Justin Gatlin, who beat his old rival Usain Bolt in the final of the 100 meters at 2017 World Athletics Championships from an unconvetional lane eight, has explained why winning the event is not limited to starting positions.
American sprint legend Justin Gatlin has shed light on why lane assignments in the 100 meters are not as critical as many might think when competing for World or Olympic titles.
Drawing on his illustrious career, which includes an Olympic gold medal, multiple World Championship titles, and countless accolades, Gatlin highlighted how mental toughness and race strategy often outweigh the importance of lane placement.
The 2004 Olympic champion and 2005 and 2017 World 100m champion is no stranger to competing on the biggest stages.
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Over a career spanning nearly two decades, Gatlin has amassed five Olympic medals, 12 World Championship medals, and three Diamond League titles in the 100 meters.
One of his most notable victories came in the 2017 World Championships in London, where Gatlin defeated his longtime rival, Usain Bolt, to claim the gold medal from lane eight—a lane typically considered less advantageous.
Speaking about the significance of lane placement, Gatlin explained on Run Your Race, “Depending on how good you are, especially in the 100 meters, you can win from anywhere.
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“I won a World Championship from lane eight, and my toughest competitors were in lane three, across the track. When you’re running in a straight line, you can’t feel anybody that far away. You can’t see them peripherally—you’re out there running your own race.”
Gatlin’s approach to race preparation also reflects his focus on mental fortitude and energy management. He described how athletes navigate through the rounds of a championship meet:
“In the prelims, you want to be able to run from the blocks to the 50-meter mark, see who’s around you, and then gauge where you are for the next 50 meters.
“You slow down and conserve energy. It’s a seeded process, which is why I would never see Usain [Bolt] in the prelims or semis—I’d only see him in the final,” Gatlin shared.
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He added, “All the fast guys have their own heats until the semis. When you meet another fast guy there, you run up to around 70 or 80 meters, then you’re like, ‘Okay, cool.’ You look at each other and say, ‘Let’s shut it down.’”
According to Gatlin, dominance and strategy go hand in hand during the early rounds. “Mentally, you want to show as much dominance as possible. You want to get a good lane and preserve energy because usually, between the semis and finals, there’s only about an hour—or less. Sometimes just 45 minutes. You don’t have much time to recover,” he explained.
While central lanes—four, five, and six—are often ideal for their visibility and competitive proximity, Gatlin believes that exceptional athletes can succeed regardless of their starting position.
“When you’re in the center, you can go shoulder to shoulder with your competitors and push each other—boom, boom, boom. But if you’re good at what you do, you can win it from anywhere,” he emphasized.
Gatlin’s insights, born from years of experience at the highest levels of competition, reinforce that the 100m race is as much about strategy and preparation as it is about physical ability.
