The former world record holder has given reasons why he understands major broadcasters’ decisions to snub track events as the sport’s current structure is flawed.
American sprint legend Michael Johnson has explained why broadcasters shy way from a number of athletics events, blaming their makeup for the snub.
Johnson used the Keely Classic, an event where Olympics 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson was to attempt a world indoor record in Birmingham this Saturday, but it will not be on the BBC’s main channel.
This follows a hamstring injury picked by Hodgkinson just days to the event and being the main attraction, the BBC did not see the need to give it prominence when the key figure is missing.
While appearing to defend the BBC over their decision, Johnson says broadcasters are not to blame but rather track and field whose structure makes it tough to invest in the sport, as unforeseen events like an injury to the main act can take the shine away, making the track meet less attractive.
“The current structure of the sport doesn’t work. You can’t build around one star,” Johnson posted on X, explaining why organizers of track and field meets should focus on having competitive events not tailored around one star athlete.
“It’s not compelling. Competition is. And it’s too big a risk and broadcasters know it. Don’t believe me? Unfortunately, Keely sustained an injury yesterday so is no longer competing in the event.”
To put an emphasis on his point, the four-time Olympics champion highlighted the makeup of his soon-to-start Grand Slam Track that has focused on competition and not build itself around one star.
“We built Grand Slam Track around 12 curated race groups with 4 top ranked Racers making up the league, plus 4 top ranked Challengers joining them,” Johnson added regarding the structure of Grand Slam Track, which will begin in April.
Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson pulls out of the Keely Klassic due to a hamstring injury, ending her world record hopes.
“If one athlete withdraws for injury, we still have great race. The focus is competitive fields racing for a win, as opposed to a single star athlete racing the clock for time, with the other athlete as a supporting cast.”
Johnson, whose Grand Slam Track will start in Kingston before heading to Miami, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, seems to have a point as Hodgkinson’s event now looks like it has flopped following the 22-year-old’s withdrawal.
The world 800m indoor record of 55.82 seconds set by Jolanda Ceplak in 2002 will now remain intact following Hodgkinson’s injury.
