Skeptics Say American Marathon Winner Isn't American Enough

Photograph of second place finisher Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and winner Meb Keflezighi by any.g on flickr

In the wake of Meb Keflezighi's stunning NYC Marathon victory on Sunday — the first win by an American citizen since 1982 — a battle has erupted in the running world over whether or not the Eritrean-born athlete qualifies as an American runner. Though he didn't start training or running competitively until he immigrated to the United States at age 12, many claim the Keflezighi should be considered an East African runner because of his heritage, the Times reports.

While many claim that Keflezighi isn't a real American (including some commenters on this post), others say the argument over his perceived Americanness is steeped in racial bias. The Times points out that following the recent success of Kenyan and Ethiopian distance runners, Keflezighi may be the victim of "a lore of East Africans as genetically gifted, unbeatable, dominant because of their biology." As such, he is coming under scrutiny that was never faced by other foreign born athletes who represented America, like Knicks Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing, who was born in Jamaica.

The last American citizen to win the race, Cuban-born runner Alberto Salazar, told the paper that he doesn't see the logic in not considering Keflezighi an American runner. “What if Meb’s parents had moved to this country a year before he was born?” he said. At what point is someone truly American? Only if your family traces itself back to 1800, will it count?” For his part, Meb said people have long complained he wasn't American enough. “I’ve had to deal with it,” said Keflezighi, who won a silver medal for American in the Athens Olympics and before crossing the finish line at the NYC Marathon, pointed repeatedly to the letters "U.S.A." on his racing singlet. “But, hey, I’ve been here 22 years. And the U.S.A. is a land of immigrants. A lot of people have come from different places.”

Not all of today's interesting marathon news is about the front of the pack. Last place finisher Zoe Koplowitz, 61, crossed the line yesterday at 11:15 am — 28 hours and 45 minutes after she started the race. Koplowitz, a motivational speaker and author who suffers from diabetes and multiple sclerosis, completed her 21st NYC Marathon with the help of three supporters and a pair of purple crutches.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Ben Muessig in News on November 3, 2009 12:44 PM

Comments [rss]

Mrs Parker

I love his story. That's what, at its' best, America is about. The best people in the world coming here and being the best at what they do.

rasputinsghost

"skeptics"? that's a funny way of misspelling "racists"

tom9d

I couldn't be happier that he -- an American citizen -- chooses to represent America in competition.

There are entirely too many athletes who have spent most or all their lives in the United States, as citizens, reaping the benefits of the sports culture we have, only to ditch the United States and compete for a foreign country at the first chance they get.

Good for Meb.

ANGRYGOD11

Let's be honest. If he came from Ireland when he was 12 years old, this debate wouldn't be happening.

HOTCUP

indeed.

if anything, i hope this issue blows the hell up so that americans in general realize that we really need to have a frank discussion about what constitutes "american". apparently it means to be white.

mind you, irish people were barely considered "white" within a century ago, let alone americans. same for italians, southern and eastern europeans in general.

GOP

He doesn't look at all Native American ("Indian") to me.

williambklyn

I thought the NY Times article did a pretty good job covering the racism subtext and it wasn't just anonymous ranters on web forums. Darren Rovell of CNBC's comment is pretty revealing of the racist sentiment that fueled the other comments. The whole discussion about whether or not he is American 'enough' for his NY Marathon win to qualify as an American win, is totally asinine.

JenChungsBaby

He's clearly Irish.

Kojak

I think we place a different emphasis on what it means to be 'American' and what it means to be 'German' or 'Japanese. When I think 'American', I think those who have immigrated, or born in this country regardless of where they came from. When I think German, or Japanese, I have a more stereotypical view, as most people do. Its not a race but a group of people, an idea of America.

Say I immigrate to Japan and become 'Japanese', I still wouldn't be considered Japanese as its both a race, a culture, and a nationality, but technically I would be a Japanese citizen. I couldn't wrap my head around that in this country.

I just needed to brain fart for a bit.

chubbyemu

He's much more of an American than I am. He wanted to come here and worked to become and American. I was born here and don't want to be here. Naturalized Americans, in my opinion, have more of a right to the claim of "American" than most who were born here.

ed_Extinct

So lets be clear: in order to be an American citizen you have to be born here.

Rubbish.

dignam

Let that be a lesson, Keflezighi: next year, run with a flag pin, or don't run at all.

swayze

This guy is the definition of an American, not the stereo type that everyone clings too.

Another thing to think about...The flag bearer for the US in the Beijing Opening Ceremony wasn't born in America either.

felixthecat2

Ahhh, the birthiers moved on ....

Ed

NYT based this article on mostly anonymous rantings on websites ? Shit, their standards have hit a new low.

tsol

Uh, the point of the controversy isn't his citizenship, it's whether America is "stealing" credit for his accomplishments by calling him an American runner rather than an African or Eritrean runner.

The point is that the multi-culturalists WANT him to be considered not American. Because America hogs the talent of other nations, wah, etc.

NannyState

But is Zoe Koplowitz an american ?

99centmenu

yup. stay classy, america

longacre

Team America has a ton of athletes in nearly every sport who weren't born here. Track and field, hockey, baseball, boxing, etc. Most people don't care. We should be flattered they want to represent us.