U.S. embassy and consulate websites or www.state.gov.
We’ve gone social!
Follow us on our facebook pages and join the conversation.
16 April 2008
The Climax of Everything
Kenyan-born runner expected to compete as a U.S. Olympian in 2008
By Bernard Lagat
Kenyan-born runner Bernard Lagat is set to compete in the Olympic Games for the third time in Beijing. For the first time, he will be a member of the U.S. team. Currently the American record-holder for the 1,500 meters, Lagat has traveled a long road to reach this point in his life and athletic career.
The entire meaning of the Olympics is to meet athletes from so many countries, to come together and celebrate humanity through sport. But this year I will be trying to win a gold medal too. That is my goal right now. I won the bronze medal in 2000 in Sydney as a member of Kenya’s Olympic team and the silver in Athens in 2004 against the great Hicham El Guerrouj from Morocco. So I think it’s time now for me to do my best to win the gold medal in the 1,500 meters.
To have the collection of all three medals from the Olympics would be fantastic -- bronze, silver, and gold together.
I am really happy about running for the United States because I’ve realized a lot of dreams that I could not even think possible. I’m proud to be part of the revolution now in America whereby track and field is getting recognized and the athletes are getting better and better all the time.
To be at the Olympic Games again, wearing the U.S. uniform, that would be the climax of everything. Representing the United States and getting the gold medal would be a wonderful opportunity for me.
Opportunity was a big part of my decision to become an American citizen. I wanted to settle in America, live like any other citizen, and have more opportunities for my family.
I came to the United States from Kenya in 1996 to go to Washington State University. I earned my degrees in 2001 in decision science and management information systems.
I was happy to be a student in America with my student visa. I had come to America to study, and I was going to go back home. Then my roommates told me about the Diversity Visa [DV] program, which allows people from select countries to apply for a permanent residence card the “green card.” About 50,000 applicants are selected each year. So my roommates said, “Hey, let’s all apply.” Luckily, I applied, and I got the piece of paper back saying, “Congratulations you won the DV lottery.”
I’m bringing up my family in America now. It was, of course, a tough decision to relinquish my citizenship from Kenya, but I think it was the best decision for me.
Opportunities to work and to earn money in the United States allow me to actually help the people back home. I started my foundation in 2003 to help students from poor families who are ranked top five in their classes. That is the basis of my foundation: academics. In Kenya, you find all these kids who are so smart, but they run the risk of being sent home because they cannot pay school fees. So my foundation helps them pay the school fees for the whole year. If I can help one family, if I can educate one of their kids, that will make a big difference in their family.
The violence that occurred in Kenya after the December [2007] elections is a big concern. The kids were supposed to go back to school in January. But the unrest delayed the return to school, so one month was disrupted, and it sets back the kids from what they were ready to learn. Then they have to cram up the lessons in order for them to finish the term. So it is a disruption.
Another concern is violence. Kenya is known to be a peaceful country. It’s been a model of peace in Africa. The economy has been going so well, but then suddenly this election violence turned things the other way. It concerns me because of the safety of my friends, general citizens, and my folks back home. I still have my family also in Kenya, and that is something that makes me worry.
But when we look at the bright side of things, I believe they will get a resolution, and I believe Kenya will become peaceful again.
