Carl Lewis, a two-time relay gold medalist, recently took to social media to express his frustration with the state of the U.S. Track and Field relay team. Lewis called for a major overhaul of the program, stating, “No athlete should step on the track and run another relay until this program is changed from top to bottom.”
The recent men’s 4×100-meter relay at the Paris Diamond League faced setbacks right from the start. Christian Coleman’s collision with Kenny Bednarek on the first exchange set a tone for the race. Fred Kerley, taking the anchor lap, found the U.S. team in seventh place.
Carl Lewis, known for his outspoken criticism of the relay team, highlighted the need for drastic changes within the organization. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing winning over relationships and called for a complete transformation of the program.
During an interview with The Associated Press, Lewis suggested a relay manual be developed and distributed to high school coaches nationwide to address the underlying issues plaguing the U.S. relay team.
Despite the lineup shuffle and unexpected changes to the relay team, there is hope for improvement. With a focus on eliminating politics and drama, Lewis believes the U.S. has the potential to field the fastest team in the world.
As the U.S. track and field team navigates through challenges and setbacks, the call for reform continues to grow louder. Will the necessary changes be implemented to lead the American relay team to success once again? Only time will tell.
