With 26 medals at the World Athletics Championships, Team USATF left an unforgettable mark on Tokyo, securing 16 golds, 5 silvers, and 5 bronzes in one of the team’s most successful showings in decades. From Noah Lyles blazing through the sprints to Melissa Jefferson-Wooden’s explosive performances, America’s stars shone brightly on the world stage. Yet, despite their brilliance, their contributions risk being overlooked.

It seems the nation has quietly diminished the spotlight on track and field athletes compared to other sports stars. And this isn’t just an opinion, Coach Rob’s reaction after witnessing the state of the sport spoke volumes about the challenges facing America’s track heroes.

During a conversation on his YouTube channel, Coach Rob Track and Field, he revealed that Team USA is the most successful team in track and field history. Yet, despite this dominance, track and field athletes rarely receive the recognition they deserve compared to other sports. “Most track and field athletes in America who win medals on the world stage, they are so far away from celebrities, you would almost never know that they compete because we don’t get to see them,” said Coach Rob.

He pointed out, beyond lower pay, track and field athletes in the U.S. face a bigger challenge: recognition. Yes, Team USA boasts numerous Olympic gold medalists, but are they truly celebrated and rewarded fairly? Let’s look at an example. Remember Lestile Tebogo? The 22-year-old thundered across the finish line to claim the 200m gold at the Paris Olympics. Back home in Botswana, he was hailed as a national hero.

Tebogo didn’t just earn fame – he earned tangible rewards. He received 250,000 pula (around $20,000) for the gold, plus an extra 50,000 pula for setting a new African record. On top of that, local retail giant Choppies Botswana pledged 1,000,000 pula (roughly $75,000) in recognition. In total, Tebogo may have walked away with approximately $300,000 just from his wins. That’s the kind of celebration and compensation many U.S. athletes rarely see.

Coach Rob pointed out that while some U.S. track and field athletes earn well, “Yes, you have athletes at the top who make enough money from sponsorships and endorsements, but if you don’t compete in a premier event, and you don’t break a world record, good luck out there trying to pay your bills with track and field.” 

Athletes like Noah Lyles, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, and Sha’Carri Richardson certainly rake in big money through sponsorships, but what about everyone else? For most, it barely covers the basics. This comes even after the USA earned twice as many medals as the second-ranked country, Kenya, which amassed 11. Remarkably, the USA’s gold medal count alone surpasses Kenya’s entire tally.

Even those reaching the finals at the Olympics or World Championships struggle to make ends meet. “There are a whole bunch of athletes at the USA Championships every year who are unattached. Many of them even make the finals, and then they go right on back to a full-time day job the moment the USAs are over. That is where we’re starting negotiations from,” said Coach Rob.

Is there a way to fix this problem? Absolutely, by giving the sport the spotlight it deserves instead of treating it as an afterthought. Icons like Michael Johnson and Alex Ohanian have already stepped up, taking responsibility through initiatives like Grand Slam Track and Athlos. The real question is: Will their efforts spark a lasting change? Well, the question is yet to be answered, and guess what? Noah Lyles is not sure where the sport is going.

Noah Lyles believes the “future of sprinting is hazy”

The world of track and field today is brimming with talent, from Oblique Seville and Lestile Tebogo to Gout Gout. The future of the sport, and its legacy, is in capable hands, with athletes delivering at the highest level. But what about the administrators? That’s a story of its own. Noah Lyles, for his part, believes the field is so stacked with talent right now that there’s barely any room for an individual to carve out space or make a mark.

“The future of sprinting is hazy right now. There is so much talent, there is so much room for growth, and there are so many new personalities coming up, but I feel the way that the sport is right now, nobody knows which direction to go in,” said Lyles in his conversation with The Guardian. The 200m world champion argues that the uncertainty in athletics goes far beyond who will rise as the next track stars, it touches “everything involving athletics.”

Next year, there will be no major events for track and field athletes except for the newly established Ultimate Championship, but Lyles has yet to commit to competing there. Well, the future of sports will depend on how the World Athletics and the fans treat it. Regardless, what are your thoughts on Coach Rob’s words?