean a group of fans just handed Leo their flags, what is he going to do give them back the Mexican flag and insult his native country and ancestry? He didn't really have too much of an option- and he did keep the American flag much more prominent throughout.
One final point is some of you said if you won a medal you would do a lap with your ancestors flags either. I know I wouldn't either. But none of us (I think) are 1.) dual citizens 2.) born in another country. In addition none of our countries (again generalizing here) are discriminated against as much as Mexicans- Americans. I would compare it to Irish Americans back in the early 1900's- they really identified with their heritage, many were immigrants, and were discriminated against. I think this created a real tight community among Irish Americans (now Mexican Americans).
Personally I have no problem with it, because, in my mind, he represents America, but also himself and his family. (and he made it clear America was the more prominent of the two)
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