Justin Gatlin has revealed the unstructured challenges of track and field, comparing its survival-based nature to NFL’s draft system.
American sprinting legend Justin Gatlin recently shared his candid thoughts on the challenges of breaking into the world of athletics.
The five-time Olympic medalist, who retired in 2022, compared the recruitment process in track and field with other sports, emphasizing the unique struggle athletes face to gain recognition.
Speaking on the Run Your Race podcast, Gatlin explained how success in track lacks the structured pathways seen in leagues like the NBA or NFL.
“Track is no real orthodox way of getting to the top, it’s just survival of the fittest,” Gatlin said.
“Like there’s a draft in the NBA, there’s a draft in the NFL. So, as a kid, you know, like I got to work to get to the draft. Draft is gonna get me to this point. There ain’t no drafting in track and field so you just run your ass off, and you hope you get noticed.”
Gatlin, who soared to fame after winning gold in the 100m at the 2004 Athens Olympics, highlighted his own journey as a testament to the unstructured nature of the sport.
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The 28-year-old sprinter has sparked a conversation on authenticity in sports, balancing Olympic glory with a blossoming fashion career.
Reflecting on his early career, he shared how his breakthrough came when he performed well at Nationals.
“When I started like dropping better times and went to Nationals and got third at Nationals, then I was getting letters for track and field. That’s when I started getting noticed,” he added.
Throughout his nearly two-decade career, Gatlin cemented his legacy as one of the fastest men in history, clocking a personal best of 9.75 seconds in the 100m, making him the fifth-fastest sprinter ever.
However, his path to greatness was far from conventional. Unlike athletes in mainstream sports, who are often scouted early and have clear pipelines to professional leagues, track and field athletes must rely on standout performances to catch the attention of sponsors and recruiters.
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Justin Gatlin has made intriguing revelations about the key moments and mindset that shaped his legendary sprinting career.
Gatlin also reminisced about a defining moment in his career that made him realize his unique talent.
Competing as a high school athlete, he showcased his versatility by excelling in multiple events within minutes.
“My first real moment was probably winning state,” Gatlin said.
“I literally won the 100 meters and came across the finish line. I went to go to the podium, and then the whole crowd is like, I’m like, what are y’all doing? We about to start the race for the 110 hurdles, I also did hurdles. So literally they were lining up, so I had to jump off the podium, run over to the starting line, jump in the race; gun goes off. I win that race too. So then I come back to the podium. That’s when I realized, like, I was a little more gifted than the average athlete.”
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Gatlin has reflected on his encounters with Usain Bolt, including the first time they interacted, explaining how ‘cool’ and ‘fitting’ the legendary Jamaican’s name was.
Despite his retirement, Gatlin continues to inspire and engage with the sport.
As the host of the podcast Ready Set Go, he offers insights on players and events, while occasionally reflecting on his rivalries, including his battles with Usain Bolt, and the moments that defined his illustrious career.
Injuries ultimately brought an end to Gatlin’s Olympic dreams. At the 2020 Tokyo Games, a hamstring issue in the finals dashed his hopes of becoming the oldest man at 39 to win an Olympic medal in the 100m undeniable.
