Current Events > controversy around a Beijing half marathon, where Kenyan runners...

(+) Yeah! (+)

...seem to let Chinese runner win.

be your own judge:

https://imgur.com/gallery/ZfsG3Ec

https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/68815592

Mnangat has told BBC Sport Africa that the trio ran as pacemakers.

The Kenyan said four runners had been contracted to help He break the Chinese half-marathon record of one hour two minutes 33 seconds, and that one of them did not finish the race.

So the story from the Kenyans is they were never supposed to be recognized as participants in the race and were there to help He keep pace and break a record, but that still sounds very odd.

I think its pretty clear they were working with him. Encouraging him and immediately celebrating with him when he won. I mean hes bent over exhausted and they arent even breathing hard.

Are we saying the Chinese government was like "let him win"

I mean the fact that they were given 2nd and 3rd place seems to indicate that pacing story is bullshit.

The photo the BBC used in that last article of the the OPs wasunfortunate

Let's establish whether or not they are pacemakers before making assumptions.

Doe posted...

So the story from the Kenyans is they were never supposed to be recognized as participants in the race and were there to help He keep pace and break a record, but that still sounds very odd.

That doesn't sound that odd to me

yea, I guess a lot of people were dubious because one of the runner's bibs said their name rather than "pacemaker", which he commented on.

Dat_Cracka_Jax posted...

That doesn't sound that odd to me

What I mean is, if the race has a record, it's weird to me for someone who can break it to run it but as someone keeping pace for a person who hired them to help them break the record instead. Unless I'm misunderstanding and the hired guys didn't run the full race, but the article makes it sound like they did.

Doe posted...

What I mean is, if the race has a record, it's weird to me for someone who can break it to run it but as someone keeping pace for a person who hired them to help them break the record instead. Unless I'm misunderstanding and the hired guys didn't run the full race, but the article makes it sound like they did.

Yeah the only other thing I could think of is if they didn't qualify for some reason? E.g. it would make sense to have a pacemaker under 40 if it was a 40+ race even if that 40 year old could crush the older people.

But still seems real weird.

LonelyStoner posted...

The photo the BBC used in that last article of the the OPs wasunfortunate

What do you mean? It's a glorious expression of triumph :3

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/7/7b515d6e.jpg