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EUGENE, Oregon: Bernard Lagat came from Kenya to the US for an
education. Leonel Manzano’s family moved from Mexico for economic
opportunity. Lopez Lomong fled a Sudanese refugee camp for a new
life.
Now all three will live out their American dream
by representing their new homeland in the 1,500 meters at next
month’s Beijing Olympics after qualifying at the US Olympic Track
and Field Trials on July 6.
“We came from different backgrounds, united by
America. Now we’re teammates working so hard to please our new
country,” Lomong said. “It’s a country we were dreaming about
and now we’re ready to go represent it to the fullest.
“It’s like I’m still dreaming. I can’t
really absorb this.”
World 1,500 and 5,000 champion Lagat won both at
the trials to earn a chance at repeating his world double from Osaka
in Beijing for the Olympic gold that has eluded him after a 1,500
bronze in Sydney and a 2004 silver in Athens.
“It feels special,” Lagat said. “We’re
now American countrymen. We took this journey a long time ago for
different reasons. We’re fighting now for one country. We’re
proud to be Americans.
“That makes it interesting. That’s why
America is America. We will be running for the USA and we will all
be proud to wear the red, white and blue.”
Lagat ran for Kenya in his past two Olympic
appearances.
“For me, this is a dream come true,” Lagat
said. “This is the land of opportunities. I feel like I’m living
that dream, using my athletic abilities for my country. There’s no
other country I’m representing now.”
Lagat and Manzano each speak three languages.
Lomong speaks four.
Lomong was kidnapped at age six from his Sudan
village by the Janjaweed militia but escaped and ran three days
through the wilderness before reaching Kenya, where he was taken to
a refugee camp.
He spent five shillings to watch Michael Johnson
win 400 gold at Sydney on a black and white television. Eight years
later, after finding a US foster family and eventually reuniting
with his family after 16 years, Lomong is an Olympian.
“It’s a dream come true,” Lomong said.
“Seven years ago I couldn’t even think I would be running in the
Olympics for the United States and here I am.”
He was shocked to learn that none of his 1,500
US teammates was US-born.
“It’s awesome. Something great will come of
it,” Lomong said. “We grew up different ways but now we are
united. It’s great to be out there for the land that helped us all
so much.”
Manzano, from a small village near Hidalgo, was
stunned by the fact as well.
“We all wanted to be here, to start a new life
for ourselves,” Manzano said. “Having the opportunity to compete
for the United States, it’s definitely the American dream.”
-- AFP
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