Track and Field
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Veronica Fraley is currently living out her dreams as a part of Team USA’s Track and Field team at the 2024 Summer Olympics. However, the 2024 NCAA discus champion expressed that she was struggling to pay her rent which caught the eye of Flava Flav and Alexis Ohanian.
On Thursday (August 1), Veronica Fraley took to X, formerly Twitter, to share with her followers that her school, Vanderbilt University, didn’t send her the full percentage of her rent as she attempted to figure out how to make up the rest.
“I compete in the Olympic Games TOMORROW and can’t even pay my rent my school only sent about 75% of my rent while they pay football players (who haven’t won anything) enough to buy new cars and houses,” Fraley wrote.
Flava Flav, who has shown amazing charity and support for all things Team USA, reached out to Fraley and said that he’d cover the costs.
“I gotchu,,, DM me and I’ll send payment TODAY so you don’t have to worry bout it TOMORROW,,, and imma be rooting for ya tomorrow LETZ GO,!!!” Flav added.
Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit and husband of tennis legend Serena Williams, chimed in and said he’d split the costs with Flav.
“C’mon now! I’ll split it with @flavorfav, Ohanian wrote in a reply.
Both Flav and Ohanian showed proof that they paid Fraley, with Flav saying he’ll come and watch her compete in the discus event.
When a fan inquired why Ohanian paid $7,7600 to Fraley, he kindly explained that there was a deeper reason.
Salute to Flava Flav and Alexis Ohanian for putting their money where the mouth is. Best of luck to Veronica Fraley in her quest to capture Olympic gold.
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Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty
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Noah Lyles is sitting at the top of the track and field throne after a star-making showing at the 2023 World Athletic Championships in Budapest. After winning three gold medals at the events, Lyles caused a stir after speaking at a press conference and challenging the world champion title bestowed upon the NBA champions year to year.
Noah Lyles, 26, is a six-time world champion and the leading 200m runner according to the World Athletics rankings system. As reported by USA Today, Lyles spoke last Friday (August 25) at a news conference and answered a question on how the American track team can raise interest and improve interest in the sport. Lyles came back with a fiery answer that matched his outsized personality on the track.
“You know the thing that hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have ‘world champion’ on their head,” Lyles said to the reporter. “World champion of what? The United States?”
Lyles added, “Don’t get me wrong. I love the U.S., at times – but that ain’t the world. That is not the world. We are the world. We have almost every country out here fighting, thriving, putting on their flag to show that they are represented. There ain’t no flags in the NBA.”
While his words had some supporters, many online were quick to point out that the NBA is comprised of several international players, some of whom are champions in their own country. Last year’s NBA MVP was Nikola Jokic, a former second-round pick who hails from Serbia.
Speaking of the NBA, several players, including Kevin Durant and Devin Booker among others, had plenty to say about Lyles’ comments. ESPN’s SportsCenter X account compiled some of the comments, which can be viewed below. We also share a video from First Take discussing the quip.
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Photo: Getty
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Sha’Carri Richardson took to the track Monday (August 21) at the World Athletic Championships with the odds stacked against her and everyone seemingly counting her out. The Dallas native shocked everyone but herself by not only winning the gold medal in the 100-meter race but also setting a championship record in the process.
As NBC Sports reported, Sha’Carri Richardson, 23, faced off against favorites Jamaicans Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, in her first world championship race. The pressure she undoubtedly endured was hardly present as a focused but loose Richardson was the first one to take the field and enter her outside lane.
As the commentators kept hammering home, Richardson needed to have an almost perfect start to have a chance. Even with everything going as planned, it was clear from the commentary that Jackson or Fraser-Pryce were the expected winners as the Jamaican team is typically dominant in this event.
History and records aside, Richardson beat the field, coming in at 10.65 seconds. Jackson earned a silver medal with a time of 10.72, and Fraser-Pryce won bronze with a time of 10.77. With this win, Richardson is the world’s fastest woman on the track and field scene.
After crossing the finish line, Richardson reacted in disbelief and appeared to be in shock. When the moment was confirmed on overheard screens and on the track, Richardson finally allowed herself to take an American flag, draped herself in the flag and celebrated with glee.
The epic win comes two years after Richardson was hit with a positive marijuana test disqualification for her Olympic Trials 100m win. From there, it was a slow climb back into the good graces of the track and field community but Richardson doesn’t seem to desire the world’s adoration after betting on herself. In her post-race commentary, Richardson once again repeated that she isn’t racing for the world’s approval and that the support of her family is all she needs.
Amen to that.
Congratulations to Sha’Carri Richardson on the big win. Keep scrolling to watch the race and read reactions from X, formerly known as Twitter.
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Photo: Getty
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