You don’t see it with any other country. You didn’t see BOLT or Blake flake the relays to prioritize their individual events
you don’t see Aaron Brown or Andre DeGrasse flake the relays for their individual event. You don’t see Lamont Jacobs flake the relays for their individual events. It’s only the American athletes who do this?
do they need to offer large bonuses for relay performances or something?
Please. I'd rather our best athletes not waste their energy on this sideshow event (mixed 4x). Sure, Bol looked like she was having fun sprinting into the nearly photo-finish conclusion of the race, but she'll also have fun not winning her individual event.
You don’t see it with any other country. You didn’t see BOLT or Blake flake the relays to prioritize their individual events
you don’t see Aaron Brown or Andre DeGrasse flake the relays for their individual event. You don’t see Lamont Jacobs flake the relays for their individual events. It’s only the American athletes who do this?
do they need to offer large bonuses for relay performances or something?
This argument doesn't really make sense in this case. Yes, none of those guys would flake on their relays but that's because their relays are after their main events. None of the big US sprinters skip the 4x1 either. If the 4x1 was before the 100 and 200, you'd likely see a lot of big names skipping them.
I don't blame the best 400 meter runners from skipping the mixed 4x4 since it's a lesser event and it's before their individual events. The reason that some studs from other countries run (Pauline and Bol specifically) is probably because they know they have a shot at a medal in the mixed 4x4 but no real shot (or at least a much smaller shot) at a medal in the normal 4x4. All of the US 400m studs know they are basically guaranteed a gold in the 4x4 so it's not worth risking their individual events for a "lesser" medal.
You don’t see it with any other country. You didn’t see BOLT or Blake flake the relays to prioritize their individual events
you don’t see Aaron Brown or Andre DeGrasse flake the relays for their individual event. You don’t see Lamont Jacobs flake the relays for their individual events. It’s only the American athletes who do this?
do they need to offer large bonuses for relay performances or something?
This argument doesn't really make sense in this case. Yes, none of those guys would flake on their relays but that's because their relays are after their main events. None of the big US sprinters skip the 4x1 either. If the 4x1 was before the 100 and 200, you'd likely see a lot of big names skipping them.
I don't blame the best 400 meter runners from skipping the mixed 4x4 since it's a lesser event and it's before their individual events. The reason that some studs from other countries run (Pauline and Bol specifically) is probably because they know they have a shot at a medal in the mixed 4x4 but no real shot (or at least a much smaller shot) at a medal in the normal 4x4. All of the US 400m studs know they are basically guaranteed a gold in the 4x4 so it's not worth risking their individual events for a "lesser" medal.
^^This. The mixed relay isn't a priority for the US.
This argument doesn't really make sense in this case. Yes, none of those guys would flake on their relays but that's because their relays are after their main events. None of the big US sprinters skip the 4x1 either. If the 4x1 was before the 100 and 200, you'd likely see a lot of big names skipping them.
I don't blame the best 400 meter runners from skipping the mixed 4x4 since it's a lesser event and it's before their individual events. The reason that some studs from other countries run (Pauline and Bol specifically) is probably because they know they have a shot at a medal in the mixed 4x4 but no real shot (or at least a much smaller shot) at a medal in the normal 4x4. All of the US 400m studs know they are basically guaranteed a gold in the 4x4 so it's not worth risking their individual events for a "lesser" medal.
^^This. The mixed relay isn't a priority for the US.
I wish they would delete the event. They can add it the world relays. I don’t there is a need for it in the real WCs.
^^This. The mixed relay isn't a priority for the US.
I wish they would delete the event. They can add it the world relays. I don’t there is a need for it in the real WCs.
It’s more of an exhibition event rather than an actual WC race. None of the top tennis players compete in mixed doubles at Wimbledon but I’ve never heard of anyone complaining about its existence. The mixed 4x400m might appeal to non-serious T&F fans and the serious ones can easily ignore it.
I wish they would delete the event. They can add it the world relays. I don’t there is a need for it in the real WCs.
It’s more of an exhibition event rather than an actual WC race. None of the top tennis players compete in mixed doubles at Wimbledon but I’ve never heard of anyone complaining about its existence. The mixed 4x400m might appeal to non-serious T&F fans and the serious ones can easily ignore it.
This is a great point. On this note, no one talks about who has won the most total Grand Slams (singles + doubles + mixed). It's a big positive to win doubles, but everyone knows that singles is where it's at.
Similarly, individual medals are a big step more impressive than relay medals. Yet, I don't usually see that distinction made. Instead, total medals seems to be the media standard, with individual medals only a subcategory.
This is a great point. On this note, no one talks about who has won the most total Grand Slams (singles + doubles + mixed). It's a big positive to win doubles, but everyone knows that singles is where it's at.
Similarly, individual medals are a big step more impressive than relay medals. Yet, I don't usually see that distinction made. Instead, total medals seems to be the media standard, with individual medals only a subcategory.
Exactly. How many total medals does history's greatest ever athlete in any sport, in any time period - Felix - have if you don't count relays? It's hard to count because there are so few. This weird exhibition may exist just to get the USA's 11th best 400 runner yet another semi-meaningless medal.
400 athletes already have enough in the open and gendered 4x4. It's like if you had a half marathon and asked why people are focusing on the 10K and marathon. You're oversaturating an event discipline. Solution: focus on the athletes that double the least (hurdlers and 800 athletes) and at either a 4x800, 2x2x400 (looked so damn cool in world relays FYI), or shuttle hurdles)
Use your head. If you are one of the A List athletes are you going to risk injury running in a BS event like the Mixed 4x4, especially when it comes before your main event?
Do you really think the top 5000m female runners on the track are a bunch of white girls?
US T&F has a recruitment problem.
Yes, those US citizens of European ancestry ARE the best 5000m we have. Until there is a significant number of female US citizens with East African ancestry, that will continue to be the case. Newsflash: nobody of West African ancestry, including African Americans, is internationally competitive in any event longer than 5k. I don't feel bad pointing that out because it is fact, and because plenty of people with West African genetics are good at sports requiring a high percentage of fast-twitch fibers.