Do Women in Track “Need a Personality?”
Usain Bolt’s candid comment about his fellow Jamaican athletes made waves in the Track & Field world this past week.
Usain Bolt is undoubtedly the most legendary track athlete of our lifetime. His 8 Olympic medals, records in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, and flamboyant personality all contributed to his lasting legacy.
Copyright: 2019 Getty Images
Bolt has now turned to music as a form of expression. In a recent interview with a UK Magazine, Bolt talked about his new reggae album, Country Yutes. In a press release, he said, “If you have followed my career over the years, you would see me always dancing and listening to music. “It's no secret to the world that I love music.”
When asked about track and field, he praised his fellow Jamaican countrywomen, Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. The two stars now account for six of the top-10 official timings recorded in women’s 100m events, ever.
Copyright: Hannah McKay/Reuters
Similar to Bolt, Elaine Thompson-Herah captured gold in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay for Jamaica in the 2020 Olympics.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce captured gold as well as a part of the 4x100m relay team for Jamaica, and took home silver in the 100m dash.
Bolt said, “They’re really keeping the sport exciting. All we need is a personality — most of the ladies are really quiet and chill,” Bolt said. “What’s missing is the performance that I always put on that people really love.”
Although he was speaking candidly, Bolt’s comments have a potentially harsh truth to them. American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson has been Nike’s darling as of late, receiving her own ad campaign for her comeback to the Diamond League.
Elaine Thompson-Herah, also a Nike athlete, is featured much less prominently, if at all, on Nike’s @NikeRunning Instagram page. Odd, considering her decorated Olympic history, compared to Richardson’s lacktherof.
In the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League race, Thompson Herah in a world-leading time came first, Shelly Ann Fraser-Price came in second and Sherica Jackson placed third. Sha’Carri Richardson came in last, a half second behind Elaine.
Yet, NBC chose to interview Richardson after the race.
Michael Johnson, retired American sprinter and 4x Olympic gold medalist, was vocal in his confusion about NBC’s choices.
The truth of marketing in sports is that attention and popularity often sell more merchandise than accolades. Usain Bolt may have been trying to help his fellow Jamaicans, as a veteran of the sport. His dancing, boisterousness, and overall jest often made him stand out even before the races began.
But the issue doesn’t lie within the Jamaican athletes’ choices to not showboat and standout. The problem is with the global media highlighting anyone for standing out, no matter what the reason.
Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce kept their heads down, worked hard, and made history for it. They serve as role models for young people in track and field, for their hard work paid off. Would it help if they were more vocal about how much fun they’re having? Perhaps. But not everyone is born with the confidence of Usain Bolt.
Namibian Track Coach calls for Testosterone Rule Change
Gynecologist mandates, testosterone testing, and two more penalized African runners. This is the state of women’s track and field.
By Butch Maier | 8/2/2021
Gynecologist mandates, testosterone testing, and two more penalized African runners. This is the state of women’s track and field.
Namibian Olympic women’s track hopefuls, Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi, planned to compete in the 400 meters for the 2021 Olympics. However, track-governing body World Athletics mandated testing for naturally high testosterone levels, disqualifying both athletes.
Female track athletes must have a blood testosterone level of less than 5 nmol/L, according to the World Athletics Eligibility Restrictions for the Female Classification.
“We need to obey the rules,” said Henk Botha, the runners’ coach, “If the rule is not fair, then we need to change the rule.”
Higher levels
When questioned, World Athletics provided us with a “Fact Sheet” listing the normal female testosterone range at 0.2 to 1.79 nmol/L.
However, BioInteractive.org’s research, “Testosterone Levels in Elite Athletes,” states that “blood testosterone levels typically range from about 0.5 to 2.5 nmol/L in women.”
In this study, blood samples were collected from 676 Olympic-level athletes. None were known to be intersex or use performance-enhancing drugs. Results revealed eight women’s track and field athletes with levels above 5 nmol/L, including six above 10 nmol/L and two above 20 nmol/L.
In 2012, an American Journal of Human Biology study concluded that higher concentrations of testosterone “could indicate a greater capacity for physical performance at higher work rates, which is commensurate with the demands of elite sport.”
Basically, elite female athletes naturally have more testosterone.
Sliding Guidelines
Surprisingly, Mboma and Masilingi can still run in Tokyo—in the 200 meters. According to current regulations, the restricted events are the 400 meters, the one-mile races, and all events between those distances.
