Track & field is on the brink of a major overhaul, with billionaires and celebrities pouring in their investments. This influx could dramatically reshape the sport, but a crucial step in this transformation is letting go of the past. The 2000s were arguably the golden years for track and field. Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, and Yohan Blake were rewriting the record books and pushing the sport to its limits. Their record-breaking feats set a high bar was proof that athletes are reaching their peak.

This was evident during the 100-meter final at the Paris Olympics, where Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson crossed the finish line at exactly 9.79 seconds. Lyles edged out Thompson by a hair’s breadth—just five-thousandths of a second. Yet, despite this breathtakingly close finish, it seems that one track legend’s focus is solely on breaking records, rather than truly appreciating the intense competition itself!

In a post on X by Raes Take TV, track legend Justin Gatlin weighed in on the current state of track and field. He’s calling for a shift in mindset, away from obsessing over records and back to appreciating the pure thrill of competition. “Our sport needs to really focus on the essence of competing. We’ve lost that. We get enamored by fast times and it could be a really competitive race, and it could be to the line,” he said.

Gatlin argues that this fixation on speed has skewed our expectations. “If somebody runs a 10.1 or 10, we’re like ahh, it was okay. Not too long ago, 10.0 was a very respectable time, as it should be. It still is. We’ve been spoiled by that by the last previous generation. I think we should go back to what the essence of track and field really is, competition,” he explained.

The 10-second barrier was once the stuff of legend. Jim Hines first broke it in 1968, and it was almost a decade before anyone else managed it. But soon enough, dipping below 10 seconds became almost routine. After Usain Bolt’s reign, breaking records became the main event, overshadowing the pure thrill of the race itself.

Gatlin, who has seen his fair share of legendary track battles, reminds us that while records are important, they shouldn’t overshadow the fundamental excitement of watching athletes go head-to-head. As he puts it, the real magic of track and field lies in the competition. And he’d know—having been right in the thick of some unforgettable races himself!

Justin Gatlin’s achievements as a track & field legend and his epic battle with Usain Bolt

Justin Gatlin is nothing short of a track and field legend. With five Olympic medals and twelve World Championship medals under his belt, he’s the most decorated 100m sprinter of all time. His personal best of 9.74 seconds makes him the fifth-fastest man ever and the second-fastest American, just behind Tyson Gay. But if you ask anyone in the track world, one thing stands out above all: his epic rivalry with Usain Bolt.

Bolt himself has called Gatlin his biggest rival. While Bolt is hailed by many as the greatest of all time, it was Gatlin who first grabbed the spotlight, winning gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics while Bolt was sidelined with injuries. Their first head-to-head came at the 2005 World Championships, where Gatlin snagged the gold again, with Bolt struggling through yet another injury.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 05: Justin Gatlin of the United States is congratulated by Usain Bolt of Jamaica following his win in the Men’s 100 metres final in 9.92 seconds during day two of the 16th IAAF World Athletics Championships London 2017 at The London Stadium on August 5, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Gatlin’s first suspension in 2006 gave Bolt a chance to rise, and by 2008, Bolt had claimed the Olympic gold with a world record of 9.62 seconds. Meanwhile, Gatlin was mired in controversy and a second suspension. When he returned in 2010, he and Bolt reignited their rivalry, battling for gold at nearly every major event. Their showdown reached a peak at the 2015 World Championships, where Bolt triumphed with a time of 9.79 seconds, narrowly edging out Gatlin, who finished at 9.80 seconds. Gatlin admitted he was devastated, saying, “That loss did really hurt me a lot.”

Gatlin did manage to get a bit of a track & field payback, though, by beating Bolt in Bolt’s final race at the 2017 World Championships, with Bolt taking third. Gatlin finally called it a career when he turned 40 in 2022, capping a story marked by perseverance and dedication despite numerous hurdles. Reflecting on this, what are your thoughts about Gatlin’s sentiment on the current state of competition in track & field? Share in the comments below!