Track Legend Breaks Silence On Viral Moment

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^{Oct 19, 2024 | Edition #39}

👋 Hey, Speedsters!

Track and field is practically entering the season of new beginnings. Last time, we saw the world's second-fastest 100m runner of all time, Yohan Blake resume his career on a fresh note. But he's barely the only one who is turning the page. Well, the big three from track and field—Ryan Crouser, Mondo Duplantis, and Noah Lyles—have now turned fiancés from Olympic champions, all within just days apart!

Moreover, teenage sensation Quincy Wilson is also on the verge of a fresh change in his career, on which, a veteran has now given his two cents. As for starting afresh, Netflix has taken a bold step too, for the teaser of the new SPRINT season just dropped. Unfortunately, the lacks in it are glaring! Lets dive-in today’s edition and explore these exciting stories!

📜 QUOTE OF THE DAY

“My doctors told me I’d never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother.”

— Wilma Rudolph

In today’s newsletter, we’ll uncover these top stories from Track & Field universe:

💑 Track Stars’ Upcoming Wedding Plans!

🤔 Track Icons Debate on Quincy’s Path Ahead

💫 Maurice Green Debunking His ‘Viral Moment’!

😲 Netflix Side-lining Jamaican Stars?

💫Couples Talks

Wedding Bells for Olympic Champions

A trip to the French city of love or the sheer fact that athletes are done and dusted with sports for the season has opened floodgates of romance, inspiring many to put the 'official' stamp on their relationships! After his Paris triumph, gold medalist and world record holder Mondo Duplantis went down on one knee on a beach in Hampton recently as he proposed to his girlfriend for 4 years, Desire Inglander. The pole vaulter had been ready to do it the very second after the Olympics or perhaps on the flight back home. Although he confessed, "This is way more nerve-wracking than competing."

Days later, while we were still reeling over Duplantis' engagement, came the most talked about proposal of the year. 100m Olympic champion Noah Lyles decided to pop the question before Junelle Bromfield in an intimate function with friends and family. The last few months were full of the Olympics pressure and dodging the crossfire of the USA-Jamaican rivalry for the couple. But, the dreamy proposal on the balcony with candles, banner-sized photos, a pink heart-shaped floral installation, and their loved ones in attendance was more than compensation. In fact, this turned out to be the engagement with the highest visibility so far with over 10M+ views on their social media posts.

But, the final curtain hadn’t fallen until October 17, when Olympic three-peater Ryan Crouser put a ring on his relationship with his girlfriend, Megan Clark. Taking to Instagram, Ryan shared images of him suited up in blue and Clark looking elegant in black, captioned, "She Said Yes!!! 💍Thank you Trentino, Lake Garda will always have a special place in our hearts." Well, what was next? Noah Lyles took to X, rallying for October to be labeled 'engagement month!’ If not that, at least 2025 could officially be track and field's bride and groom season, right?

Read Full Article: Celebrating Ryan Crouser’s Engagement, Noah Lyles Delivers a Special Message to the Track and Field Community

📊 POLL OF THE DAY

Last Poll’s Result: Thank you for sharing your insights in our recent poll on what you'd like to see more of! We received strong support for two key areas: 45% of you want more behind-the-scenes insights into athletes’ lives and training, while 35% are eager to explore the rich history of the sport and its legendary figures. We hear you loud and clear! We’ll be prioritizing these stories in our upcoming content to bring you closer to the action. Stay tuned for exciting features that celebrate your interests!

👀 Perspective Corner

Sprint Legends Weigh Quincy Wilson's Next Move

Where's he headed to? NCAA or pro? Well, we are not the only ones asking these questions about Quincy Wilson right now. After Texas A&M, the 16-year-old recently visited the house of the Bulldogs. Seated on a black throne with a huge ‘G’ chain around his neck, he questioned “Go Dawgs?” while announcing it was just an official visit and he had not committed. Yet, a veteran chipped in with a rather comprehensive analysis.

On the Ready Set Go podcast, Rodney Green and Justin Gatlin discussed the possibilities of Wilson’s next career move. Rodney opined that going pro would be a high-stakes call for him, as Wilson was accustomed to winning since he was 11 or 12, among his age group. However, when he steps into the 'mix' with seasoned sprinters, it would mark a colossal shift. In fact, Wilson may even get stuck in the loop of self-doubt, "Am I good enough? Did I go pro too early?" But the alternative isn’t off the charts too—maybe Wilson "beats the odds" as a pro. Only for that, he'd require a robust support system, a coach who understands his mental position, can guide him through the pressure, and knows that his early years have to be developmental.

Justin Gatlin agrees that Wilson should experience sprinting on every level. He suggests Wilson can try going to college for a year, but his sight in the near future should be to go pro. This way he could experience all the stages! However, from where we see, Wilson may be the youngest American male track and field Olympian and the U-18 400m world record holder, but it is also true that his best time, 44.20s places him 11th on the senior list, showing that he still has a lot of work to do. However, in case he decides to tear a page out of Noah Lyles’ book, who skipped committing to the Florida Gators and turned pro in 2016, Wilson shall need a visionary instructor like Lyles has Lance Brauman.

