In a plea against the ongoing problem of pay disparities, track and field star Noah Lyles has added his voice to the cause. He even called the sport a “Dying” sport. To understand the roots of these inequalities, we need to look back to early April when World Athletics grabbed headlines by becoming the inaugural international governing body to introduce prize money at the Olympic Games in Paris. While the announcement promised $50,000 for each gold medalist, totaling an impressive $2.4 million prize pool, concerns promptly surfaced regarding how other athletes would be compensated.
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Since this announcement, discussions surrounding pay disparities in track and field have dominated the news. Just days ago, Sha’Carri Richardson cited disparities as a contributing factor to her withdrawal from the Miramar Invitational. Similarly, Kyree King recently shared his experience of not receiving payment after his victory in 2022, highlighting unpaid bills.
Now, Noah Lyles has joined the conversation, echoing sentiments expressed by fans about the need for a Track & Field Hall of Fame to elevate the sport’s status and address these discrepancies. As a fan’s plea, “Need a Track & Field Hall of Fame!!! Glamorizing our sport will allow its status amongst the masses to grow and give it a greater allure as well as grandeur.”
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Need a Track & Field Hall of Fame!!! Glamorizing our sport will allow its status amongst the masses to grow and give it a greater allure as well as grandeur.
— Nethaneel M-B (@Nethaneel) April 24, 2024
To this Noah Lyles echoed the sentiment, stressing the urgent need for such an institution. He said, “I been Telling Mark Wetmore this. We need one really bad.” Mark Wetmore is Noah Lyles’s agent. By supporting the idea of glamorizing track and field, Noah sees a Hall of Fame as a way to raise the sport’s profile among the general public and bring a sense of grandeur that could lead to greater recognition and fairness for athletes. However, it seems a former Olympic champion will be making the change in the realm of track and field
Michael Johnson launches new track and field league with $30 Million investment
Olympic champion Michael Johnson is set to launch his own track and field league next year. Backed by over $30 million from investors, including a major contribution from Winners Alliance, the league aims to revolutionize how track and field is presented and enjoyed, and will also improve athletes’ pay. Winners Alliance will also serve as the operating partner, helping to steer the league’s strategic direction
In an effort to connect more deeply with fans, Johnson has partnered with three leading agencies to enhance the promotion of the sport’s athletes through engaging storytelling. This move is part of a larger strategy to increase the sport’s popularity, especially in the build-up to its spotlight at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Johnson, a legend in the sport with four Olympic golds and eight World Championships to his name, announced this exciting development on social media. This new league represents a significant step forward in raising the profile of track and field globally.
