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The USATF Olympic trials have been described as 'tougher' than the Olympic games themselves, something Michael Johnson, Dennis Mitchell, Gabby Thomas and Fred Kerley all agree on.
American sprint legends Michael Johnson and Dennis Mitchell have agreed with Fred Kerley and Gabby Thomas’ sentiments on why the USATF Olympic trials are even tougher than the Olympic Games following the 2024 editions.
Unlike other countries, where selection committees may use cumulative performance records or rankings to pick their Olympic teams, the United States adopts a no-compromise approach. Held every four years, the USATF Trials offer athletes one shot—just one race to prove themselves and secure a top-three finish.
No wild cards, no room for error. This “do-or-die” system is why many sprinters believe that simply making the US team can be harder than the Olympics themselves.
Michael Johnson, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, described the trials as the most nerve-wracking competition in track and field. “US Olympic trials are tough. I have been there three times, and it is the most anxiety-inducing track meet you could possibly take part in,” Johnson shared in a recent interview on the recently released second season of Netflix's Sprint.
“It is top three to get on that team, and you have to finish in the top three on the day.” His words reflect the unyielding nature of the selection process: regardless of past records or reputations, each sprinter must deliver their best performance in that one race or lose their chance to compete in the Olympics.
Dennis Mitchell, a former Olympic champion who is now coach to the likes of Sha'Carri Richardson, echoed Johnson’s sentiments, emphasizing the unpredictability of the trials.
“For us as Americans, we cannot look past the Olympic trials. Our sport in this country is just so very competitive,” Mitchell said on Sprint. “Anyone at any time can win the race.” He pointed out the trials' high level of competitiveness, where even an illness or an off day could be the deciding factor between a dream and devastation.
The competition's brutal nature lies in its simplicity: only the top three finishers qualify, irrespective of past achievements. If you’re the reigning world champion or have been setting record-breaking times all season, it won’t matter if you’re not among the top three on race day.
This policy stands in stark contrast to Olympic qualification in most other countries, where selection criteria may consider an athlete’s track record and seasonal bests rather than relying solely on one race’s outcome.
Gabby Thomas, an Olympic bronze medalist and prominent sprinter, has also voiced her agreement with the "more than Olympic" nature of the trials. Thomas noted that while the Olympics showcase the world’s best talent, the trials pit America’s best against one another in an unforgiving showdown.
‘US trials, the stakes are pretty high,” Thomas said on Sprint.
Moreover, this "all-or-nothing" approach to team selection is a unique feature of American track and field. Unlike other major American sports, where drafts and wildcard entries are the norms, the trials make no allowances for anything less than excellence.
For example, even if an athlete has set world records during the season, they still have to make it through the trials to secure an Olympic spot. This relentless meritocracy is why legends like Johnson and Mitchell regard the trials as the most nerve-wracking meet of all.
Fred Kerley, one of America’s most promising sprinters heading into the 2024 Olympics, commented on the immense pressure he felt even as a top-tier athlete.
“The world pay attention to our trials because we are American and the greatest country in the world.”
Kerley’s observation highlights that at the trials, it's not just about winning—it's about surviving the pressure cooker of competing against your countrymen, each of whom could easily win or lose based on a mere fraction of a second.
Both Thomas and Kerley ended up medalling in Paris. Thomas won three gold medals in the 200 meters as well as both the 4x100 meter and 4x400 meter relays having won her USATF 200 meter trial as well.
Kerley delivered 100 meter bronze in Paris after also finishing third at the Olympic trials behind Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek, and all three actually made the final in Paris.
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