Five is the magic number wrote:
Sydney McLaughlin's face is turning evermore male by the month, hard to market that even if it should be an all natural process.
LMAO. Her face looks quite similar to Anna Hall's, who is qualified to "look like a model". Go figure why. 🤔
Nobody cares about T&F in US but in Europe, it has to be in Jakob and Keeley.
got me wrote:
Don't think it's a contest. Jakob can be in a news article 10 times a year. Kipchoge 1-2 times
The marathon is not a track event. It's a league of its own.
Right. And not sure why the guy I was responding to brought it up
Ruxton Towers XC wrote:
I think there has to be two sets of answers. One for hard-core track fans (the people on this thread who are saying things like Anna Hall and Almaz Ayana) and one for casual track fans who do a road-race now and then and have heard of a runner or two besides Usain Bolt. There is no "face of track" for the average American because they can't name a single active runner.
If you went to a mall in your city and asked 1000 people who Almaz Ayana was, how many could tell you? Kipchoge might get a few hits. Most people can't name a single runner.
Back in 2020 I asked a shoe executive who she would pick if she could have one male and one female athlete to build a new shoe brand around and she said Sydney and Jakob. But since then, I think Sydney's stock has dropped due to a lack of racing (despite the records) and her dislike of the sport.
p.s. I just asked a random person to name a pro runner and she said "Is Prefontaine a professional runner?"
There is no one in T&F right now who transcends the sport in popularity and is the face of the sport. Felix was, at least in the US. Even casual fans and non-fans knew who she was. There is no Bolt, or Carl Lewis, or FloJo competing today that captures the public's imagination. Even Ryun did in the 1960s with 7 SI covers. We will just have to wait for the next superstar who is also very media savvy. I think SCR could be if she set a WR or won a few Golds.
Anna Hall is awesome, has the looks, talent, and attitude. She should be the next Dan/Dave. No way Thiam or anyone else will beat her in the Worlds or Paris unless she gets DQed. Next Wheaties box!
dozer wrote:
There is no one in T&F right now who transcends the sport in popularity and is the face of the sport. Felix was, at least in the US. Even casual fans and non-fans knew who she was. There is no Bolt, or Carl Lewis, or FloJo competing today that captures the public's imagination. Even Ryun did in the 1960s with 7 SI covers. We will just have to wait for the next superstar who is also very media savvy. I think SCR could be if she set a WR or won a few Golds.
Remember, the Chosen One must have the NBC Stamp of Approval!
Joplas wrote:
Shaccarri obviously
She has more social media followers than any other woman mentioned on this thread.
But if you go by that standard, Alica Schmidt has even more.
I believe multi-eventers resonate better with the public, the whole "World's Greatest Athlete" thing. We had Dan/Dave, JJK. Americans can buy into that. But sadly I can't see Americans buying into any Europeans unless they attended an SEC school (which keeps Duplantis (LSU) in the running on the male side!). Anna Hall meets this requirement too. Did you see her do the Florida gator chop before the 400H race last week? Maybe she'll do it again in Oslo! Lots of Florida alumni in professional track these days! Hall's whole world is just now opening up. Maybe can perhaps approach some of JJK's records in the next few years given her rate of improvement.
Haseyo wrote:
I agree. The face of track (of the moment) has to be someone not only successful, but also likeable.
This is why WvN didn't take off and why I feel SML's reserved personality might hamper her. Athing Mu, on the other hand, brimming with cheer and friendliness.
As for Jakob, even his biggest fans will agree he's not likeable at all.
why limit it? wrote:
Hiltz fulfills both categories
7/10, made me laugh
girl watcher wrote:
Anna Hall is awesome, has the looks, talent, and attitude. She should be the next Dan/Dave. No way Thiam or anyone else will beat her in the Worlds or Paris unless she gets DQed. Next Wheaties box!
Has the looks? Cringe. Her looks are so off putting. something certainly off there. Even worse than that Thiam
yep
Faith K
Not to be an a hole but Mondo of Sweden is larger than JI
Why is he not likeable?
To me JI comes off as a bit shy, insecure lad who tries hard (too hard?) to be fun n make jokes like Zlatan. But Zlatan does not do jokes, jokes do Zlatan.
Did you all see what I saw? Judging from the Bislett crowd, it's pretty clear Warholm is the bigger star in Norway. Could our Norwegian posters explain?
Alicia Schmidt and Spencer Brown
El Keniano wrote:
Did you all see what I saw? Judging from the Bislett crowd, it's pretty clear Warholm is the bigger star in Norway. Could our Norwegian posters explain?
Warholm asks for the crowd and receives it. He was the one who turned the 400 hurdles into highly anticipated theater, long before the world record. He made no secret of his quest and came close several times before breaking through. The Norwegian crowd remembers all of this and rewards him for it, especially given the anticipation of this season where he's continually announced his training is going well and he's very motivated.