Sanya Richards Is Star Material

She wore the athletic gear well.

Not only did she win the whole thing but she made a statement while doing it at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene.

I am referring to Sanya Richard’s dominant win in the women’s 400-meters, that silenced critics and her own personal doubts after failing to qualify for World Championship team last year.

This year could not have been more different than last year for the former University of Texas 400-meter runner.

This time around Sanya made a big fashion statement with her uniform and gear as she reclaimed her star status after a year lost to illness. Wearing one of Nike's half-Space Age (forearm covers), half-wonky (knee-high black socks) uniforms, Richards brought down the house at Hayward Field while winning the 400.

There is history behind the athletic gear and the timing, A certain women by the name of Flo Jo made speed fashionable. As Richards crossed the finish line in the fresh Nike gear, the moment immediately conjured up memories of Flo Jo crossing the finish line at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials. Flo Jo captivated the world with her racing outfits, she wore one leg outfits, fluorescent, and some of them where even lace.

Was this display a precursor to Olympic gold for Richards?

Nike chose their leading lady to debut the Nike uniform the U.S. track and film uniform— complete with the dimpled-fabric arm coverings and calf warmers that the company says provide aerodynamic advantages. The swift gloves and swift socks that are made to reduce drag in the wind.

The accessories don't just look good they are practical. Wearing arm covering while running in the August heat may seem counterproductive, but tests show that the sleeves reduce drag by 19% over bare arms, and the long socks reduce drag by 12.5%. Nike figures the improvements in the garments since the 2004 Olympics in Athens will mean a benefit of .02 seconds in the 100 meter race.

The front of Sanya’s uniform worn in Eugene is the “Nike We the People Graphic” that is to appear on the back of the uniforms of the 2008 track and field Olympic uniforms, which are provided by Nike, of course. Unfortunately it may be difficult to see on the Olympic uniforms because it’s blue on blue, but at least some people will got a glimpse before the Games.

The “Nike We the People Graphic” draws inspiration from a number of cultural elements and design influences to create a bold aesthetic specific to the USA. The graphic, created by Design Director Mark Smith, leverages Nike’s Aerographics technology.

With Aerographics, Nike designers incorporated mesh directly into a garment without any extra materials or added weight. Both the “Nike We the People Graphic” and Aerographics technology are highlighted in the 2008 USA Basketball, Track and Field, Softball and BMX team uniforms.

Specific elements of the design include: the Statue of Liberty, represented by the torch, stars and stripes representing the 50 American states, decorative elements from our nations’ currency, the olive branch and arrows from the talons of the American eagle in the Presidential seal, and the Celtic, African and Native American symbols and influences.

Sanya has a million dollar smile and the athletic gear to show off as well. Hopefully the world and most importantly the advertisers on Madison Avenue will recognize her star power in Beijing.

By Jay Hicks.

11 Greatest Olympic Track Performances in the Last 100 years

• Jesse Owens: Non-verbal rebellion, inspired by hatred.



The revolution was televised. The black-and-white footage of Jesse Owens defeating Hitler’s Aryan nation still brings a chill. In front of packed crowds, he showed the world Hitler’s theory was a crock of crap. Jesse achieved international fame in winning four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Games in the 100, 200, long jump and 4 x 100 meter relay.

• Bob Hayes: No one faster than the speeding bullet.

By the summer of 1964, Bob “The Bullet” Hayes was dubbed the original “World’s Fastest Human” at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. The U.S. team was in fifth place when Hayes got the baton in this famous 4 x 100 meter relay — he couldn’t even reach out and touch them.

In perhaps the most memorable 100-meters in track history, he blew away the competition and turned a nine-meter deficit into a two-meter victory. The winning time of 39.0 seconds was a world record, and Hayes' leg was timed unofficially in 8.6 seconds, still the fastest ever. That’s not running, that’s space travel.



• Bob Beamon: The leap heard around the world.

Life is short, but great performances last forever. Just after Beamon barely made the 1968 Olympic squad, he unleashed the most fearsome long jump ever, featuring the most perfect combination of running and jumping. Beamon surprised even himself, collapsing when hearing he soared 29 feet, 2 ½ inches. He shattered the original mark by almost 22 inches. That’s as close as man has ever come to human flight. Bob’s record stood 23 years.

