AI Identifies Key Challenges Facing Track and Field in the U.S.

Former sprinter Rae Edwards consults ChatGPT on the sport's lack of mainstream appeal and growth potential

Mar. 30, 2026 at 6:35pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting track and field athletes in motion, with their bodies and movements broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color, conceptually representing the structural and marketing challenges facing the sport.A cubist interpretation of the fragmented state of track and field in the United States, as the sport struggles to build consistent fan engagement and commercial appeal.Los Angeles Today

Former sprinter Rae Edwards turned to ChatGPT to analyze the challenges facing track and field in the United States, as the Grand Slam Track concept fades away. The AI bot identified key issues such as limited revenue, lack of a consistent league structure, inconsistent media exposure, and the sport's strong association with the Olympics rather than year-round events.

Why it matters

Track and field in the U.S. has struggled to gain mainstream popularity and commercial success, despite the country's consistent on-field excellence. Understanding the underlying reasons, as outlined by the ChatGPT analysis, could help guide efforts to revitalize the sport and make it more appealing to fans, sponsors, and media.

The details

Edwards, a former sprinter and current coach, shared a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) in November 2024, detailing his conversation with ChatGPT about the state of track and field in the U.S. The AI bot highlighted several key factors contributing to the sport's struggles, including limited revenue and sponsorship opportunities, the lack of a consistent league structure, inconsistent media exposure, challenges in building athlete visibility and brand recognition, the individual rather than team-based nature of the sport, and its strong association with the Olympics rather than year-round events.

  • In November 2024, Edwards shared his conversation with ChatGPT on X.
  • The Grand Slam Track concept, which debuted in June 2024, is expected to fade away in the coming weeks as the bankruptcy case is settled.

The players

Rae Edwards

A former sprinter who competed for the U.S. and Nigeria, and is now a coach in Texas. He has been active on social media platforms, including YouTube, discussing issues in track and field.

ChatGPT

An artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI, which Edwards consulted to analyze the challenges facing track and field in the United States.

Michael Johnson

The founder of the now-defunct Grand Slam Track concept, which aimed to create a professional track and field league but ultimately filed for bankruptcy.

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What they’re saying

“Track and field is technically a professional sport, but it lacks the visibility, infrastructure, and commercial appeal that many other pro sports enjoy.”

— ChatGPT, AI Chatbot

“Many track and field athletes aren't household names, making it challenging to attract a broad fan base. Without strong individual brands and personalities, it's difficult to create fan loyalty and ongoing excitement around the sport.”

— ChatGPT, AI Chatbot

What’s next

The analysis provided by ChatGPT highlights the need for track and field in the U.S. to address its structural and marketing challenges in order to gain more mainstream appeal and commercial success. Potential solutions could include the creation of a consistent, year-round league structure with team dynamics, improved media exposure and athlete branding, and a greater focus on building a loyal fan base beyond the quadrennial Olympic events.

The takeaway

The insights from the ChatGPT analysis underscore the complex and multifaceted challenges facing track and field in the United States. While the sport has produced world-class athletes, it has struggled to translate that success into broader public interest and commercial viability. Addressing the key issues identified, such as the lack of a consistent league structure and limited athlete visibility, will be crucial for the sport to reach its full potential and attract more fans, sponsors, and media attention.