Noah Lyles’ record-breaking $2 million Adidas deal comes with immense pressure, as Justin Gatlin highlights the ruthless nature of track and field contracts.
American sprint icon Justin Gatlin believes that reigning Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles has the highest-paid contract in the history of track and field.
Gatlin explained that as of 2023, Noah Lyles was making up to $2 million from his deal with Adidas and following the extension, he is now a history-maker, surpassing Usain Bolt.
However, that comes with a lot of pressure on his side since he has to always live up to the billing. Failure to honour that, Justin Gatlin explained that he will be slapped with pay cuts.
Usain Bolt has expressed disappointment in Yohan Blake and others for failing to follow Coach Glen Mills’ guidance, which led to their struggles.
Gatlin noted that the three-time world 200m champion will always have to make the World Championships and Olympic teams and finish in the podium bracket to maintain that standard.
“Probably Noah, he is probably sitting at before this previous season, he was probably sitting at $2 million. That is historical in our sport,” Justin Gatlin said on the Run Your Race podcast.
“An average elite sprinter in our sport earns about $80,000 to the high six figures. A regular sprinter earns about $750,000, a huge contract in our sport.
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“He will continuously make that amount but if he gets injured or doesn’t make teams, then the $750k goes down to $700k or $650k.
“Companies are always acquiring new athletes and they might reduce the money to pay these new ones. The nature of our sport is very ruthless.”
Justin Gatlin further pointed out that the athletes who sign with major brands are always given a chance to try their luck in the national teams to major events but once an athlete does not perform after that, it becomes difficult for them to receive contract extensions.
He revealed that performance is always key when an athlete is signing a contract and they have to make sure they maintain the top sport or even go beyond that.
Athletes always have to watch their diets and training to avoid getting injured because even with injuries, athletes tend to receive pay cuts.
“For us, if you have an athlete who does not make the team and you get a grace period when you are a rookie, right but if you don’t make an Olympic team or a World Championships and you’re making a lot of money, they can reduce it, your base salary can be reduced,” Gatlin added.
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“You can start off with a certain amount and then along the way realise that because you finished fourth and did not lean on the line, you can get a 25, 000 or 50,000 cut on your contract and you’ll be looking at a whole different contract.”
Meanwhile, in February 2024, Noah Lyles secured a landmark contract extension with Adidas, set to run through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
There are no specific details about the contract but speculation has it that I was the richest contract in track and field since the retirement of the fastest man alive, Usain Bolt.
Noah Lyles has worked with Adidas since 2016 when he turned professional and while the contract extension was a plus for him, it also comes with a lot of pressure to deliver.
