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Asafa Powell has heaped praise on modern athletes like Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley for respecting his generation of athletes, while aiming digs at older generation athletes.
Former Jamaican sprint star Asafa Powell recently expressed appreciation for the respect he’s received from today’s top sprinters, while also criticizing older athletes for failing to extend similar support.
Despite his reputation as one of the fastest men in history, Powell was unable to capture major individual medals at the Olympics or World Championships, which has left him open to criticism.
Many detractors argue that his career focused more on running impressive times at smaller meets than claiming titles at major competitions. In recent conversations with former sprinters Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin, Powell shared that they felt disheartened by their treatment at the Olympic Games, as gaining access to the stadium proved challenging.
In a candid interview on his YouTube channel, The Powells, with Olympic gold medalist Donovan Bailey, Powell expressed gratitude for the admiration modern sprinters like Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley have shown.
“Just use your imagination. Imagine having all athletes in the stadium and the current athletes actually running towards all of us. It means a lot,” Powell said, reflecting on how much this recognition validates his contributions to the sport.
Powell’s wife, Alyshia, also appeared on the podcast, adding insight into her husband’s inner struggles. She revealed that Powell sometimes questioned his own legacy due to his lack of Olympic success.
“I think at one point in time for him, he was saying, ‘Maybe because I did not win at the Olympics, that’s why they are treating me like this,’ but when he starts talking to everybody, they all start singing the same song,” she shared.
Alyshia further explained that this self-doubt could be challenging for Powell, often making him wonder, “Did I not do enough? Was I not impactful?” She noted that he has been “hard on himself” but that he’s found solace in the respect he’s now receiving.
Powell also underscored the importance of mutual respect within the sport. “I have to respect those who came before me, and it’s good for them to know that we respect them, but we need respect in return,” he stated.
Powell, who has previously voiced frustration over a perceived lack of acknowledgement from older track stars, specifically highlighted former athlete and commentator Ato Boldon.
The 42-year-old admitted he “lost a lot of respect” for Boldon last August after Boldon dismissed Elaine Thompson-Herah’s chances of making a comeback to elite sprinting after injury setbacks.
Without naming names, Powell suggested that one older athlete in particular seemed to have little regard for his peers. “I know that one athlete in particular does not respect any of us. I will not call names, but I don’t think he respects any athletes at all,” Powell remarked, an implicit criticism believed to be directed at Boldon.
Reflecting on generational dynamics within sprinting, Powell expressed disappointment that the respect he showed athletes like Maurice Greene and Linford Christie hasn’t always been reciprocated by the generation that preceded his.
“I show a lot of respect to Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley because they’ve shown respect to us,” he explained in a previous episode on the same channel. “I looked up to Maurice Greene and Linford Christie, and we tried to model ourselves after them. But I don’t think the generation before us passed on the same respect.”
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