Gatlin has revealed how similar the current American 4 by 100m relay team is to the great record-breaking Jamaican men's relay teams which were anchored by Usain Bolt.
American sprint icon Justin Gatlin has drawn a striking parallel between the current US women's 4x100m relay team and the dominant Jamaican relay teams anchored by Usain Bolt from 2008 to 2016.
The USA women's relay team, reigning world champions, clinched victory in Budapest last year. The team, comprising Sha'Carri Richardson, Tamari Davis, Twanisha Terry, Tamara Clark, Melissa Jefferson, and Gabriele Thomas, is now a favorite for gold this year.
Several factors suggest their potential for victory, including the close training relationships among team members. Richardson trains alongside Terry and Jefferson, all of whom will compete in the 100m event at the upcoming Olympics and form part of the relay team.
14:26 - 22.06.2024
American sprint icons explain Kenny Bednarek's growth in the 4x100m relays ahead of Paris Olympics
Gatlin and Spearmon have explained how Kenny Bednarek has grown as a relay sprinter over the last three years, having been extremely raw at the delayed Tokyo Olympics.
Jefferson highlighted the strong bond among the athletes, stating, "These girls have literally... they're my sisters. I love them to death. And if it wasn't for them, I probably wouldn't be sitting here right now. They pushed me in ways I never knew I could be pushed. The group in itself, it takes you to another level mentally."
Gatlin emphasized the camaraderie of the US women's team, comparing it to the brotherhood of the Jamaican men's team, which included sprinters like Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake, Nesta Carter, and Usain Bolt.
Speaking on his Ready Set Go podcast, Gatlin noted, "When you watch team Jamaica walking into a building and the 4x1 team is ready, the camaraderie, synergy, energy that comes with it, the confidence, they are ready to go out and battle.
“They are ready because they are a brotherhood and holding themselves accountable. They are going not only for themselves but each other."
21:34 - 15.06.2024
Justin Gatlin on the special attribute about Usain Bolt-led Jamaica's 4 x 100m relay his team USA lacked
Gatlin has admitted to being jealous about a unique attribute the Jamaican relay team led by Usain Bolt used to have that made it impossible for team USA to beat.
He continued, "We are getting to see the US women’s relay build a unique synergy of training partners who work together plus one or two depending on what they will do based on alternates and stuff like that, but we will see women who create a vibe of iron truly sharpens iron.
“They train together every day, pour blood sweat and tears and sacrifice: Now they are going to go out there and achieve their dreams of achieving Olympic glory with each other.
“It will go down in history and also mentally for themselves for the rest of their lives. They will say ‘I went out with my training partners and won, I went with my countrymen and won’. That is a big deal.”
As the team prepares for the upcoming Olympic Games, their bond and collective spirit position them as a formidable force, poised to leave a lasting legacy in the world of athletics.
19:31 - 18.06.2024
American sprint legend reveals what makes Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone special
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has already set world leads in the 400m, 400m hurdles and the 200m so far this season.