Just four countries Ethiopia, Kenya, Somali, Erithrea and
Djibouti totally dominate long distance running, particularly
in recent years. Few facts:
1. Olympics. Starting, very conservatively, from 1960, a
postcolonial era.
Marathon.
East Africans took 13 medals out of 39 total. For
comparison, Europeans have 12.
10,000 men.
East Africans have 20 medals out of 39 total. 12 medals
for Europeans.
2. Big five marathon races (Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago
and New York City). Africans did not participate in them
at all until about mid-1980s. Starting, very conservatively, from
1986: East African won marathon race 53 out of 111 times.
3. Marathon all time best runners. There are 7 East
Africans in the top 10.
Questions: do you find a suggestion that East Africans
are genetically predisposed for a success in long distance
running to be controversial? Do you tend to agree with
such interpretation?
DK
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