“We’re Slaves to these People” — Kerley on Netflix and Shoe Brands
Fred Kerley at the “Ready, Set, Go” podcast
Fred Kerley has a lot to say about the way athletes are treated, especially by the brands that sponsor them. “The shoe companies do not respect us athletes. They don’t really understand. They respect themselves.”
For Kerley, it’s a frustrating situation: “How can we forever eat when we get done with the sport? When we are done, most of us get left. We got medals and stuff, but those medals won’t mean nothing.”
"I feel a lot of people at the top just eat, while we are slaves to the sport. People at the top can make no money without us."
Little understanding of athlete contracts
Kerley didn’t stop there. He went on to address the issue of athlete contracts, which he believes are limiting and unfair. “A lot of kids don’t really know what they’re signing. I understand the contract more than my agent or the companies themselves,” he explained. “If I go break the World Record tomorrow and then I break the World Record the next day, you ain’t getting more money.”
“So why showcase my talent if the contract is limiting the money that I’m getting?”
Fred Kerly “I’m staring you down”
Professional athletes vs young talents
When asked about outstanding performances of young athletes this year he responded:
“It’s hurting our sport. They’re talented, but we [the adults] are meant for these moments. Under 23 and under 20, that’s good for them. But we’re gonna hurt their feelings. Cause I’m talking shit to them in the call room.”
“I’m staring you down, I don’t care. That’s what we do. You can see in the call room how the kids are terrified. Praying more often, walking around. You are lost.”
Fred Kerley and Kenny Bednarek ahead of the Olympic 100m final
Frustration with Olympic organisers
Kerley’s Olympic 100m final in Paris was the fastest 100 metres race in history based on average times, but he felt the delay leading up to it took something away.
“I feel like we waited too long”
“So my heart was just beating fast. I was ready to run. And it just went away,” expressing his frustration with the organisers. “You probably could have seen a faster race of everybody. The 9.7s [runners] and the person who ran 9.91s – we could have run times the world wasn’t ready to watch. This was definitely the most beautiful race that I have been part of in my track and field career. It basically came down to who can dip the fastest.”
Photo finish at the Olympic 100m final in Paris
Netflix scepticism
Kerley is sceptical about the recent and upcoming Netflix series that attempts to capture the life of a sprinter: “It really ain’t showing us, how they really film us. This shit is Hollywood. They cut and fit pieces together that aren’t meant to fit together.”
“We ain’t getting paid for this s***. We’re slaves to these people. They are making money off us. So, this sport is messed up.”
Watch the full interview with Fred Kerley, Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green here!
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