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Gabby Thomas, who was featured on season one of the docuseries, will also be featured in season two of the Netflix-produced show.
American sprint queen Gabby Thomas has hailed the Netflix docuseries Sprint for playing a key role in boosting the visibility of track and field.
The series, which premiered just before the Paris 2024 Olympics, provided an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at some of the sport’s top athletes, including Thomas, as they prepared for the world's biggest stage.
It also featured the likes of Sha’Carri Richardson, Shericka Jackson, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Noah Lyles, Fred Kerley as well as Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs.
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Reflecting on the impact of the series, Thomas noted the attention it brought to track and field, especially in the build-up to and during the Olympics.
"I feel like there is a lot of attention on the track world now, and it is a really exciting time coming off these Paris 2024 Olympics," Thomas said on Front Office Sports.
. "I think we had a lot of time on us, and in addition to that, we had the Netflix docuseries that premiered right before the Olympics, and now season two is coming along right afterwards. We have a lot of initiatives for next year."
The debut season of Sprint captivated viewers by offering an intimate look at the highs and lows of elite track athletes. The docuseries delved into their rigorous training routines, personal challenges, and the sacrifices made to reach the pinnacle of their careers. Thomas, alongside other top sprinters, became household names as viewers were able to witness the resilience and determination required to excel in the sport.
One of the standout features of Sprint was its focus on humanizing the athletes. Fans were treated to not only the moments of glory on the track but also the struggles and triumphs behind the scenes. This personal touch, combined with the accessibility of Netflix, has sparked increased interest in track and field, especially among younger audiences.
Thomas highlighted the importance of social media in further amplifying the sport’s reach.
"With our ability to use social media to showcase our personalities and storytelling, I think it has brought a lot of attention to track and field," she explained. "It sparked interest from the Box to Box film producers to make a show about us and those who invest in our sport and make track leagues, because we have such an interesting product. I think it is the personalities of athletes that have created this new phase."
The success of the first season has paved the way for the much-anticipated second season of Sprint, which is expected to follow the athletes through the aftermath of the Paris Olympics and into their preparations for future competitions.
Athletes like Kishane Thompson, Letsile Tebogo and Julien Alfred will also be featured in the series, having not been featured on season one
For Thomas, working with the production team behind Sprint was a positive experience. She praised the filmmakers for their ability to capture authentic moments while making the athletes feel comfortable.
"They are the favorite media people that I have ever worked with. They followed us quite a bit with their cameras, and they were a lot of fun. They were good at their job and had a great way of getting us to open up to them, which was great because they were with us frequently for so many hours of the day."
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