I would have ran 9.5-something on this track!'

Greene has slammed modern sprinters for misguided priorities despite the modern technology now in place to make them faster, which he believes have led to a lack of progression since the Usain Bolt days.

American sprint legend Maurice Greene has voiced concerns about the priorities of today’s sprinters, claiming that social media distractions have contributed to a lack of progression in the sport since Usain Bolt’s retirement.

Greene, who once held the 100 meters world record at 9.79 seconds, believes modern athletes are missing opportunities to improve their times despite advances in technology.

Greene, a four-time Olympic medalist and five-time World Champion, dominated sprinting during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

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His most memorable performance came in 2001 at the World Championships in Edmonton, where despite suffering a quadriceps injury mid-race, Greene powered through to win his third consecutive 100 meters world title with a time of 9.82 seconds.

This feat solidified his status as one of the sport’s greats, alongside Carl Lewis, and showcased his resilience and dominance.

Now retired, Greene has observed a shift in the sport, particularly in how athletes prioritize their careers. Speaking on Asafa Powell’s YouTube channel, The Powells, Greene expressed his frustration with modern sprinters, suggesting that the rise of social media has negatively impacted their focus on training and race perfection.

“It is easier because of social media, but I think a lot of them are getting caught up in it and not putting enough into their training and everything else,” Greene said.

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“With the technology, the shoes, and the tracks they run on now, there’s no way they should be slower than before.”

Greene, who attended the Paris 2024 Olympics, saw Noah Lyles win the 100 meters title in a tight race against Kishane Thompson, both finishing with times close to Greene’s personal best.

However, Greene pointed out that despite modern advancements in footwear and track surfaces, athletes have failed to challenge Bolt’s 9.58-second world record.

“I probably would have run 9.5-something on this track,” Greene added. “They are so focused on getting clicks and not on the progression of their race or perfecting it. That’s why we haven’t seen any real progression since Bolt.”

Greene’s critique highlights the frustration many in the athletics community feel about the current state of the sport.

With Bolt’s world records still standing, Greene believes that modern athletes have the potential to challenge them but are distracted by external factors like social media rather than focusing on race execution and improvement.

As the conversation around the influence of social media on sports continues, Greene’s comments shed light on the potential downsides of the digital age, where athletes may prioritize popularity over performance.