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Gatlin has explained why the narrative on sprinting in Africa is changing following Letsile Tebogo, Akani Simbine and Ferdinand Omanyala's rise, as well as America with distance running, as showcased with Cole Hocker's gold medal in the 1500 meters at the Olympics.
American sprint legend Justin Gatlin has shared his thoughts on the shifting dynamics in the world of athletics, where Africa is increasingly producing top-tier sprinters, while the U.S. is making strides in distance running.
Gatlin offered an in-depth perspective on the evolving trends in track and field, especially in light of the recent Paris 2024 Olympics.
For the first time in history, an African sprinter clinched gold in a short sprint event, with Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo emerging victorious in the men’s 200 meters.
Tebogo's triumph came against strong competitors like American stars Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles. This victory marked a significant shift in what has traditionally been considered the stronghold of American and Caribbean sprinters.
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19:18 - 13.09.2024
'He would have his hands full'- Justin Gatlin explains why Noah Lyles would have struggled to keep up post-Olympics
The 2004 Olympic champion insisted that even if Noah Lyles had been healthy and free from stress, he would have struggled to make an impact after the Paris Olympic Games.
Akani Simbine from South Africa and Ferdinand Omanyala from Kenya have also risen as sprinting powerhouses.
Simbine narrowly missed out on gold by just five-thousandths of a second, further solidifying Africa’s presence in sprinting. Zimbabwe’s Muzala Samukonga added to the continent’s impressive showing by securing bronze in the 400 meters.
Gatlin pointed out how these developments are breaking long-standing stereotypes about African athletes. Traditionally, Africa has been known for producing world-class distance runners, while the U.S. was considered dominant in sprinting. However, that narrative is changing.
“We only say, ‘Oh! Kenyans and Ethiopians only have distance runners, they don’t have sprinters, while America only has real sprinters, and the distance is not really that good compared to Kenya, Ethiopia, and other parts of the world. That is not true,” Gatlin stated on his Ready Set Go podcast.
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11:19 - 14.09.2024
Akani Simbine hoping for a grand reception as he returns to South Africa after long season
Akani Simbine hopes to have a grand reception like Letsile Tebogo's once he returns to South Africa after a long season with the highlight being winning a silver medal in the men's 4x100m relay.
Gatlin emphasized the importance of recognizing the true potential across various nations and how talents are emerging in unexpected areas.
“I really feel that across the board, there are true talents that can compete at the highest level in any respectable event from those countries and the fact is, you see this.
“You see Tebogo, you see Omanyala. Simbine has staked his claim. This is what track and field is all about, finding those talents from other countries that you would not think they would produce.”
He described this shift as a "changing of the guards," highlighting the growing confidence and resourcefulness of athletes and coaches alike. “It is a fact of, ‘I have the ability to do it, I am going to find those resources, and I am going to be successful,’” Gatlin explained.
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14:15 - 13.09.2024
American icon explains why Noah Lyles should consider quitting 100m despite Olympics triumph
Justin Gatlin has shared why Noah Lyles should consider rspecialising in running the 200 meters only in 2025.
The former Olympic gold medalist also attributed the transformation to the influence of coaches, who are playing a key role in shaping the next generation of athletes.
“I believe now that coaches are the equalisers. They go out there, find the knowledge, go to these workshops, clinics, get new answers, find different modalities, and then go out there and become better coaches to become better quality athletes.”
On the other hand, America has seen unexpected success in middle-distance running. For the first time in decades, an American won gold in the 1500 meters at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Cole Hocker claimed first place, with Yared Nuguse finishing third, a major breakthrough for U.S. distance running. This came as a surprise, especially considering that renowned Kenyan distance runner Timothy Cheruiyot underperformed.
This dual shift — Africa excelling in sprinting and the U.S. making headway in distance events — reflects a broader evolution in the sport. As Gatlin suggested, the lines between traditional specializations are becoming increasingly blurred, making global athletics more competitive and unpredictable than ever.
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