🚀 go-pugleaf

	The post about Ethiopian runners reminded of a rumor I heard
while in Kenya about the African boycott in 1976.  Altho only 
hearsay, it came from an authoritative source --someone who was with
the Kenyan team in Montreal.

	It seems that when the possibility of an African boycott began
to be raised (remember, it was because of a New Zealand rugby tour of
South Africa), the Ethiopians and Kenyans agreed that neither country
would boycott as long as the other did not.  They each felt standing
alone would be impossible, but as long as they weren't isolated they
could compete.  This was before Nigerian athletes became a force, so 
these were the only two countries that had anything to lose from a 
boycott (well, Tanzania too with Filbert Bayi, but Tanzania's 
president Nyerere was always willing to sacrifice the welfare of his
people for socialist principles).  

	The Kenyan and Ethiopian teams went to Montreal.  Ethiopia had
at least one (gold?) medalist at 5K/10K in Yifter and a strong marathon 
contingent; the Kenyan team was awesome -- Henry Rono was an unknown, 
but had run within one second of a world record steeple on a dirt track 
which the Kenyans kept secret so he would surprise everyone at the Games.  

	The day before the opening ceremonies the Kenyans received a 
cable from the Office of the President in Nairobi with the President's
name on it telling them to withdraw from the Games.  They did so, amidst
tears from the athletes.  The Ethiopians, betrayed by the Kenyans, could
not face the pressure alone and also withdrew.  

	But that's not the end of the story.  Upon returning to Kenya
my informant asked the president in private why he changed his mind.
The president reportedly said that he had not, he had never authorized
the sending of the cable, but that once it was made public he felt he
could not repudiate it!

	I believe my informant.  Kenya's president, on the other hand,
could very well have been lying to my informant.  In any event, it's a 
good story that leads to all sorts of "might-have-beens."  Remember, this
was Viren's second 5K/10K double -- a much more difficult performance
with the Africans there.  The steeple in 76 was a classic -- how much more
so with Rono in the race!  And the Cierpinski/Shorter/Viren marathon
becomes so much more interesting with 3 Ethiopians competing.

	Coty Pinckney