Sports
‘USA To Dominate World Sprints’ Post Bolt Era’
Christian Coleman has declared that the United States is set to regain its status as the world’s dominant sprint superpower.
Retired Jamaican great, Usain Bolt, scored sprint doubles in the last three Olympics, but the four fastest men over 100m last year were American.
“I feel a shift to USA being back on top,” Coleman told Tidesports source.
“To be looked up to as one of the Americans that’s supposed to carry the torch, go to the major championships and get medals, that’s a huge honour.”
World silver medallist Coleman, who clocked a world-leading 9.85 seconds in Oslo on Thursday, is being pushed on by his own domestic rivalry with Noah Lyles.
Lyles was awarded victory in the pair’s 100m meeting in Shanghai in May by just six-thousandths of a second.
Lyles, who had previously specialised in the 200m, declared on Instagram that the result “starts my legacy for becoming a 100 and 200 runner”. Coleman however urged caution in reading too much into early-season form, tweeting “the name of the game is World medals”.
Lyles subsequently admitted that his relationship with Coleman is “not good.” “He just never liked me,” he added.
Coleman says his tweet was not aimed at Lyles but concedes that it is hard to be both friends and rivals.
“What we get paid to do is peak at the world championships and Olympics,” the 23-year-old added.
“I don’t have any close friends that are my competitors. I think that’s just the nature of being a sprinter. I don’t know anybody that is like super close friends but also competing for the same medal. That would be kinda odd.”
Meanwhile, World 3,000m steeplechase champion Emma Coburn believes that athletes caught doping should repay money they have earned during their career.
The 28-year-old beat Bahrain’s Olympic champion Ruth Jebet on the way to gold in London. It was announced in July that Jebet is facing disciplinary action for alleged doping.
“The culture can and will change when the punishment is severe enough,” Coburn told our source.
“I think that needs to be amplified with lifetime bans and additionally I think there needs to be more financial penalties. Dopers are literally stealing from athletes who are finishing behind them.
“Personally an Olympic medal is so fulfilling and rewarding but financially, it’s huge. You’re stealing contract bonuses, prize money, future appearance fees; all of this compounds over the course of someone’s career to millions.”
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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