Will Abeba Aregawi run for Sweden ?

[kamikaze7]

There are various news reports that she has defected from Ethiopia and the swedish govt has fast tracked her citizenship so she can run at the London games.

[Marlow]

There are various news reports that she has defected from Ethiopia and the swedish govt has fast tracked her citizenship so she can run at the London games.

I'm all for 'plastic' athletes, anti-restraint of trade and all, but

dis ain't right!

She is more than welcome to 'defect', but IMMEDIATELY represent another nation . . . at the Olympics?! Nah, I'd draw the line there.

[aaronk]

There are various news reports that she has defected from Ethiopia and the swedish govt has fast tracked her citizenship so she can run at the London games.

I'm all for 'plastic' athletes, anti-restraint of trade and all, but

dis ain't right!

She is more than welcome to 'defect', but IMMEDIATELY represent another nation . . . at the Olympics?! Nah, I'd draw the line there.

Took the words right out of my mouth!!
Didn't Wilson Kipketer and Stephen Cherono (now Saif Shaheen) have to wait at least 1 year before competing for Denmark and Qatar, respectively??

If she can do this, then why can't the US, for example, break the "rule" of no attempts to meet A standard after a certain date??

Let Natosha Rogers get into a 10K now, and try to run 31:45, then put her on the team (eliminating Janet Cherebon-Bawcom!!)!!

[AS]

Abeba is married to a Swedish man and lives in Stockholm since 2009. She represents the Stockholm based club Hammarby IF Friidrott.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abeba_Aregawi

She appears to have applied for Swedish citizenship back in 2009...

“Following her remarkable achievement in the Diamond League, the Swedish government granted her the citizenship on June 8, 2012 after reviewing the application she submitted back in 2009,” the Addis Ababa paper said. “The Swedish government, moreover, wrote a letter to IAAF saying that she would represent Sweden at the London Olympics.”

http://www.nation.co.ke/sports/Defectio ... index.html

Does still train with Ethopian squad however...

[j-a-m]

Does still train with Ethopian squad however...

Why shouldn't she?

[AS]

Does still train with Ethopian squad however...

Why shouldn't she?

I mentioned it because the story seems to revolve around Ethopia selecting her and then realising she's opting for Swedish team. So, it's not a case of neglect from the National body (as has been the case with a few of the Ethopian women who've moved on).

[Stooges]

She had the option to choose to represent Sweden or Ethiopia. The 7 of July she told SOK that she decided to compete for Ethiopia. Too bad for Sweden

[mump boy]

My understanding was that she applied for citizenship years ago but it only conveniently came through after she ran 3.56 !!

[Stooges]

Yeah that´s true. But she Is married to a swedish citizen so I guess she would have got It anyway ? But perhaps someone pulled some strings to speed It up.

[Flumpy]

As long as she's there I don't care who she competes for.

She may be our only hope against a looming Olympian catastrophe.

[aaronk]

Just curious.....
but what do you mean by a "looming Olympian catastrophe"??

[mump boy]

Just curious.....
but what do you mean by a "looming Olympian catastrophe"??

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/shar ... -at-games/

[TN1965]

As long as she's there I don't care who she competes for.

She may be our only hope against a looming Olympian catastrophe.

I have two words for you: Genzebe Dibaba.

[Alan Shank]

As long as she's there I don't care who she competes for.

She may be our only hope against a looming Olympian catastrophe.

I have two words for you: Genzebe Dibaba.

She's lost her last two to Arigawe, though. Jamal's stock went up today, although it was a slow race.
Cheers,
Alan Shank
Woodland, CA, USA