PREMIUM Charles Onyango-Obbo: Climate threatens marathon kings Our Columnists Just now

Article A few days ago, a story sent a shiver down the spine of many an East African sports fan: the era of Ethiopian, Kenyan, and (to a lesser extent) Ugandan marathon dominance might be drawing to a close.

Whenever a new technology or training methodology emerges, East African athletes adapt quickly, often outperforming the athletes who helped develop the tech in the first place.

When Nike developed the original Vaporfly carbon-plated super shoe ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics, critics speculated it might disrupt East African dominance if Western athletes gained broader access to the high-tech footwear.