Whereas saying the present state of observe and subject is “okay”, Jamaican dash legend Usain Bolt says he’s hoping the inaugural Grand Slam Observe will be capable to present a wanted spark into the game.
The brand new skilled observe and subject league, based by America’s Olympic Video games champion and former world document holder Michael Johnson, is to be staged in 4 cities with the opening leg set for the Nationwide Stadium in Kingston from April 4-6.
Jamaicans Indirect Seville, Ackera Nugent, Rushell Clayton, Roshawn Clarke and Nickisha Pryce have all signed on to compete at Grand Slam Observe, together with a number of of the world’s high athletes together with the US 400m hurdles famous person Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the Paris Olympics triple gold medallist American Gabby Thomas and Dominican Republic’s Olympic and world champion Marileidy Paulino.
The sequence, which is to additionally characteristic stops in Miami, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, would be the most profitable in observe and subject with over US$375,000 ($59 million) to be shared among the many high eight finishers at every staging.
There have been some who’ve been sceptical of the brand new competitors together with American dash star Noah Lyles who questioned the advertising and the situation in a latest podcast.
Nonetheless, the world’s quickest man Bolt believes it may have a optimistic influence on athletics.
“I believe Michael Johnson is doing his new factor which I hope works as a result of it’s higher for the athletes. More cash [is] all the time good as a result of observe and subject is all the time method down on the totem pole in the case of being profitable, so I believe if this works, it may very well be a giant deal,” he mentioned on the Prepared Set Go podcast with Justin Gatlin and Rodney Inexperienced.
After profitable eight Olympic Gold medals, 11 World Championships titles and breaking the 100m, 200m and 4x100m information, Bolt hung up his spikes in 2017 on the age of 31.
Since then, there have been a number of discussions on the state of observe and subject with many believing it has misplaced its attraction. Johnson mentioned it’s one of many causes he began Grand Slam Observe.
“We’re revolutionising the observe panorama, permitting our sport to stay on the forefront of the sporting world yr spherical,” Johnson mentioned.
Bolt mentioned he has seen enhancements within the performances in recent times however wouldn’t say athletics is in a wonderful place.
“I believe they’re attempting. I watch the competitors, it’s higher I need to say. The competitors with the ladies’s degree has not dropped. I believe they’ve actually surpassed males in the case of competing,” he mentioned.
“I watch and see the extent they’re at, everyone’s working world information, they’re working quicker instances, getting private information. So for me, it’s okay,” Bolt added.
The 38-year-old, nonetheless, believes that numerous present Jamaican athletes don’t have the identical starvation in comparison with the earlier technology.
“I watch my fellow Jamaicans and I’m like ‘you guys don’t need it like we used to need it’, as a result of after I sit, have conversations, go to coaching and observe, ‘I’m like nah it’s not the identical’,” Bolt mentioned. ‘
“I take into consideration [Gatlin] on a regular basis after I was working. I present up [at the] observe and I’m like I have to get this proper as a result of I do know I’m going to be good on the high finish but when I can’t catch [Gatlin] on the finish, what’s going to occur? So I’ve to ensure I work on every part.”
He continued, “I [used to] really feel ache in my calf however I nonetheless wanted to do one thing, even when it’s not a full programme. If I want to simply jog, simply do one thing to ensure I don’t waste at the present time, however I don’t suppose most of those youthful athletes are like that, they’re not constructed the identical.”
Ackera Nugent of Jamaica (Picture: Collin Reid)
Jamaica’s 400m hurdles star Roshawn Clarke greets Grand Slam Observe founder and Commissioner Michael Johnson in the course of the launch of the Kingston leg at Jamaica Pegasus lodge on November 11, 2024. (Picture: Garfield Robinson)
