Former 100m world champion Justin Gatlin has rubbished a big misconception fans have about the sport of track and field.
Retired American sprinter Justin Gatlin, one of the most decorated track and field athletes in history, has recently opened up about a widespread misunderstanding regarding the life of professional athletes in his sport.
The five-time Olympic medalist, who retired in 2022 after a career spanning two decades, addressed how the rigorous demands of track and field are often underestimated.
“Man, it blows people’s minds when they hear about it,” Gatlin said, reflecting on the public’s perception of track practice on an epsiode of The Ready Set Go podcast.
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Justin Gatlin has urged athletes to have caution in dealing with their wealth due to the unpredictable and unforgiving nature of track and field
“They really think track practice, even at the professional level, is just, ‘Oh, you go out there like some casual person going to the gym. Maybe jog around a little, do some exercises for an hour, and call it a day.’”
Gatlin’s reality, however, was vastly different. He emphasized the intensity and structure of a professional track athlete’s daily routine, comparing it to the grind of a 9-to-5 job, albeit with even more physical and mental demands.
“I tell them, ‘No, it’s nothing like that. It’s a grind, just like your 9-to-5 job—maybe even tougher,’” Gatlin explained.
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Justin Gatlin has hilariously recounted the 2004 Olympic Games, revealing his two greatest rivals at the time.
“We start practice at nine, sometimes hit the gym twice, then there’s recovery. And guess what? The next day, you wake up and do it all over again. It’s a full-on cycle, and it’s no joke,” he added.
For the former 100m world champion, the life of a track and field athlete wasn’t merely about the moments of glory on race day. Instead, it was defined by the daily grind—a relentless commitment to training, physical conditioning, and recovery. This routine required not only peak physical fitness but also a mindset geared toward consistency and resilience.
The sprinter’s insights shed light on the dedication that elite athletes bring to their craft, challenging the notion that their success is purely the result of natural talent.
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Justin Gatlin has called on Olympics gold medalist Rai Benjamin and Grant Holloway to follow up on a promised 200m hurdles showdown.
Gatlin’s words serve as a reminder that the life of a professional athlete involves more than just moments of fame. It’s a labor-intensive career demanding discipline, hard work, and sacrifice, qualities that often go unnoticed by the casual observer.
As the former 100m world record holder‘s reflections gain attention, they contribute to a broader understanding of the hard work that underpins elite athletic performance.
His career stands as a testament to the unyielding effort required to excel, even as he now steps away from the track to inspire the next generation of athletes.
