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The 2004 Olympic champion has criticized Netflix's Sprint for excluding hurdlers and underrepresenting key athletes' inspiring stories.
American sprint legend Justin Gatlin has weighed in on the glaring omission of hurdlers in the second season of the Netflix track docuseries Sprint.
The series, released on November 13, 2024, has garnered attention for its in-depth portrayal of some of the world's top sprinters, but Gatlin believes the show missed an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the hurdles discipline and its athletes.
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Speaking on his podcast, Ready Set Go, Gatlin expressed his disappointment with the absence of hurdlers, particularly 100m hurdles stars like Alaysha Johnson and Paris Olympics gold medalist Masai Russell.
"And I understand that the common viewer just see sprint and they just compartmentalize like, oh that's sprinters, that's fast runners. They don't realize like hurdlers are sprinters too. Why didn't we get a chance to see hurdlers?" Gatlin said during the podcast.
The five-time Olympic medalist highlighted Alaysha Johnson's struggles, including her humble beginnings and the challenges of competing at the Olympics without a sponsor.
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Gatlin also praised Masai Russell's triumphant journey from a disappointing defeat to winning gold at the Paris Olympics.
"Look at Alaysha's story where she's coming from. She had to make her own clothes when she was in school and being at the Olympics not having a contract, jockeying for the gold and not having a contract, that's a big big story. Look at Masai, coming out of college, losing the year before to come back and win this year. Those are big stories," he added.
Gatlin also gave a nod to 100m hurdler Cyrena Samba-Mayela, who became the only French track and field athlete to earn a medal during the Paris Games.
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He argued that such accomplishments deserved recognition in the series, especially given the diverse narratives they bring to the sport.
The Netflix series has faced criticism not just for its treatment of hurdles but also for the underrepresentation of African track athletes.
Despite featuring stars like Noah Lyles, Kishane Thompson, and Letsile Tebogo, the series has been accused of sidelining key figures in the track and field world.
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Gatlin’s criticisms come on the heels of his earlier remarks about the portrayal of Fred Kerley in the first season of Sprint.
During a previous Ready Set Go podcast episode that featured Kerley, Gatlin shared his disappointment with how the documentary failed to capture the depth of Kerley’s journey.
"I didn’t like it because in certain aspects and also it blindsided a lot of the characters. The portrayal of you (Fred Kerley) was never the champion you were. It should have shown your back story," Gatlin remarked.
While Sprint has been praised for its high-energy portrayal of the sport and its stars, Gatlin’s insights shed light on areas where the series could expand its scope.
The inclusion of hurdles and other underrepresented events would not only celebrate the full breadth of track and field but also inspire viewers with the athletes' diverse stories of perseverance and triumph.
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