Is Track and Field undergoing a major shift? Track and field competition exists beyond determining the fastest runner because it centers around the athletes themselves, together with their competitive relationships and dramatic happenings, which generate interest. Sprinters, along with jumpers, show more than just their winning speed by delivering competitive entertainment. But has all of this started to fade?

Athletic rivalry at competition endings serves to create electrifying energy in sports viewing. Track and field enthusiasts previously relished athletic rivalries alongside charismatic personalities and athletic assurance. But with these often labeled as “classless,” many wonder—has the sport lost its edge?

A call for more swagger in Track and Field

Sprinters like Tyson Gay and Yohan Blake made every race feel like a showdown. Gay and Blake, two of the fastest men, when they hit the track, it wasn’t just about who won but was more like a statement. Tyson, known for his competitiveness, ran the same 9.69-second 100m as Blake. He secured the second-fastest 200m time in history. As Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green said in the Ready Set Go podcast, “I think our sport is just… the sprint world is just you walk around with the arrogance.” And they’re right. When Tyson and Blake were racing, one could feel it. They brought to the track the kind of energy that made fans hold their breath.

Usain Bolt’s name is synonymous with greatness. He dominated the 100m and 200m like no other, winning eight Olympic gold medals, including three successive golds in both events. Gay often challenged Bolt. But their dynamics soon changed when the Jamaican legend continued to dominate. “As soon as I start winning, all of that changes. He stopped talking to me. And I think everybody deals with losing differently,” he said to sportbible.com. Their rivalry was no longer just about speed—it became personal.

The increasing pressure stemming from their competitive spirits forced both athletes to reduce the playful approach that initially characterized their races. “We’ve been raised for the sprinters to be classy, like not to talk like that or not to, you know, when I feel like we should be like WWE… If you feel like that man isn’t like that, you feel like he’s so-so, you be like, ‘Hey bro, you so-so, I’m really like that,’” they said in the podcast. Many are finding it difficult to deny that something important has disappeared from the sporting event. The refinement of track and field competition brought modernization yet led to the disappearance of its original passion, which enchanted spectators during its peak period. Now, the track has received a fresh energy boost from emerging competitors Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr.

Bringing back the drama to Track and Field

Talents like Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr are now the talk of the town. Through his dominance in the 1500m and 5000m events, Norwegian runner Ingebrigtsen achieved successful European and world championship wins. His incredible demeanor during pressure situations distinguishes Ingebrigtsen from his fast running ability. His third victory at the European Cross Country Championship serves as an example of his achievements. The 2024 Paris Olympics saw his showdown with Josh Kerr. Kerr earned second place while Ingebrigtsen was pushed to fourth place. He has quickly become one of Ingebrigtsen’s fiercest rivals.

Kerr accused Ingebrigtsen of having an inflated ego after defeating him in the 2023 World Championships and claimed that the Norwegian’s entourage of “yes-men” prevented him from acknowledging his weaknesses. Ingebrigtsen fired back, calling Kerr’s comments laughable and accusing him of lying and being a coward. “The ego is pretty high on this one. If he doesn’t realize that he’s got some real major weaknesses, then he will not win the 1500-meter gold medal next year.” Ingebrigtsen called Kerr “just the next guy,” and Kerr sure took that personally.

Both Ingebrigtsen and Kerr engage in increasingly hostile verbal exchanges as their track competitions grow increasingly more intense. Kerr aimed Jakob’s absence from the Grand Slam Track League, mocking his 800m skills, while Ingebrigtsen fired back, dismissing Kerr’s words until he contributed to world records. With the sport now shifting to be more professional, can the next generation of athletes, like Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr, bring back the intensity and passion of old, or has track and field forever changed?