After the grand Paris Olympics, all eyes are now on the Diamond League, and the one in Lausanne matched expectations. But hang tight, as the Silesia DL is now set to feature America’s three-peat shot-put star, Ryan Crouser. While Noah Lyles and other notable track athletes have decided to take a much-needed break, Crouser has just shed light on some useful tips to ensure a brighter future for track and field.

As seen in a FloTrack X post, Crouser discussed how, especially for the U.S., people tend to become ardent track fans around the Olympics, accompanied by “a sense of national pride.” Therefore, Crouser suggests that for track athletes, “we need to do a better job at harnessing that right after the Olympics.” He highlights how they have a series of meets, but most are in Europe, prompting him to call for “more meets in the U.S. right after the Olympics,” which he sees as key.

Noah Lyles’ American compatriot also stresses how “continuing to grow the sport is a challenge.” Why so? Crouser remarks, “we do a very poor job of conveying what makes track and field special.” And what is that? Well, he believes, they represent the “pinnacle of sports performance. whether it’s sprinting, jumping, height, distance, throwing for distance,” all of these are the best in the world at what they do. Yet, even with the top 8 in the world, he feels they do a poor job of communicating just how remarkable these performances are.

His suggestion? Bring people closer. He believes that simply watching track in a stadium is not enough, as something gets lost, especially in field events. He feels that street shot-style exhibitions are important so that people can stand closer. But this isn’t the first time someone has pinpointed the areas where track and field is lacking.

Ryan Crouser joins Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek

Noah Lyles once candidly said, “Being a track athlete living in the US…you are only cared about for four years and you’re in a dying sport.” Well, this was a bold statement, as he highlighted the downside of being an American athlete. Just before gearing up for the all-important U.S. Olympic Team Trials, another contemporary jumped on the bandwagon.

In May 2024, Kenny Bednarek took to X and wrote, “The cost to fly and accommodate my team at the trials and Olympics is pretty wild. Prices are jacked up.” Time and again, athletes have remarked on how it takes a crew for them to perform optimally in mega-events, and the inflated costs are hardly feasible to maintain.

Despite being a six-time world champion, Noah Lyles echoed the same sentiment. He replied to Bednarek, “It’s hard for all of us man.” Lyles pointed out how it is extremely important for them to be well-supported at these events. Unfortunately, USATF does not provide any financial aid or assistance to help them manage their accommodation and other expenses.

In such cases, even athletes with sponsors suffer, while those without are hit even harder. Considering the pay disparity with other sports, World Athletics took a crucial step by deciding to distribute a $2.4 million share to 48 athletes who win gold at the Olympics. Each individual gold winner will receive $50,000, while the same amount will be given as a unit to relay teams.

However, it seems that pay isn’t the only issue that needs to be addressed for the future of track and field. Public involvement is also crucial. What do you think? Let us know.