'We all steppers in real life'- Alaysha Johnson sends message to American legend Justin Gatlin for speaking out

'We all steppers in real life'- Alaysha Johnson sends message to American legend Justin Gatlin for speaking out

Festus Chuma 15:00 - 01.12.2024

Alaysha Johnson has thanked Justin Gatlin for addressing the exclusion of hurdlers from Netflix’s Sprint, sparking representation discussions.

American hurdler Alaysha Johnson has expressed her gratitude to former Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin for shedding light on the absence of hurdlers in the Netflix docuseries Sprint.

The second season of the track-focused series notably omitted coverage of hurdlers, a decision that has drawn criticism from the track and field community.

Gatlin, who hosts the "Ready Set Go" podcast, recently spoke about the issue, highlighting the missed opportunity to showcase the inspiring stories of hurdlers on the world stage.

Among those he singled out for praise was Johnson, whose remarkable 2024 season included her first Olympic appearance and several podium finishes despite significant challenges along the way.

Reacting to Gatlin’s acknowledgment, Johnson took to X (formerly Twitter), where she thanked him for putting the matter into the spotlight.

“Can’t name a hurdler on the line that couldn’t turn that Netflix up TBH. We all steppers in real life 🤝🏽 & we all have completely different stories! Thank you for the acknowledgment,” she wrote.

The exclusion of hurdlers from Sprint has sparked conversations about the representation of athletes within the sport.

Johnson’s story, in particular, stands out as an example of perseverance.

During the 2024 US Olympics Track and Field Trials, she faced the unique challenge of curating her uniform due to logistical issues.

Her journey to the Paris Olympics, where she finished seventh in the 100m hurdles finals with a time of 12.93 seconds, was a highlight of her career.

In addition to her Olympic performance, Johnson clinched podium finishes at events such as the USATF New York, USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix, and Alexis Ohanian's debut Athlos meet, further cementing her status as a rising star in the sport.

Reflecting on her journey, Johnson shared her perspective on the importance of paving the way for others in an interview earlier this year.

“You can be things that are not created yet. You could be the person that has to go through things in order to help other people behind you be able to have a new path,” she said, as reported by Forbes.

Johnson also called attention to the financial disparities in track and field, emphasizing the need for a model akin to the NFL’s financial structure, where athletes receive consistent support regardless of performance.

Gatlin’s decision to highlight hurdlers in his podcast resonated deeply with athletes like Johnson, who see the absence of their stories from mainstream platforms as a missed opportunity to engage fans and inspire future generations.

His comments have ignited a broader discussion about inclusivity in the portrayal of track and field athletes.