Why American sprint legend thinks modern-day sprinters won't come close to Usain Bolt's 100m record

American sprint legend Maurice Greene has voiced a striking critique of contemporary sprinters, suggesting that they are unlikely to surpass Usain Bolt’s legendary 100-meter record of 9.58 seconds.

Greene, a former world champion and holder of multiple sprinting titles, attributes this stagnation not to a lack of talent or technological advancements, but rather to a shift in mindset among today’s athletes.

The five-time world champion with a personal best time of 9.79 seconds in the 100m asserts that modern sprinters are increasingly distracted by the allure of social media and the instant gratification it brings.

“They’re so caught up with clicking this, getting this click and not putting the focus into the progression of the race and trying to perfect their race,” he remarked appearing on Jamaican sprint legend Asafa Powell’s Youtube channel, The Powells.

Greene note that this preoccupation with online recognition and metrics is why modern-day sprinters will not measure up to Bolt.

“That's why I don't think we've seen a progression since Bolt. Bolt put it out there, but now it's like nobody's getting close to that.”

Although modern sprinters benefit from advanced training techniques, equipment, and analytics, Greene believes that these advantages can only take athletes so far.

The sprint legend argues that the core of sprinting lies in mental fortitude and an unwavering commitment to improvement.

Current Olympic champion Noah Lyles who claimed gold at the Paris Games with a personal best of 9.79 seconds, which is the 12th fastest time in history is amongst modern day athletes who have embraced showmanship and social media, often displaying pre-race antics with Yu Ji Oh! Cards that have attracted a lot of attention.

Lyles has previously expressed his desire to break Bolt’s record time, a feat Greene believes will require a return to basics where athletes must cultivate a strong work ethic and a focus on the fundamentals of racing.