In Track and Field, Money Flows to the Flashy and Stylish

The style of the win was reminiscent of Bolt, who used to celebrate before the finish line as he sped to world-record times. While other racers were stone-faced before major championship races, Bolt would move close to the camera and talk to the viewers at home or pound fists with Olympic volunteers. After winning, Bolt celebrated by crouching down and leaning back, often with the Jamaican flag draped around him, with his arms pointing across his chest toward the sky. Last week, he filed for a trademark for that signature celebration.

“I was just showing my personality and having fun,” Bolt said in an email. He pointed to his first celebration in 2002, when he saluted the crowd after winning 200-meter gold at the World Junior Championships, drawing roars from the stadium. “People come to watch events to be entertained, and if we can win, run fast and have fun, it is a better show,” he said.

In 2018, Bolt ranked No. 45 on the Forbes list of the top 50 highest-paid athletes, with all but $1 million of his $31 million annual earnings coming from his dozens of sponsorship deals. He was the only track and field athlete on the list. Many of his peers make as little as $5,000 annually.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/28/sports/track-and-field-style-money.html