Amidst the anticipation of the World Athletics Championships, a groundbreaking announcement might conceivably change the landscape of the track realm for good. In a press release, the World Athletics organization announced an exciting new venture that will hit the floors in 2026. It might even possibly one up Michael Johnson’s track league set to debut in 2025, as this one will be enshrined on a grander scale with a plethora of participants and events.

Athletes will also get a chance to represent their own countries. With a whopping $10 million pooled for participants, excitement is at an all-time high. However, amidst this surge of enthusiasm, one name still reigns supreme: Usain Bolt. Despite his retirement from competitive racing, Bolt continues to overshadow with nearly three times the prize money for his mere appearance. Michael Johnson might have to keep wary eyes out now it seems like.

A hefty sum of money is sure to wake up Usain Bolt from his “retirement”

In a recent World Athletics Press Release, they announced the launch of a brand new league called the World Athletics Ultimate Championship. It is set for a debut between 11th to 13th September, 2026. It will feature the internationally top-ranked 8-16 athletes per discipline. A predicted number of 400 athletes from about 70 countries will compete. “With only the best of the best on show and cutting straight to semi finals and finals, we will create an immediate pressure to perform for athletes aiming to claim the title of the ultimate champion,” said World Athletics President Seb Coe. The handsome prize pot is also the creme de la creme. The organizers will award the gold medal winner $150,000.

However, given the appearance fees that athletes of Usain Bolt’s stature receive, which is around $400,000, the prize money still falls short. In the sports world, payment is expected to be based solely on merit and skill. Some athletes get larger paychecks simply for being more popular and drawing in more viewers. Though Usain Bolt is definitely a legendary sprinter with unbroken Olympic records under his belt, he is not the only athlete in the world who deserves such big remunerations. The Jamaican sprinter is estimated to have earned over $32.5M in earnings from appearances, prize money and sponsors, and this was reported back in 2016. NBA stars earn about 10 times more than track stars like Mo Farah, despite his multiple gold medals in Olympic, World, and European Championships.

Same is true for American decathlete Ashton Eaton who won 2x consecutive Olympic gold medals. This proves that Bolt’s maximum earnings do not come from prize money. He earns $1M-$4M annually from partnerships with over 10 global brands, including Gatorade and Puma. This is a big grey area. If track and field athletes are not earning their living from track prize money, they have to turn to sponsorship, vis-à-vis like many gymnasts do. However, sponsorships are based on popularity and charm, which are not necessarily the focal points of an athlete’s repertoire. It is high time that authorities make the required changes to ensure proper compensation. 

Addressing the disparity: Overhauling payouts for American sprinters

Athletes earn a lump sum from adverts. NBA stars earn an average of $8 million, while track and field athletes lag behind. One report called track and field a “dying sport” given its lack of viewership. This causes athletes to majorly miss out on money. One report suggests that the top 10 American track and field athletes make $100K annually. But that is just about two people. Additionally, in some cases, pro track athletes make pittances per year from prize money, with around $3,000 per event in addition to the prize money.

One Indianapolis sprinter, Kind Butler III, estimated his 2013 earnings from the track as only $6,000. Which is starkly different to Usain Bolt’s from that year. The scenario is surely changing in the right direction. President Seb Coe emphasized how the new World League will greatly improve the amount of spectators watching, the event “will be high on action and excitement for fans, setting a new standard for track and field events. Featuring athletics’ biggest stars, it will be a must-watch global sports event and means track and field will host a major global championship in every single year, ensuring for the first time that athletics will enjoy a moment of maximum audience reach on an annual basis.”

Similarly, even the NCAA has recently agreed to a $2.8B settlement that will allow colleges to pay their athletes directly. Track and field organizations such as World Athletics and USATF have also introduced a $50,000 payout for Olympics gold. The organization has furthermore allocated $2.4M to reward 48 track and field athletes in the upcoming Olympics events. Despite overdue implementation and slow progress, a brighter future seems within reach.