Read Full Article: Quincy Wilson Possibly Turning Pro at 16 Gets Track and Field Legend’s Backing: ‘Beat the Odds’

📽️ Video Vault

Quincy Wilson’s Speed Explained!

Ever thought about what makes Quincy Wilson a cut above the rest? Why does the world call him a child prodigy? Well, many have noted that Wilson runs with his arms too open. And he is not too big on technique either. So how does he still manage to be this good? The secret’s decoded below in just 3 minutes!

📈Trending News

Ex Sprinter Explains Fiery Celebration Move

Picture this: you're back in 2004 and you've just witnessed Maurice Greene, donning a blue and white tracksuit take out the 100m race in 9.86 seconds, clocking the fastest time that year. But, just seconds after, nearly 20m beyond the finish line, Greene hurriedly jumps out of his blue Adidas spikes, and a fire extinguisher is rushed in. Next, for 10 good seconds, the icy chemical is sprayed onto the pair lying on the Home Depot Athletic Center track. Two decades later, here's what the American veteran has confessed was the rationale behind his iconic victory celebration.

Appearing on the Powells YouTube podcast, Greene explains that 2 weeks before the viral celebration, Shawn Crawford beat him in a race in New York and went like, "I got you.". That's when Greene promised, "I will see you in two weeks, cause you coming to L.A," and he knew he had to do something big for LA was Greene’s hometown. Until one day, he was driving with Larry Wade, his training partner, and thinking how could he possibly celebrate. That's when Greene spots an auto parts store and he instantly gets the fire extinguisher inspiration. And when Greene asked him to come post the race and spray his shoes like they were on fire, Wade went like, "Oh, sh*t! Yeah!"

Greene knew, his grandiose plan had to be backed up by speed. Thus, he confesses, he got carried away by having to perform that he nearly forgot about the trick until he saw Larry on the sidelines with the extinguisher. Hilarious! But, in that moment of spontaneity, Greene created a legendary moment that people remember to date, for kids still come up to him saying, ‘I see your video.’ But 20 years back, Greene had to justify this act of showmanship, for it irked the competitors until he clarified, "I didn’t do it to antagonize any of my other competitors.” All he wanted was to do something positive as the sport was getting a lot of bad press, until today when people realize his intent was all fun!

Read Full Article: American Sprint Icon Maurice Greene Finally Reveals Inspiraton Behind Famous Fire Extinguisher Celebration

🤔 Controversy Decoded

Jamaican Icons Overlooked by Netflix

Netflix just dropped the trailer for SPRINT season 2 and it is everything we need for a good debate. Well, we can't say we're shocked, for it's known since late August that Sha'Carri, Elaine Thompson-Herah, and Shelly-Ann were absent from the cast list. But, while the trailer does look impressive, the lack of star power stings! Imagine, the three female powerhouses who have a total of 16 Olympic medals between them are omitted from the series! 

Despite this, it's surprising that in the trailer, the camera pans on Richardson multiple times. Now unlike the cast athletes who have one-liners, Richardson has no vocal presence, but her being given screen time itself is shocking, airing speculations if she got paid image royalties or if Netflix is in for the legal rollercoaster.

Coming to the Jamaicans, a common reason for their exclusion can be their absence from the Paris Olympics. As for Elaine Thompson-Herah, she had been out of the Jamaican trials and the Olympics due to an Achilles injury. Similarly, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce had to withdraw from the semi-finals due to a last-minute hamstring niggle too. However, Shericka Jackson found a spot on the list despite missing Paris. Well, another potential cause why Mommy Rocket was not featured could be because she’s got another documentary in the works, per, Donald Oliver.

And let’s not forget the buzz around Sha'Carri's absence! There’s been chatter that she might have turned down Netflix’s offer or decided to skip interviews after her 100m performance disappointment. It’s baffling because Richardson boasts an impressive 4.3 million followers—more than the entire cast combined! Imagine the viewership boost Netflix could’ve had with her in the mix. Yet, here we are, with both the creators and Richardson keeping tight-lipped about the whole situation.

Read Full Article: Hope Sha’Carri (Richardson) Got Paid’: Track and Field Community Baffled Over Star’s Footage in Netflix’s Sprint Season 2

📝 STORIES YOU SHOULDN’T MISS!

1. Coach Bobby’s ‘Pointless’ Antics Were Key to Tokyo Olympics For Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone- Full Story

2. Noah Lyles Torn to Shreds by Fellow USA Star Amidst Netflix Return - Full Story

3. This American Sprinter Could Become the Face of Track and Field in 2025 - Full Story

4. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Feels Inspired and Ready for the Next Step in Life - Full Story

5. Noah Lyles’ Fiancée, Junelle Bromfield Earns Track and Field Stars’ Respect - Full Story

That’s it for today, folks! We’ll look to knock on your inbox soon with more interesting stories!

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