To all readers of my blog, I think I owe you all an apology
for making you watch the DREADFUL, TERRIBLE running by Ethiopians in Berlin on SATURDAY
afternoon. I wrote on my last Blog my prediction that Ethiopians might get a lot of medals on
Saturday. I hope no one will blame me
for being hopeful about Meseret and co. But I was wrong entirely. She ruined a Saturday
night of many Ethiopians.
I truly believed that
Ethiopia would win 4 or 5 medals on Saturday. But the Kenyans won the 4 medals
instead. What an irony!
Anyway, the last day (SUNDAY) was the real party for
Ethiopia as Kenenisa won AGAIN and Aselefech CAME OUT FROM NOWHERE to take
bronze in the women’s marathon! That was a great ending for Ethiopia.
On another note, I felt very bad for our Gelete Burka in the
1,500m race. I couldn’t understand why Natalia (of Spain) pushed Gelete to the ground. Very heartbreaking!
If Natalia did not make her fall, Gelete would have won the race.
And Then, I couldn’t understand what IAAF was doing. I was
somewhat happy that the Spanish girl was disqualified (after she finished the
race first and “won”). But at the end of the day, what did Gelete get from the
disqualification of the Spanish girl? Nothing! There should be some kind of
monetary award or consolation prize for runners who are PUSHED during races
like this. But the IAAF just punished the wrongdoer without comforting the
victim. That is bad management!
What made me even more mad was that when Natalia got
disqualified, they gave the GOLD medal to the second place winner, who happens
to be Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain. This is even more insult to Ethiopians!
Maryam Yusuf Jamal was an Ethiopian citizen until she betrayed us and changed
her citizenship to Bahrain for money just because she couldn’t make it into the Ethiopian
national team at her younger age. She
even changed her Oromo (Ethiopian) name from Zenebech Tola to Maryam Yusuf
Jamal! As a protestant-Christian, I was offended how Zenebech Tola changed her
name to “Maryam Yusuf Jamal” the way she did. First, she sold her country for
money. Then, she sold her religion for money. What is left?
Even though Natalia from Spain pushed Gelete, I would rather
see Natalia win the gold medal than the traitor “Maryam Yusuf Jamal”! But, oh
well, here is the video for those who didn’t see the pushing incident.
I think Sunday was still a great day for Ethiopia. 1 great gold
medal from Kenenisa and an unexpected bronze medal in the marathon. Imagine if
Gelete was not pushed. Ethiopian team could have been in the top five world
ranking. In my heart, Gelete was a great winner that day even if she was tripped.
Now, I can’t wait until Tirunesh and Sileshi get back on the
track. The honeymoon has been long enough! I also advise the team managers to start
expanding our reach to the 400m and 800m.There is no reason why Ethiopia can not dominate most of the events from 400m all the way upto the Marathon in 5 to 10 years.
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Mr. Bloger,
You should be greatful to the accomplishments of our athlets. Kenyas could have been better prepared this year and we also know that we do not have the demunitives-Haile, Tiruye and Seleshi. So we should be happy about the result. You also need to take in to consideration that Meseret Defar was not fully okay interms of her health. That is whay she said after the 10k. She did he rbest. Meseret represent and glorified our country in many international compitions. So we need to accept when results are not #1. This is a tough sport.
Finally, you the bloger crosse so many lines...Who are you to judge some one that runs to another country. That Jamal girl was denied to represent her country and run. She found the chance somewhere else. That is it. Leave her alone. Whatever religion you follow is your personal issue, do not use it for this kinds of sports reports. That is my reflections, whether you like it or not.
Finally, I agree with you that Gelete Burka desrves consolation. For me she is already a great shampion. We love you Gelete, you won our hears!
To talk about what should have happend is dificult, because there is no way to prove it. Anyway, I think that Gelete Burka wouldn't have won the race, because she was exhausted. Her sprint was so far, and both Natalia, Jamal and even Dobriskey would have beat her. In my opinion, Natalia should have wait and pass Gelete from the outside, and the final result would have been the same: Natalia, Jamal and Dobriskey
What i think of your post is, you simply think the planets revolve around you, but you must wake up from such a dreadful life.
The fact is any individual has the right to change their nationality, and religion. If they so choose, they can claim to be a monkey, who are you to dissect someone's life and freedom of choice? What you would prefer is to pump your chest on their success.
You should throw your personal issues with the folks who have made a great Saturday for you on your Tv Screen, while you were sitting there and thinking race, ethnicity and religion.
What is so annoying is that Gelete would have won that title. She slowed down on purpose on the curb as all Ethiopian runners do. They usually hug the curb and slow down enticing challengers to come on the outside and tire themselves out. That was exactly what she was doing. She would have won until she was pushed mercilessly by that selfish Spaniard. Kudos to Gelete Burka the hero.