• Dave Wottle: It’s never too late to be great.

Once upon a time Ethiopian and Kenyan runners dominated the middle distances. Against this backdrop at the 1972 Munich Olympics, 24-year-old American runner Dave Wottle was in last place in the 800-meter finals. Then the tension set in: starting at 500 meters, Wottle starting picking off runners one at a time. Coming down the final stretch, he hit the gas and won the 800-meters by .03 at the finish line. To this day, Wottle remains the only American to win at 800-meters since Munich.

• Carl Lewis: The misunderstood track genius does it like no other.

Although an often polarizing figure in the sport, Carl Lewis was a magnificent, daring sprinter. He was a flawless runner and jumper with a keen ability under pressure. Carl Lewis pounced on every step of the 100-meters, 200-meters, and long jump, 4 x 100-meter relay to win every battle in which he competed at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The elaborately executed performances became an Olympic memory reminiscent of Jesse Owen’s four gold medal feat in 1936.


• Michael Johnson: Track’s leading man.



Between 1992 and 1996, Michael Johnson was track’s most reliable mindblower: winning 58 straight races over eight years. By 1996, the stage had been set at the Atlanta Olympic games, as some of the greatest 200-meter runners ever gathered for the event’s finals.

The gun went off, and MJ stumbled the fourth step. He then covered the first 100 meters faster than any human ever, even out running the NBC track side camera. He crossed the line, and it was immediately evident he was track’s undisputed champ having offered further evidence of his mastery.

• Jackie Joyner-Kersee: From Nowhere to Somewhere.

It is a gritty road to the top, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee couldn’t compete in a more demanding event than her signature heptathlon: 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m, long jump, javelin and 800m. It’s a definitive test of quickness, strength, and heart.

Her 1988 Olympic appearance produced the still-standing world record of 7,291 points. Not enough to let that victory stand alone, JJK showed up five days later to grab the gold again – this time in long jump, gliding to 24 feet, 3 ½ inches. JJK had the audacity to stake a claim at being the greatest female athlete ever—and then pulled it off.

• Sebastian Coe: Britain’s Iron Man delivers.

In 1983, Sebastian Coe had recently undergone lymph node surgery – a situation that his detractors said would sideline him for that year’s World Championships. But the following year, he was determined to win back-to-back Olympic 1500-meter titles.

It wouldn’t come easy – he was facing challengers Steve Ovett and Steve Cram, who was considered the odd’s-on favorite for the gold at the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angles. Coe shocked the critics when he ran a perfect race, pulling away from Cram and the rest of the field in the final straightaway to win by six meters. His determination, style, and pace influenced a generation of runners.


• Flo Jo: Brilliant at the highest speeds.

This track queen is an icon on two counts: she gave the first cross-over performance by a female track athlete and gave one of the most mesmerizing performances in recent history. The 1988 Seoul Olympic Games were Flo Jo’s show and she had her own superstar act. Her races included decorated nails, stylish outfits, and stunning looks. In the 100-meter final in Seoul, the 5-foot-7, 130-pound Joyner bettered the Olympic record with her 10.54. She blistered the 200-meters finals, and Flo Jo delivered an amazing 21.34 in capturing her second gold medal. Joyner, who died in her sleep in 1998, still holds the women’s 100 and 200-meter world records.

• Edwin Moses: A self-made man.
Getting over hurdles was a skill Edwin Moses learned early in life. He attended Morehouse College in Atlanta which had a track team, no track, and no coach for him. He had run just one hurdle race prior to March 1976. As a 20-year-old unknown college student, he went to the Montreal Olympics in 1976. Moses broke the 400-meter hurdle world record running 47.64, winning gold by an eight meter victory in his first international competition.
• Carl Lewis: Outraging fans and sponsors.

By the summer of 1996, Carl’s meteoric career had suffered some set backs. Though he won four gold medals at the 1984 L.A. Olympics, he never won fans over, at least in the United States. This time, the King of Track was in a battle with Mike Powell at Atlanta Olympic stadium.

