Who wouldn’t want a behind-the-scenes look into the lives of their favorite sprinters? Just before the Paris Olympics kicked off, Netflix released a much-anticipated documentary that thrilled track and field enthusiasts. The documentary series featured 45-minute episodes that captured the intense emotions of athletes like Sha’Carri Richardson, Noah Lyles, and others as they prepared for the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. However, this was just the first part of a captivating docuseries.
Fans worldwide were enthralled by *SPRINT: The World’s Fastest Humans*, but not everyone shared the same enthusiasm. Veteran sprinter Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith had a different perspective. Competing in the ongoing Diamond League, she recently finished third in the 100m finals in Brussels. Julien Alfred won the race with a time of 10.88 seconds, while Richardson finished in eighth place with a time of 11.05 seconds. Ta Lou-Smith currently leads the Diamond League standings with 31 points. In a post-race interview, she expressed her dissatisfaction with the documentary series, stating, “I feel really disrespected.” But why?
Ta Lou-Smith explained, “When you say that you’re going to do a series about the fastest people in the world, I mean, you show every people. You don’t show only people who win.” The 35-year-old, who competed in the 2023 World Championships in Budapest but did not make the podium, felt that the series failed to capture the true essence of track and field. “Track and field is not only about winning; it’s also about people who overcome different situations, good or bad,” she asserted. She believes that the docuseries should have shown all aspects of the sport instead of selectively highlighting only certain moments.
The sprinter continued, criticizing the approach taken by the creators of the series. “You don’t follow people, record them for many hours every time, just to show people who win. This is not good.” Fans had noticed Ta Lou-Smith’s absence from the series, even though the documentary crew had followed her for an entire year. “I’m an African record holder. I deserve respect. People look at me. Some other people from Africa see me as a role model. So, as a role model, everything I show them is not always winning medals,” she passionately expressed. She had even informed her family and friends about her involvement in the series, only to realize later that she had been left out.
Ta Lou-Smith emphasized the significance of her journey, saying, “When I started track and field, I was not winning. People were beating me, but it’s by my hard work, by the sacrifices I made, this is what put me where I am.” For her, the series missed an opportunity to highlight the realities of track and field, where overcoming adversity is just as important as claiming victories. “I think this is the moment where they have to respect everyone coming from Africa and everywhere in the world,” she declared, reiterating that track and field is not solely about winning but about the struggles and triumphs that athletes experience.
Despite her disappointment, Ta Lou-Smith ended her statement on a positive note, smiling as she concluded. She stressed the importance of showing the “real track life” because many athletes are facing challenges that fans need to see. While her part in the documentary was left out, she wasn’t the only one. The second half of the series is set to release soon, and some notable names, including Sha’Carri Richardson, may not have the same presence as in the first installment.
The first season of the documentary was widely praised, but fans are now eagerly awaiting more track and field action in the upcoming episodes. Netflix has announced that the second season, releasing on November 13, will feature events from the 2024 Paris Summer Games, Diamond Leagues, and more, with additional sprinters joining the series. Among them will be the Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred. However, fans quickly noticed that Sha’Carri Richardson’s name was missing from the list of featured athletes.
Richardson had been a major part of the first season, and her absence from the second installment has sparked speculation. No official statement has been made about this omission, but some fans believe it could be linked to her decision to end her season early. Although she surprised many by participating in the Zurich and Brussels Diamond Leagues, it remains uncertain whether she will make an appearance in the new episodes. Fans will have to watch and see how the story unfolds.
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