“The Next…..”- Legendary Sprinter Michael Johnson Emphasizes the Importance of Lowering Expectations for Young Prodigies

With the World Athletics Championships simply across the nook, athletes have been pushing arduous to make a spot for themselves. Daily, observe and area data are being damaged like ceramic plates. The rivalries and dedication to be the perfect have pushed athletes to grow to be the very best of their sport. One such athlete is Nigeria’s Favour Ofili.

Specializing within the 400m and the 200m occasions, the 19-year-old is rapidly changing into a risk to the remainder of the adorned area. Whereas many evaluate her with the likes of Allyson Felix and Shericka Jackson, she has clarified that she doesn’t need any pay a part of it. And Michael Johnson has one thing to say about it as nicely.

Michael Johnson reacts to athletes’ comparability

The primary time folks thought Ofili was somebody particular was again in 2018. This was when she made her first nationwide workforce. Earlier than this, she was only a high-school scholar. Nonetheless simply an adolescent, the Nigerian is breaking data and rewriting the historical past books.

On the final month’s finish, Ofili registered her first wind-legal sub-11 second mark within the 100m occasion. Clocking in at 10.93seconds, she is now third on Nigeria’s all-time listing. This time additionally places her fifth on Africa’s all-time listing and fourth on this yr’s world listing. It’s no marvel that followers from her house nation name her ‘Star Lady.’

For now, she doesn’t need to specialize in a specific occasion and in addition desires to keep away from any comparability. Whereas folks name her the subsequent Allyson Felix or the subsequent Shericka Jackson, she simply desires to be the subsequent herself. Opining on the identical, US Monitor and Discipline legend Michael Johnson posted a tweet.

“Athletes appear to be getting a little bit aggravated with media and followers continuously in search of ‘the subsequent..’,” wrote Michael.

Whereas many would possibly really feel blessed to be in comparison with a legend, youthful athletes are out to make a reputation for themselves and never be often known as the subsequent another person.

Erriyon is one other comparable case

Erriyon Knighton turned the youngest American sprinter to qualify for the Olympics in over 50 years when he made the workforce for the Tokyo Olympics. Not solely that, however he additionally broke two of Usain Bolt‘s data in 2021. Throughout an athletics meet in Florida, Knighton clocked 20.11seconds within the 200m occasion to interrupt Bolt’s U-18 report. He bettered his efficiency to interrupt Bolt’s second report within the U-20 class by clocking 19.88seconds.

Thus started the comparability and the tag of ‘subsequent Usain Bolt’ was affixed to his title. In its essence, what the tag does is take away the delight of defeating a legend of the game.

Being referred to as the ‘subsequent somebody’ takes away one’s personal legacy and pushes ahead an ongoing legacy that was rightfully surpassed. If Erriyon have been to interrupt all of Usain’s data, folks would nonetheless be speaking of the ‘subsequent Usain Bolt‘ as a substitute of the present Erriyon Knighton.

Watch this Story: 18-Year-Old Erriyon Knighton Who Broke Usain Bolt’s World Record Defeats Noah Lyles to Win 200m Title at Tom Jones Invitational Event

These are simply two examples amongst many the world over of sports activities. Whereas comparisons are nice, let’s not take away the delight of an athlete by labeling them as the subsequent somebody as a substitute of the primary them.