“I Feel Bad for the True Pro Track Athletes”: USATF Under Fire as Michael Johnson Voices Concern Over Lack of TV Coverage for Track and Field Stars

The track and field world recently faced a massive jolt in the wake of NBC’s decline to cover this year’s USATF events. As the events are already underway, Michael Johnson recently expressed his concerns regarding the lack of support provided to professional track athletes by the U.S. Track and Field Federation (USATF). The former U.S. track and field star has always recognized the US athletes’ excellence, as they leveraged their success to create an influential personal brand.

He still continues to do so by expressing his support across his social media platforms. The Olympic legend recently addressed the issue of very little or no prime TV coverage for the athletes. His comments have sparked a heated debate regarding how track and field athletes are treated at the national level, putting USATF under the spotlight.

Michael Johnson sheds light on the challenges faced by pro track athletes

In his latest tweet, Johnson brought attention to the discouraging conditions endured by these athletes throughout the U.S. Championships. He tweeted, “I feel bad for the true pro track athletes consistently winning major titles and successfully building a brand that transcends the sport.” In particular, he underscored how they are disregarded when it comes to prime TV coverage, compelled to compete among high school students despite their professionalism, and offered inadequate support by USATF, the organization responsible for overseeing them.

The absence of appropriate TV exposure hinders their accomplishments and dedication virtually. This poses a significant obstacle to attracting sponsorships or building a sustainable career path in this domain. Interestingly, this is not the first time Michael Johnson has voiced his concerns regarding major governing bodies’ lack of emphasis on track and field matters.

Call for Track and Field reform

Michael Johnson has previously voiced his concerns regarding major governing bodies’ apparent lack of focus on issues within the realm of track and field. In a separate tweet, he drew attention to the fact that the CEOs of World Athletics and USATF engaged in a podcast primarily centered on jazz, NASCAR, and music topics instead of addressing pressing matters within the track and field community.

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Johnson’s statements kicked off a more extensive discussion about the crucial need for reform and support for these exceptionally talented athletes. However, there were some individuals who expressed frustration towards the former track star. They questioned whether complaints are simply prevalent without any proactive approaches being taken to promote the sport.

With Michael Johnson’s influential voice magnifying these concerns, it is anticipated that this will spark significant transformation to uplift these committed athletes.

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