Disrespected USA Track and Field Star Calls Out World Athletics After Being Overlooked for Rivals

If your name is uttered in the ferocity of track and field, your praises are hard-won and vehemently protected. It’s all not just running a timing; it has something related to scraping on that notice board and with respect from enthusiasts and rivals, too. So when World Athletics dropped their new promo early this week featuring a trio of familiar big names—the 1500m game has an enticing Josh Kerr of Great Britain against Scandinavian Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and United States’ Cole Hocker—the whole of the track was talking about it.

The tagline? “Three Kings. Only One Crown.” But sharp-eyed fans noticed something—or rather, someone—missing. A certain Olympic medalist and rising star was glaringly absent. The snub sent shockwaves through the track community, with heated debates erupting on social media about fairness, recognition, and the politics of sports marketing. Not being included in such an image is not just an ego bruise; it’s a public omission that can make a difference in sponsorships, endorsements, and general reputation. For one athlete in particular, this felt like the culmination of a long battle for recognition within a sport cornered by established names and storylines.

Yared Nuguse claps back at being snubbed

It would be that the athlete to be overlooked was none other than an Olympic Bronze Medalist in the 1500-meter track races and a certain rising star across the track-and-field world named Yared Nuguse. Upon seeing the graphic, Nuguse, when asked about this incident in The CITIUS MAG Podcast, expressed his thoughts with no holds barred.

“Surely it wouldn’t be that hard to add a fourth person to that graphic! Like c’mon?!” Nuguse posted, dripping with sarcasm. “I’m always happy to be the underdog a little bit, I guess—feels a little crazy at this point, I must say.”

Ouch.

“Surely it wouldn’t be that hard to add a fourth person to that graphic! Like c’mon?! I’m always happy to be the underdog a little bit I guess — feels a little crazy at this point I must say.”

1500m Olympic bronze Yared Nuguse reacts to World Athletics’ 1500m graphic snub.… https://t.co/CjuGB1Wiwn pic.twitter.com/C81QvmjsmD

— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) January 9, 2025

Nuguse’s frustration wasn’t because of the graphic but was due to him continuously being looked over despite his massive success. And let’s not forget, this is no rookie. In 2024, he took home the Olympic bronze in Paris with a scorching 3:27.80. That is not just fast; that is elite. He has also won major races such as the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games and the Zurich Diamond League, stealing the headlines as he left top runners like Ingebrigtsen and Hocker in his wake. Yet somehow, when the time came for crowning the “Kings” of the 1500m, Nuguse was not featured.

But that omission says much bigger things about how track and field market its athletes. In the lead-up to worlds, World Athletics has starred the likes of Ingebrigtsen and Kerr in its promotions. Nuguse has been quiet, piecing together a resume that demands attention. The pressure performer who has an underdog storyline as a favorite of the people now has one more log to add to the fire. “You just gotta go out and prove yourself,” Nuguse said. “The track speaks louder than any graphic ever will.”

Yared Nuguse might not have been crowned in World Athletics’ promo, but make no mistake—the “Goose” is very much on the loose. It isn’t about some graphics; it is about the struggle for recognition within a sport that only has room for races. With Nuguse geared up for the new season, one thing for sure is that he prepared to let the performance do the talking, and who knows, they probably need to find room for another King in that promo the next time.

So, what do you think? Does this snub fuel his fire, or is it time for World Athletics to step up and recognize all its stars? Either way, the road to the 1500m crown just got much more interesting.

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