Just imagine having to run three races on the very first day of the 2028 Olympic Games! Simply thinking about it might be a tiring exercise. But the 100m women runners, including Sha’Carri Richardson, will have to push through such a format. World Athletics has declared a schedule wherein the opening day will mark the completion of the women’s 100m. Yes, the prelims and heats will go down in the morning session on July 15, 2028. Meanwhile, the semifinals and finals will feature in the evening session. Of course, this brings a fresh look to the Olympic competition. But what about the athletes?

Naturally, the question comes up: “Do You Think Running Three Rounds on the Same Day Will Be Too Tiring for Sha’Carri Richardson and Her Competitors?” We ran this poll in the recent edition of our track and field newsletter, Essentially Athletics, and here’s how the readers responded. Out of 505 responders, 405, which is about 80.20%, voted “Yes.” Their sentiment hinted that not all track fans seem to agree with the new women’s 100m format incorporated in the LA 2028 schedule.

At the Paris Olympics 2024, the women’s 100m prelims and heats were held one day before the semis and final. But in LA, the women will have to run it all on the same day. Alas, for some, like Sha’Carri Richardson, their performance won’t end with the 100m. As the usual anchor for the women’s relay team, Richardson might play an important role in the 4x100m relay scheduled on July 23 and 24. On top of that, she might also compete in the 200m, spanning from July 19 to July 21. This means Richardson will have to stay in peak condition for more than a week after her 100m race. 

However, the track stars, including Sha’Carri Richardson herself, have welcomed this change. Disregarding any concerns, Sha’Carri stated, “I’m locked in on accomplishing some personal goals and doing my part to help the sport keep growing and inspiring the next generation at home in the USA and across the globe.” Even the British sprinter, Dina Asher-Smith, claimed that “It will be an honor for the women’s 100m to open the LA Games.” Clearly, some athletes are all in on this new change. But multiple coaches and analysts differ, thinking this might not be the best initiative for the athletes. 

Coaches share insights on  LA 2028’s format change 

Well, the President of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, backed the new LA Olympics schedule, claiming that it rhymed with innovation while adhering to the traditions. He said, “We have landed on an athletics programme that will start with a bang as our women’s sprinters take centre stage on day one.” But all this innovation has also come under fire to some extent, especially from track enthusiasts.

Kemal Forde, a track and field analyst, became one of the loudest voices on X as he opined, “It would not be surprising if this is overturned because three rounds of 100m on the same day can be very tedious for the body. Especially for athletes who intend to do the 200m.” Forde remarked that if the schedules don’t change, the women’s 100m race featuring Sha’Carri Richardson and others could become the most anticlimactic event at the Games. After all, the 100m races are the blue riband event of track and field. 

As the debate gained momentum, the Jamaican Coach, Stephen Francis, stepped in and highlighted that putting all four 100m races on one day puts an excessive burden on the sprinters. Talking to TVJ News, he claimed, “Unfortunately, our regression to the anti-female scheduling especially the one displayed by the World Athletics for the last, I would say, six or so global championships culminated in 2023, when women who ran the 100m and 200m were required to run for five straight days: the 100m on the first two days and the 200m on the next three, without any break, while the men were given two days’ break.”

Even Usain Bolt’s former coach, Glen Mills, had a similar thought. Dismissing the scheduling, Mills stated, “I dont think its good for the sport in terms of quality of the performances that is expected at an olympic level.” He seemed certain that the schedule might impact the women’s health by not giving them sufficient recovery. Thus, there’s no doubt that some track and field experts advise against this LA 2028 move. And some of our readers seem to have a similar opinion. 

Essentially Athletics’ fans are not keen on Sha’Carri Richardson and others running multiple times a day 

Not only did 404 readers vote against the women’s 100m schedule in our poll, but some even expressed by dropping comments. A retired Olympian didn’t seem a fan of this change, “I have never heard of such a ridiculous move. Most of these sprinters will also run the 200m and the relays. I don’t think the people who made this decision have ever ran track. It will be too much on the athlete’s muscles. Please reconsider this change. Please n thanks. From a retired Olympian, 1980 and 1984.” The former sportsperson suggested a possible reconsideration. 

A former coach also shared a similar discontent, bringing up the technical challenge behind it. The comment read, “As a former coach, if you want world record type performance out of your top sprinters you don’t have them running 3times in a day. If entered in multiple races you risk injury and never see them in other events.” Well, sprinters mostly do not run more than two full-intensity competitive races a day. But this format will require them to step out of that zone.

Some fans even highlighted how other sports do not follow the same pattern. “Not even a football nor basketball team would play three games in one day. Let’s not be ridiculous!” one of the fans said. While another bluntly questioned, “If this is such a good idea, why aren’t the males running the same 100m 1-day format?” The men’s 100m contrastingly sticks to the former pattern with the prelims and round 1 on the opening day, followed by the semis and finals on Day 2.

Another fan threw in a reality check. While pay issues have been a long-standing problem in track and field, some seem to believe that this schedule might add to the misery. The comment read, “Wanting these competitors to strain their bodies like that will only increase the risk of injury and provide lackluster performances from World Class athletes. They already don’t get paid a lot to be there so why are we asking more of them when the check aint matching?” 

However, on another note, there were some fans who did expect the athletes like Sha’Carri Richardson and others to be able to meet this challenge. “If an individual is at their peak performance, they should be able to handle it, everybody will be under the same conditions.” Even the LA 2028 Olympics chief athlete officer, Janet Evans, said they had spoken to the athletes about this shift at length, and it was a largely positive conversation.

Well, not all fans might agree with the new LA Olympics format. But given that the athletes themselves sound confident about it, it’s sure that they will try to put their best foot forward! However, what do you think about the same? Let us know in the comments below!