USA athlete Chelang'a roasted over comment on Africa

Fierce reactions have greeted remarks by American runner Samuel Chelang’a on staging IAAF World Athletics Series events in Africa.

Yesterday, the Kenya-born athlete, tweeted: “I don’t recommend racing in Africa. Super thankful for 11th place overall @NikeRunning #Team USA #iaafkampala2017.”

The tweets generated heated debated among Kenyan sports fans, with most of them vilifying him.

His elder brother Joshua Chelang’a said the remark was unfortunate, “especially coming from our son who we did all to ensure he went to school.”

The elder Chelang’a is 2002 Commonwealth Games and 2007 Rotterdam marathon winner.

“The remarks are personal and should not be viewed to reflect the thinking of the entire Chelang’a family. The young man should understand that athletics is a short term venture. I can’t defend him.”

“I competed for Kenya and I won’t go anywhere. I will die here. I encourage athletes to stay put as Kenyans. In fact I am mentoring and coaching at Kenyatta University.....it’s sad that such comments come after a successful world cross country championships, where I loved most,” he said.

Joshua competed for Kenya at the 1997 and 1999 World Cross Country in Turin, Italy and Belfast, Ireland winning the senior men 12km team title in 1997.

Bernard Lagat, the former world 5,000m champion, tweeted back: “@SamChelanga while the IAAF tries to its best to bring sports to Africa, people like you keep dragging the continent down the mud. You are lost,”

Kimutai Kosgei, a former Amsterdam Marathon winner said: “He has a misplaced mentality. What has achieved in athletics? Does he know the extra miles Ugandans went to organise such a championship? It’s sad.”

Chelanga later twitted: “Please pray for me. Really hard to think that all these hate can be generated from one misunderstood tweet.”