Carl Lewis Slams USA Track and Field’s Paris 2024 Performance: Could he Coach for LA 2028?
Sportsgrid Staff
Host · Writer
Vote for a 2028 Carl Lewis Olympics Ticket
As election fever hits the Nation with Donald Trump and Kamala Harris battling it out for the presidency (which SportsGrid have you covered for with the latest US Presidential odds), why not take democracy a sprinter step further? The people appear to have spoken, with many on social media calling for Carl Lewis to coach or at least consult in 2028. What better way to ring in the 44th anniversary of the Olympics return to Los Angeles on the spot where Lewis exploded onto the global stage?
Carl Lewis is Mad as Hell and He May Not Take it Any More
When American track legend Carl Lewis speaks, people listen. When he sings, maybe not so much, but when laying down the law on sprinting, gather 'r0und children. Lewis was none too happy seeing the hijinks that followed the US 4x100m relay contingent. Let's flip these slides, not at a Lewis 100m pace, but more like a leisurely Quincy Hall gold medal 400m speed to dig into it.
Why Carl Lewis' Opinion Matters
Carl Lewis knows a thing or two about track and field. The man cleaned up at the LA Olympic Games in 1984. Regardless of the Soviet Union and 14 of its allies boycotting participation, it would have taken one helluva Ivan Drago type of athlete to keep up with Lewis' 9.99-second time to grab gold in the 100m. Back in the 80s, getting under ten seconds was a stellar time.
More Olympics: Final World Medal Tracker
Lewis added 200m gold with a time of 19.8 seconds, an Olympic record and the third-fastest mark ever at the time. He capped his breakout Hollywood showing by topping the podium in the long jump and running anchor in the 4x100m relay, where the USA set the new world record at 37.83 seconds.
The American legend kept it going four years later in Seoul. Lewis' long jump gold was immediate, while his top spot in the 100m came after Canadian Ben Johnson tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Johnson's 9.79 seconds was the new world record for a short few days until the scandal broke. Lewis's second-place time of 9.92, a 1988 American record, moved him from silver to gold.
Lewis' star would start fading as the Americans stepped toward the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. Although he failed to qualify for the 100m and 200m, he again won the long jump. Anchoring a world record 4x100m relay team that hit 37.40 seconds, a time that stood for 16 years, just strengthened his relay resume. His 9.85 seconds time on the final stretch was the fastest officially recorded last leg at the time.
Download the SportsGrid App
Stay Ahead of the Game and Elevate Your Sports Betting Experience with SportsGrid. Download the SportsGrid App from the Apple Store and Google Play Store.
The Baton Botch was Just the Beginning
Like everyone, Mr. Lewis was as baffled as any of us. How could the American team fumble the baton so badly...again! Lewis took his USA DQ frustrations to the Artist formerly known as Twitter (X).
"It is time to blow up the system. This continues to be completely unacceptable. It is clear that EVERYONE at USATF (US's governing body in Track) is more concerned with relationships than winning. No athlete should step on the Track and run another relay until this program is changed from top to bottom."
More Olympics: Paris Gold Medal Counter
Somewhere, Christian Coleman and Kenneth Bednarek are slowly backing out of the locker room. USATF is right behind them.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
Noah Lyles Covid Diagnosis Changes Run Order Like a Bag Game of Four Card Monte
According to NBC, Carl Lewis was baffled and hella angry at Team USA's decision to shuffle the deck, moving 4x100m runners around like a carny card game that's unwinnable. Lewis was a proponent of simply replacing Lyles rather than bringing in new sprinters from America's massive pool of alternates so late in the game.
I would love to hear Lewis' thoughts on Noah Lyles running unmasked with COVID around his teammates and competitors and his secrecy on the matter. Judging by his overall criticism of USTAF, I can't imagine he's pleased with how they handled Lyles COVID diagnosis.
Vote for a 2028 Carl Lewis Olympics Ticket
As election fever hits the Nation with Donald Trump and Kamala Harris battling it out for the presidency (which SportsGrid have you covered for with the latest US Presidential odds), why not take democracy a sprinter step further? The people appear to have spoken, with many on social media calling for Carl Lewis to coach or at least consult in 2028. What better way to ring in the 44th anniversary of the Olympics return to Los Angeles on the spot where Lewis exploded onto the global stage?
Carl Lewis is Mad as Hell and He May Not Take it Any More
When American track legend Carl Lewis speaks, people listen. When he sings, maybe not so much, but when laying down the law on sprinting, gather 'r0und children. Lewis was none too happy seeing the hijinks that followed the US 4x100m relay contingent. Let's flip these slides, not at a Lewis 100m pace, but more like a leisurely Quincy Hall gold medal 400m speed to dig into it.
