Athletes with origins from other Countries

[heywoodu 16,146]

1 hour ago, copravolley said:

Lucas Braathen in alpine skiing (his mother was from Brazil).

And even this was entirely off the table in Brazil only a few years ago, the federation was very strongly against this. Now they're going all-in though, snowboarding, biathlon, alpine skiing, they're looking everywhere and have thrown their policy overboard as fast as possible

 

[Monzanator 4,828]

Nothing like former colonial superpowers exploiting their colonial glory days and calling out others over 'unethical' methods. No wonder France is so hated in Africa for instance but Zinedine Zidane's son will represent Algeria from now on (obviously there's another angle in pro sports, one is too weak for the 'stronger' nation in a sport so one chooses the 'lesser' nation).

[Griff88 2,015]

Bahrain gets the hate spotlight simply because they managed to gain a lot of success in the world stage with this 'buying' method. No one hating on Congo for example if they field a table tennis team consisting solely of China-born players, because the only thing they managed to dominate is the African Table Tennis Championships.

[dodge 1,040]

14 minutes ago, heywoodu said:

Like most people, I think it depends on the situation. No problems at all with examples like Sifan Hassan or Lonah Salpeter, or plenty of athletes who simply moved to another country for whatever reason (from fleeing home to a relationship). The problem with a lot of athletes who don't fall in that category but really are 'bought' is also often with their home country federations and such, driving them away basically (in some cases at least, especially Kenya is of course notorious for this).

While I’m not suggesting the Kenyan federation is perfect, isn’t it simply a case that athletes who choose to move do so for obvious financial reasons and a guaranteed selection for the Olympics and world championships? 

 

It’s hard to see what the home free federations can do differently (without the money needed)

 

Is, for example, the Turkish federation better run than, for example, the Jamaican one? Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t but the Jamaicans moving recently have to be financially motivated IMO

 

 

[NearPup 3,617]

6 hours ago, El Analyzer said:

Hey Guys, What's your opinion about naturalisation in sports? .. do you think it's good/ bad / fair / unfair... for the athletes and for supporters too?

 

for me I can categories them into 3 styles:

 

1- Athlete who lived in the new country long enough and get the citizenship similar to any other normal person utilising the them process and time frame to be granted the new citizenship

 

- Personally I see this one is fine, and the athlete is free to choose which country to represent (original or new)

 

2- Athlete who is seeking asylum or has been ejected from his homeland for any reason, then he had been offered a citizenship to play.

 

- it depends, if he is temporarily away from his homeland I am more in favour to retain his original citizenship, but if it's impossible to be back again, then it's fine

 

3- Athletes who have been paid to represent another country and leave their homeland

 

- I am totally against that and can't withstand a Bahraini called Winferd, Qatari called Savic, Belgian calle Paratishvilli or Turkish called Makhmadov ..etc

I never have any issues with 1, 2 is case by case, 3 I have mostly negatives feelings about, though I’m not fully opposed to it.

 

Also depends on the sport, in figure skating for instance I have no problems with one member of the pair being offered citizenship purely so they can compete at the Olympics with their partner who is from that country.

Edited September 22, 2025 by NearPup

[Faramir 459]

imo at least a partial development in the sport system of the country is what counts. usually during school age years (5-6 to 18-19 yo), sometimes later. The normal process of acquisition of citizenship varies too much from a country to another to use it to judge if a case is legit or not.

Regarding specific countries, they are often judged on the matter by how much one likes them. Ethnicity/lineage shouldn't matter at all but is often thrown into such discourses for example.

 

[hoversaBR 673]

33 minutes ago, heywoodu said:

And even this was entirely off the table in Brazil only a few years ago, the federation was very strongly against this. Now they're going all-in though, snowboarding, biathlon, alpine skiing, they're looking everywhere and have thrown their policy overboard as fast as possible

 

It's a policy our sports have; most of them don't like foreigners, even as coaches. Well, our national soccer team had a policy of never hiring a foreign coach, and here we are. 

 

But theoretically, in Lucas's case, I imagine they don't see it as a rule violation. For all intents and purposes, he's been Brazilian since birth by law. So would it be like working with the fine print? 

[bestmen 2,909]

You know whaaaaat , they should make 2 tables of medals : native and nationality 

both nations will share the medal

 

You know whaaaaat , no one will apply my idea so fk off i dont care  

 

[heywoodu 16,146]

6 hours ago, dodge said:

While I’m not suggesting the Kenyan federation is perfect, isn’t it simply a case that athletes who choose to move do so for obvious financial reasons and a guaranteed selection for the Olympics and world championships? 

 

It’s hard to see what the home free federations can do differently (without the money needed)

 

Is, for example, the Turkish federation better run than, for example, the Jamaican one? Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t but the Jamaicans moving recently have to be financially motivated IMO

 

 

Sure, but for example about Kenya there have been plenty of stories thoughout the years of athletes being treated like shit by the federation, which seemed to have plenty of money, but only to give their officials luxury trips while the athletes had to make 48+ hour travels instead of a more expensive but better single flight.

 

Sure it's often financially motivated as well, but to be entirely honest, if I was an athlete, my federation treated me like shit and making a good income was basically impossible, and then another country offers something the opposite...I might well be going for it as well. In the end, you're an athlete for yourself and perhaps to take care of your family.

[copravolley 564]

1 minute ago, heywoodu said:

Sure, but for example about Kenya there have been plenty of stories thoughout the years of athletes being treated like shit by the federation, which seemed to have plenty of money, but only to give their officials luxury trips while the athletes had to make 48+ hour travels instead of a more expensive but better single flight.

 

Sure it's often financially motivated as well, but to be entirely honest, if I was an athlete, my federation treated me like shit and making a good income was basically impossible, and then another country offers something the opposite...I might well be going for it as well. In the end, you're an athlete for yourself and perhaps to take care of your family.

Looking by only results in last years, I think Kenya invests more in athletics than Ethiopia, but I don't know any specific numbers. I'm only looking at the medal standings.