When you think of track and field, you normally don’t think of a glamorous world that’s often associated with other sports. Instead, the sport is often seen as a gritty universe where the athletes endure the harshest conditions. However, Fred Kerley isn’t one to brush things under the carpet. The 2x Olympic medalist is known for stating his mind about things for how they are. And he’s at it again.

Kerley’s own experience with how track stars are treated hasn’t been the best. On the contrary, he’s had to undergo a lot of troubles with his sponsors even before the 2024 Paris Olympics. The bitter experience has given the 2022 world champ a new perspective on his beloved sport, and he’s up for doing something about it.

Fred Kerley’s annoyance isn’t misplaced

In a recent episode of the Ready Set Go podcast, the Olympian talked about the shambling conditions that dominate the world of track sports. During the conversation, Kerley noted why having a good contract is crucial for professional runners. “I feel like at the end of the day with that situation, track and field don’t eat,” said the 2024 Olympic bronze medalist. He went on to question, “Once we get down with this sport, how can we eat and forever eat when we get done with this sport?”

With that, Fred Kerley also mentioned that the absence of a central body that represents the well-being of the athletes makes things all the difficult for the stars to assert their rights. “We don’t got no union or none of that. When we get done with this sport, most of us get left,” he highlighted the harrowing life that awaits most track runners after they hang up their spikes for good. His frustration was highlighted further, “Yeah, we got all these medals and stuff, but these medals don’t mean nothing.”

“I feel like that a lot of people at the top just eat while we are a slave to this sport,” Kerley fumed. He went on to remind everyone how things actually should be: “…the people at the top really can’t make no money without us.” While his words might raise a lot of eyebrows, Kerley has his reasons to be feeling agitated.

Kerley isn’t alone in his complaints

Ahead of the US Olympic Team Trials, Fred Kerley got entangled in a messy row with his former sponsors ASICS. Despite his multi-million dollar contract with the spike maker, Kerley was seen running with different shoes on at the team trials in Eugene earlier this year. “I feel like, at the end of the day, the shoe brand doesn’t really respect us. They respect themselves,” Fred Kerley later said about the situation and how ASICS refused to pay heed to his words when he tried to explain why he ran with Puma spikes at the NYC Grand Prix. While Kerley and Noah Lyles don’t often see things eye-to-eye, even the Fastest Man In The World would agree that the track world needs a change, and soon.

Ahead of the 33rd Olympic Games, Lyles joined many other Team USA athletes to highlight how they struggle with their finances. The situation was so dire that many athletes noted that they couldn’t get their families to travel with them to tournaments to cheer for them from the stands. “It’s hard for all of us man,” said the Olympic gold medalist during an online exchange with his national teammate Kenny Bednarek. So what do you think can bring a change to this? Share your suggestion with a comment.