Olympic observe and discipline legend Carl Lewis instructed CNBC that he stands “100%” by his criticism of Group USA’s males’s 4x100m relay crew after it finished sixth in its semifinal on Thursday and didn’t qualify for the ultimate.
He emphasised, nevertheless, that his ire was not directed in direction of the athletes, however in direction of the U.S. relay program that put the groups collectively.
“The federation units up the groups, and the coaches and the system, they usually’re failing the athletes,” stated Lewis, who gained the 4×100 Olympic gold medal twice and 7 different golds.
“That is why I used to be so emotional and so indignant, as a result of these athletes work their complete lives, they run quick and doing the whole lot to make the crew and then you definately put them able that is not possible to achieve success.”
Individuals Trayvon Bromell, Fred Kerley, Ronnie Baker and Cravon Gillespie have been eradicated from the occasion as China, Canada, Italy, Germany and Ghana all certified. Lewis instructed “The Information with Shepard Smith” that he spoke to one of many athletes from the American crew who additionally expressed his frustration with the present system.
“They’re annoyed as a result of it is like the identical, fallacious, incorrect system, and making the identical errors, and it is like, why do not we modify the system, and put the opposite system that is profitable and have some folks assist us set it up, in order that we’ve an opportunity to do it,” stated Lewis.
The U.S. has not gained the lads’s 4x100m relay since 2000 in Sydney.
Lewis instructed host Shepard Smith that the difficulty boils right down to the athletes’ lives, and that he’ll at all times advocate for them.
“My ardour is to attempt to help athletes’ lives and these athletes work their complete life to grow to be Olympic champions, and you already know what, the USA is the most effective crew on the planet within the relay, no query, however we’re not even attending to the beginning line,” Lewis stated.
U.S.A. Observe and Subject, the nationwide governing physique, didn’t instantly reply to CNBC’s request for remark.