The former 200m and 400m world and Olympic world record holder is delighted to see US athletes get widespread coverage thanks to Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson
American sprint icon Michael Johnson has lauded Noah Lyles, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone for helping increase coverage of track stars in the US media.
Johnson, a former 200m and 400m world and Olympic record holder, feels the three sprinters have popularised athletics in America due to the massive attention they have been commanding especially since the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
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“I cannot recall a time when more track athletes successfully transcended the sport into US mainstream media coverage. Noah, Sha’Carri, and Sydney have all succeeded in unique and different ways,” Johnson posted on social media.
Lyles won the 100m, and 200m and was also part of Team USA that won the 4x100m Relay gold in Budapest in what was his best ever outing at the Worlds while Richardson won her first gold medal, claiming victory in the 100m before settling for bronze in 200m.
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McLaughlin-Levrone, meanwhile, is the Olympic 400m hurdles champion and also won gold at the 2022 World Championships over the distance.
Lyles and Richardson have particularly attracted a lot of attention since their heroics in Budapest with their personalities also rubbing off well among the fans.
The two have attended several events since, Lyles was spotted at National Football League (NFL) games while Richardson was in attendance as the Dallas Mavericks faced the Los Angles Clippers in the NBA last weekend.
That was just hours after Richardson had been honoured by a track and day named after her in her hometown of Dallas.
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Lyles’ dig at the NBA players for calling themselves ‘world champions’ when they had only competed in America also received widespread coverage, further enhancing his status.
Johnson’s comments come two weeks after Lyles hit out at the US for not appreciating athletes enough due to the ‘flat’ atmosphere at track and field events in the country compared to Europe.
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“The New York Grand Prix has actually been having a better environment like I have actually walked out and they get excited. Sha’Carri came through, she walked out and these people started losing their mind, by far the best atmosphere for the youth,” said Lyles during a conversation with Liberian-American sprinter Joseph Fahnbulleh.
“It is a completely different vibe in Europe and you will get stopped by five people asking for your photograph outside the hotel. But still, there is a lot of potential in the US. We just haven’t hit those major cities like New York, Virginia, LA, Texas, Atlanta.”
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