“No Progress”: After Unfair Pay Debate, Track and Field World Stands With Legend Over This Old Custom

The track and field legends have remained vocal regarding the low money infusion in track and field sports. In the past, they have raised questions on the lack of modernization in the sport for which track and field sports often have lost popularity. Furthermore, the lack of payment often blurs the future of the athletes who put their heart and soul into making the sports glamorous. However, several customs of track and field sports are still against the athletes. Now, the question has moved toward one such custom- the illegitimacy of putting the bib on the chest of the athletes. Among the track and field legends, Michael Johnson put a question mark on the presence of this old custom. 

The necessity of the piece of paper on the athletes’ chest, where the athletes’ names are displayed, infuriated the former world champion. So, pointing out the issue, Johnson penned a tweet, captioned, “Why does this sport insist on covering the worlds fastest athletes with bits of paper?” Eventually, the stark issue was visible in the recently concluded Bermuda Grand Prix 2024. There, the athletes’ names printed on the jersey remained hidden under the bib. The issue loomed over Noah Lyles’ case as well. 

The fastest man on earth was in the Bermuda Grand Prix on April 28 to participate in the 100m sprint. However, in his shiny golden attire, Noah’s name remained hidden under the bib. As per Michael Johnson, this is injustice toward the athletes. So, for a sport that has already been going through issues like lack of commitment toward the athletes, obscurity as such is not going to help any stakeholder. Several fans added their take on this burning matter. 

One such came from a fan, Jonathan Williamson. The X-handle questioned the lack of modernization in track and field sports where commitment holds everything. He loathed the bib issue by terming it, “no progress has been made…”.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Williamson was not the only one to support Michael Johnson’s argument regarding the track and field impediment.

Track and field fans question about the need to follow the custom 

A track and field fan, @athleticswrld termed the custom as “A laggard remnant from decades ago.” With that, the fan preferred the athletes’ names to take up the place. He suggested that this was a practice from a bygone era and should hold no precedence in today’s day and age, hence agreeing with Michael Johnson’s stance.

The same demand was visible from another fan’s comment. The X-handle termed the bib as, “Absolute nonsense”. This fan exclaimed that this was very much an archaic middle school track meet practice and such a thing should not hold weighage on the global podium. He also insisted that custom made jerseys with embossed names of the athletes be provided to them.

Furthermore, the presence of a bib on the chest could be a demotivating factor as well, when athletes like Noah Lyles already wear shiny jerseys to make a distinct appearance. So, as per a track and field fan, an uncommon arrangement might do good. 

A certain proposition also came when an improvisation in the kits similar to the UFC wrestlers was suggested. This user remarked that a stray piece of paper was a very stupid practice and that track should emulate the UFC that has names of the athletes emblazoned on its kits.

Meanwhile, all such efforts need particular sponsors to take up the matter at hand as World Athletics is far from playing that role. Tara Davis-Woodhall had plenty to say on all this a few days ago. Kenny Bednarek also supported the cause by saying, “Some compensation is needed for them”. So, as of now, the future may hold a firm solution to such matters.