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Justin Gatlin has explained how Grant Holloway can learn from Noah Lyles when it comes to building his brand and avoiding disputes like what he encountered at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels.
American sprint legend Justin Gatlin has advised Grant Holloway and other top athletes on how they can build their platforms to attract more sponsors and avoid disputes like what happened at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels.
Holloway, the reigning Olympic 110m hurdles champion, was forced to withdraw from the meeting in Brussels after his team and the meet organisers disagreed on the appearance fees. The 2004 Olympic champion believes Holloway has to work on his persona off the track to ensure that he does not encounter such setbacks in the future.
He explained that he has already made a name for himself on the track, being the world and Olympic champion and he is currently the fastest man in the world this season over the hurdles with his 12.86 seconds. Holloway has also recorded the most sub-13 performances than any other hurdler.
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09:30 - 18.09.2024
'Excited to create more joyful memories' – Grant Holloway returning to Virginia for big celebration
Olympic champion Grant Holloway will return to Chesapeake for a celebratory homecoming event after winning gold in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
However, outside the track, Holloway has very little to show and Gatlin believes that’s what cost him negotiating power at the Diamond League Meeting final.
“He has six things playing in his favour on the track and he definitely needs that backing from advertisements, from sponsors, his team needs to build his persona to make sure he is out there so that people can see him. He is a complete athlete when you look at it…look at all the things he has done in his event,” Gatlin said.
“It’s a fact of some sponsors don’t look at the accolades…accolades just get you through the door and it’s who you are, that’s what is going to get that company money and that’s what they want to see. We need to see more of Grant, how funny he is and how lovable he is, that is going to seal the deal I think for a lot of companies,” he added.
The two-time Olympic silver medallist added that Holloway should build his social media network just like how Noah Lyles has built his brand. Gatlin noted that Lyles has millions of followers on social media, something that has built his visibility.
The American added that most people who follow Lyles may not be aware of his times on the track but they certainly know about his controversies off the track like the comments he made on the NBA players and his recent back-and-forth with Tyreek Hill.
“When you look at numbers, that’s what numbers are. When you look at athletes who have elevated their social media platforms and have millions of followers right now, many people there don’t know about his (Noah Lyles) personal time in the 200m is. They follow Noah because of his personality and most people know what he said to the NBA and Tyreek, not his time,” he shared.
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10:59 - 21.09.2024
‘Everybody else is losing’ – Justin Gatlin explains why no shoe company would beat New Balance sprinters in a 4x400m race
American sprint legend Justin Gatlin and ex-Bahamas sprinter Rodney Green believe a 4x400m relay showdown among shoe companies would be won hands down by New Balance sprinters.
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