Yet, these confusing inconsistencies are nothing new for penalized female athletes.
In 2020, the Santa Clara Law Review published an article titled, “Can track and field’s governing body ban female runners from competing in the U.S. because of high testosterone levels?”
They examined the 2019 Court of Arbitration decision against South African middle-distance runner, Caster Semenya, who was mandated by World Athletics to “take testosterone-reducing hormones in order to compete internationally.”
Opening the Cases
According to the World Athletics Eligibility Regulations for the Female Classification, the medical manager may investigate and test an athlete at any time, without limitation.
The official procedure involves:
- An initial assessment involving a clinical examination, compilation of clinical and anamnestic data, and a preliminary endocrine assessment
- Evaluation by an expert panel to determine whether further assessment is warranted
- If warranted, referral to a specialist to diagnose the cause of elevated testosterone levels and degree of androgen insensitivity (if any)
- Review of the report by the expert panel, followed by a written recommendation
Yet, within this process, there are clear discrepancies in who is tested and why. Scales of justice are now being used to weigh the attributes of the human body.
Testy Issue
For the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, Mboma and Masilingi were mandated to go to a gynecologist. After reports that they “had no male organs,” the runners were sent for a blood test.
“They never failed,” Botha said, as their coach of three years, “They take a urine test every meet. All of the tests are clear.”
So why were they subjected to the blood test?
“The reason for testing them was because of their times,” Botha said.
This year, Mboma and Masilingi emerged in women’s track with two of the three fastest 400-meter times.
“How many women are being tested?” Botha wonders, “How many from Africa? And how many from other countries?”
When asked these questions, World Athletics responded with a “Fact Sheet” that failed to provide answers.
Founded by Olympic Gold Medalist and World Record holder, Bianca Knight, BKTrackStars is making waves in the growing biometrics industry. A free app providing cutting-edge technology to track and measure each athlete’s performances, workouts, consistency, and improvements. By rating runners within the member-base, athletes—along with their coaches and/or parents—can better determine how they rank among those training within the industry. An app made for athletes, by athletes, to provide invaluable insight and performance.
BK Trackstars Launches News Section
BK Trackstars is for athletes, by athletes.
by Mike Phillips | 8/2/2021
UPPER MARLBORO, Maryland – BK Trackstars, a groundbreaking track and field app founded by world-record holder and Olympic gold medalist Bianca Knight, is launching a new and exciting investigative news service on its website, BKTrackstars.com.
The journalism service will address track and societal issues – tackling tough subject matter where sports and life intersect. Think of it as content similar to “Outside the Lines,” but for track. This is outside the lanes.
Knight wants to give back and grow track and field to a sport that is talked about daily, not just once every four years at the Olympics.
“I want to make sure the sport is strong,” Knight said. “I want all the kids and people in the sport to have what I didn’t have.”
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BKTrackstars.com launches out of the blocks with a bang. The first blog post on the site, written by long-time journalist Butch Maier, is an in-depth look at the controversy about the removal of two Namibian runners, Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi, from one Olympic event, while allowing them to compete in another event. The science and reasoning just do not make sense.
From the post: “Directives to go to a gynecologist, testing for male organs, penalties just for having natural hormones, and two more African runners knocked off track. This is the state of women’s track and field. Namibian Olympic women’s track hopefuls Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi, 18-year-olds who were expected to be contenders in the 400 meters of the upcoming Tokyo Games, were withdrawn from the event in early July after tests mandated by track governing body World Athletics revealed they had high natural testosterone levels.”
This is the first of many compelling pieces that will be available for consumption on BKTrackstars.com. The news service also will preview key matchups of upcoming track meets – featuring runners of all ages, from the young phenoms to the big names, so competitors and fans alike can follow their favorite athletes, and the site will follow up on previous stories to keep the audience engaged. It’s all about the love of the sport. The track. The stars. BKTrackstars.com.
For subscription, advertising and sponsorship information involved with BKTrackstars.com, contact Mike Phillips.
Founded by Olympic Gold Medalist and World Record holder, Bianca Knight, BKTrackStars is making waves in the growing biometrics industry. Their free app download provides cutting-edge technology to track and measure each athlete’s performances, workouts, consistency, and improvement over time. By rating runners within the member-base, athletes—along with their coaches and/or parents—are able to better determine how they rank among those training within a competitive industry. This app is made for athletes, by athletes, to provide invaluable insight and improve performance. For more information on how to download and use the BKTrackStars app, visit www.bktrackstars.com/about .