Carl wanted revenge: Powell had beaten him at the previous world championships and broken the long jump world record. An athletic shade of his former self, Carl Lewis delivered big. At 35, he pulled out some mojo to jump 27 feet, 10 ¾ inches, his longest distance in four years. That night in Atlanta was a reminder that others had run faster and jumped farther, but few had sustained such a high level of performance for so long.

By Jay Hicks, a.k.a. Track Evangelist.

Track’s G-Girls: Young, Rich and Beautiful

Sanya Richards. Allyson Felix. These women are two of the world’s most famous female athletes, and they are today’s G-Girls of professional track and field.

What’s a G-Girl? She stands out in a crowd, she is attractive – even sexy – and her accomplishments speak for themselves. She’s a Glamour Girl and a standout in her world – and in the world of us ordinary folk.

Their enviable lives and show-stopping looks set the standard for what millions of women – and not a few men – think is attractive. Millions of dollars in shoe contracts and product endorsements ride on their every performance. They make it all look easy.

Salaries for female track runners has grown from amateur status in the 1970's to appearance fees up to $100,000 per race.

G-Girls aren’t new to track and field. Remember the 1980's? Flo Jo – with her one-legged running outfits, flowing hair and long, flashy fingernails – was the original G-Girl of track. She hit the track looking more glam than any woman athlete before her, but really captured the attention of the world with her speed, grace and charm.

She wasn’t all about nail polish – Flo Jo earned the title “World’s Fastest Women” when she struck gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. She built on this success by becoming an eloquent spokeswoman, sharing her expertise and passion for fitness with the world.

Flo Jo also set the standard for glamazons in other sports – take a look at Serena Williams, Lisa Leslie or Gabby Reese. They’ve all got a little Flo Jo in their game.

Today, Sanya and Allyson have picked up the G-Girls torch. They are not the girls next door – they are the girls who stand out in a crowd.

Sanya, a 22-year-old Jamaican native, has movie star looks and a phat house. She’s dating New York Giants cornerback Aaron Ross. She’s dressed for success – she nearly lost a $20,000 diamond brooch given to her by a sponsor when it fell off during 200-meter rounds at World Championships. Ooops.

At age 21, Allyson’s svelte figure is the kind that inspires envy and lets her look like a supermodel. Her smile is electric and her fans feed off the energy she brings to the track. She’s been at the top for a long time, signing her first shoe contract at age 16 – a six-figure contract with Adidas.

Allyson hits the books at University of Southern California (which she’s never run for) and will graduate next month. And did I mention, she’s the reigning 200m World Champion.

For both women, life means a different city, a different country, every week. They are jetsetters, running and being known in Osaka, Rome, Stockholm, Oslo and London. Their job? Being cheered by fans in packed European stadiums.

They look and sound like they are living the glamorous life, but, like any legit G-Girl, their glamour doesn’t overshadow their innate talent.

These G-Girls are on track to worldwide fame – not just track and field fame – as they get ready for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. But don’t get it wrong – they may find their names in the same sentences, and their bodies on the same medal podiums, but Sanya and Allyson are far from being BFF’s.

While their feud may not be as long-standing as Lindsay Lohan vs. Hilary Duff, it’s also not made-for-TV like Paris and Nicole. In interviews each express respect for the other’s skills, but they plainly admit that they aren’t friends, either.

The rivalry is brewing, and each could find themselves competing in anything from the 100 to 400 meters.

For starters, Allyson runs glamour events—the 100m, 200m, and 400m. Currently, the 200m is her strongest event. They could collide in the 400m, which Sanya has dominated.

Allyson is leading 1-0 in the 400 meter head-to-head meeting, Sanya’s signature event. But don’t let that fool you – Sanya fought illness throughout the entire season, so we never quite saw her best. Don’t forget, she broke a 22-year-old U.S. record in the 400 meters and already holds an Olympic gold medal.

Allyson and Sanya are bringing sexy back. The Glamour Girls of today are standing tall in an era when their counterparts in other glamour industries are drunkenly crashing their cars and forgetting their dignity – and their pants. Track and field’s new G-Girls are capturing the fans’ imaginations.

It’s exactly what the sport needs.

By Jay Hicks, a.k.a. Track Evangelist