It was amazing to see how many of the non-USA swimmers (and runners too) trainined in the USA either at the collegiate or club level. It really has broadened the talent pool across many more countries than say 20 years ago.
Being white doesn't make you American. You're thinking of Jason Dunford, he and his brother David are actually from Kenya, but they go to Stanford, just like Kirsty Coventry and most of the South Africans really are from Africa.
Point of interest I believe both Ryk Neethling and Roland Schoeman were both offered money to swim for Qatar that they turned down.
Roland couldn't even compete in the 100 free because of some issue with the South African Swimming Association or whatever they call it. You would think that South African would want their depending Olympic Champion to compete in that event in Beijing. Their is alot of drama between South African and their swimmers that train in the US.
With Dunford, I wasn't sure whether he was from Kenya or his parents or grandparents were. All I heard was that he went to school in the States. He did well in the 100 fly at the Olympics.
The best was the white guy from Kenya in the 100 fly. He was American, right. Was Kenya a british territory back in the early 1900s.
Being white doesn't make you American. You're thinking of Jason Dunford, he and his brother David are actually from Kenya, but they go to Stanford, just like Kirsty Coventry and most of the South Africans really are from Africa.
Point of interest I believe both Ryk Neethling and Roland Schoeman were both offered money to swim for Qatar that they turned down.
Rather than take a trip down memory lane, I have provided a link to this discussion of the past.
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
yikes! I didn't know this was such a hot button topic.
Roland couldn't even compete in the 100 free because of some issue with the South African Swimming Association or whatever they call it. You would think that South African would want their depending Olympic Champion to compete in that event in Beijing. Their is alot of drama between South African and their swimmers that train in the US.
With Dunford, I wasn't sure whether he was from Kenya or his parents or grandparents were. All I heard was that he went to school in the States. He did well in the 100 fly at the Olympics.
Stanford lists his hometown in Kenya, he also has no times in the USA Swimming database before 2005. So I'm fairly sure he's from Kenya.
Here in the Champaign, we have Olympians. Mihal Alexandrov or Michael, he went to Northwestern. He swims for Hungary where his father is from. I do not know if he was born there or not. In one way it is fine because if gave him an opportunity he would not have had otherwise. Bur also, it presents a very unfair advantage for Hungarian swimmers who did not get the chance.
Kenya was a British Colony until 1963 if memory serves. While most of the population is African, there were Arab, Indian, and European minorities present from hundreds of years ago.
Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) was a British Colony until 1965 when Ian Smith declared independence from the UK. This led to a long, bloody civil war that lasted until 1979. After that, most of the remaining Europeans left the country because of the brutal rule of Robert Mugabe. I don't know what Christie Coventry's status is in her home country but it is a dangerous place to be, no matter what your ethnic background is.
My guess is that these swimmers regard themselves as Africans as much as I consider myself an American. Our ancestors may have come from Europe but our homes and our heritage is where we grew up. Just my opinion on the subject.
