There’s more to Kenyan runners than hard work

I understand columnist Rasna Warah’s attempt to ward off detractors of our athletes (Nation, May 7) when she says it is a result of “sheer hard work, discipline and dedication”.

She stresses that this success has nothing to do with the genetic advantage or legs that look like a bird’s.

Yes, the gallant sons and daughters of this land must surely be hard workers in their field, but let’s face it: Isn’t that act of praise an indirect indictment of other communities who make attempts at athletics as, well?

Is it really practical to assume, for instance that a certain community from around Nandi (picked purely for illustrative purposes) are exclusive hard workers and that say, if the Swahili from the Coast (also picked for illustrative purposes) were to adopt the same training regime as their counterparts from the Nandi, more medals would be won by Kenya in long races?

If we always take the first 20 out of the 25 positions (as she posits in her article), would we logically improve this tally to, say 40 out of 50 positions?

I think we may want to be patriotic, but if we are honest, we must admit the Wise One up there knew what He was doing, perhaps sprinkled some legs here, brain there, perseverance some place else, etc.

I do not see Harambee Stars beating Brazil in a World Cup final, just as they may not dominate the marathons like we do! It is just sometimes in the wiring by the maker.

GACHIENGO GITAU, Nairobi