The 2024 US Olympic Track and Field Trials ended six days back. But, they continue to be the topic of discussion for many. Over this 9-day-long event, multiple athletes stamped their tickets to the Paris Olympics, including 27-year-old Alaysha Johnson. Finishing second in the 100m hurdles category with a 12.31-second timing, Johnson ran her personal best and successfully qualified for her Olympic debut.

However, it seems that the Paris-bound Johnson is presently being subjected to substantial criticism from athletic fans. Especially having provoked the ire of Sha’Carri Richardson and Flo-Jo’s followers. But why is that so? Why them specifically and not the larger demographic of sorts? Here’s a dive into all the details. And PS: it deals with people of color.

Johnson’s post-run comments triggered a controversy

A YouTube video uploaded by Michael Knowles with the title, “She Is Not Paving a Way for Black People in Running” features Alaysha Johnson. In the video, the Texas native was seen making some post-run remarks after her silver medal performance in Eugene. Just about holding back her emotions, she emphasized, “It was all God…” She continued, “I literally, I knew it was the easiest thing to do. Because everybody all the time said that I wasn’t good enough, said that I didn’t deserve. So I did this my way. My team’s way. And just the way that it was meant to be.”

As Johnson continued, she dedicated her win to all the hood babies.“This is for the people who are born and come from nothing,” she expressed. However, what she said right after seems to have attracted some trolling. Johnson stated, “This was for everybody that looks like me and was ever doubted. And I did it with a black designer on my chest. This is what I stand for. And I’m making a way for everybody in my position.” She was referencing her skin tone throughout this, for the uninitiated.

Following this, the video shows the host pulling up some statistics. Knowles cites that over the last sixty years, in men’s 100m, 9/10 gold medalists have been black. He further reads the figures from the 200m and 400m men’s event, before moving to the women’s 100m event, where he remarks that 8/9 gold medalists were black. “I could probably fill up the whole show,” he says, emphasizing that there have been black winners in the Olympics for a very long time and this is nothing new. Goes to show that facts trump all else.

Moreover, taking to the comment section below the video, several fans voiced their disapproval of Johnson’s statement. Some highlighted the names of former athletes, while others simply condemned the hurdler’s remarks.

Sha’Carri Richardson? Flo-Jo? Fans question Alaysha Johnson’s stance

Alaysha Johnson’s comment garnered diverse reactions from athletic fans. One of them commented, “What the hell is she talking about. She just dismissed all the people that came before her.” The fan seemed surprised by the remarks and felt that the 27-year-old dismissed all those before her. A second added, “…Stop trying to be victims. Embarrassing us.” They seemed to have found Johnson’s remarks embarrassing, as the victim mentality was what Johnson seemed to be going for here to articulate her point.

While another one in the comment section just pulled up a reminder. They questioned, “Paving the way for everybody that looks like you? You mean women like Florence Griffith Joyner? Jackie Joyner Kersey? ShaDari Richardson?” Flo-Jo’s legacy in the sport remains unsurpassed. Her 100m and 200m timings still reign supreme. Likewise, Jackie Joyner Kersee is not only a veteran but a six-time Olympic medalist. Even Sha’Carri Richardson, the 2x world champion, is one of the greatest in the sport, so what Johnson said seemed baseless.

Engulfed with sarcasm, another comment read, “First black athlete 😮 This is such an amazing movement. I can’t believe that after all these years we finally have a black athlete.” The fan hinted that there have been black sprinting phenoms who did triumph in the field much before Alaysha Johnson and she is no trendsetter to a sport that already has a surplus of black female athlete like Allyson Felix, Richardson so on and so forth.

“She thinks she’s Jesse Owens.😂,” is what one of the fans further wrote under the video. Jesse Owens was the first American to bag 4 track and field gold medals at a single Olympics. His record stood unbroken for 48 years, a legendary feat. The freak of nature still resides in the crevices of fans’ minds.

When speaking of black athletes, fans came up with multiple names. One of them expressed, “Denise Lewis, Tessa Sanderson, Dina Asher Smith? Those are the ones off the top of my head! Gorl is delulu!” Another one chimed in with, “Dear Ms. Johnson: Two words: Jesse Owens. Three words: Florence Griffith Joyner. Two more words: Usain Bolt.” Newsflash – all of them are historic black athletes who have graced the stomping grounds prior, so Johnson’s tirade didn’t seem to resonate with this fan too, who had done his due diligence and homework.

While another came bearing an elaborate list. “Here are some names that I would be willing to bet money that she doesn’t know. Jesse Owens. Audrey Patterson, Wilma Rudolph, Tommie Smith, John Carlos, Rafer Johnson. Lots of people are under the impression, it seems to me, that history begins with them,” wrote a fan. Johnson demonstrated great sportsmanship recently. But in this case, what do you think about these fan reactions and her comments? Let us know below.