MAGGIE MALONE

Country: United States of America

Profession: Athlete – Javelin

Career highlights:

2020 Olympic finalist

2016 Olympian

American Record Holder - 67.40m

US Olympic Trials Record Holder - 63.50m

NCAA Collegiate Record Holder - 62.19m

In 2016 Maggie became the first-ever javelin thrower to win the NCAA title and the US

Olympic Trials in the same year.

Congratulations on winning the Athletics Association MiPro Performance Award for July! Please can you take us through that 67.40m throw?

In the 67m throw I had 3 cues I was really working on: staying tall through my body (head to toe), rhythm in the throw, and having tension through head/neck. I had no intention or thought that I would throw 67m because I had an extremely emotional and frustrating week leading up to this competition.

I had no idea how it was going to go... but, I went in with my game-plan and I saw it go so far!

I think I looked at the crowd and was like, "wow that's far... THAT'S FAR!" And they read it out loud and I just lost it. I couldn't believe I threw 67m. I was just ecstatic and so thankful for God and that moment. I then had to get drug tested immediately and do some other stuff so that they could ratify the record... so I called Deanna Price (American record thrower in Hammer) and she and her husband walked me through what I needed to do and gave me all the numbers of people to call.

Gotta love the throwers’ community!

You are coached by javelin great Tom Pukstys, what would you say has made this partnership so successful?

I'd say working with Tom worked because he was a great thrower himself, and so he knows the "feelings" that it takes as a javelin thrower. He is really good at seeing a throw and explaining what WE felt and how to make changes.

We know Identity is such a difficult issue for many elite athletes. Could you tell us about your “Maggie Malone, the Olympian” journey and what challenges you may have faced with this identity?

This is something that I have struggled with for a really long time. I was always thought of as Maggie Malone the Olympian or the Athlete and this ate at me to the point where I just truly lost myself. My identity was only found in success and if I wasn’t successful that meant that I was somehow wrong or unworthy, that I’d let people down...and all the negative things I could think of.

So, I started working with a counsellor in 2017 because I had failed at the Olympic in 2016 and that totally broke me. I felt I had failed on the world stage and embarrassed myself. I was also going through injuries at the time and just a bunch of other stuff. My mental health was not good, and I hadn’t been successful, which meant it just spiraled from there.

I had to work on who I was apart from Maggie Malone the Olympian, javelin thrower or athlete. This helped me understand what my core values are, what I believe in. My faith is huge, I knew that I was the daughter of Christ and that is truly where I found my identity and not in sport.

I know now that my identify isn’t defined by a number that comes up on the screen or the distance thrown. At the end of day my identity is always rooted in who Jesus is and that brings me comfort and peace. This also allowed me to feel freedom from these chains that I brought into competitions and training and allowed me to have a more free mindset. Learning to open my hand instead of leading with a closed fist allowed me to open myself up to having greater success.

Mental health was a strong theme at the Tokyo Olympics, what are your thoughts on the difference between mental toughness and mental health for athletes?

I would say that mental toughness is a result of whether or not your mental health is strong, and you are “healthy”. What I mean by that is if your mental health is not a priority and if you are not good mentally and in your heart, and you don’t have a good identity about yourself, you aren’t in a good headspace. Then how are you going to be mentally tough? Because the Olympics are like the arena to see who is mentally tough. I will say that mental toughness means are you are able to be resilient, fight back and not allow things to get into your mind and you are able to compete without these impeding feelings and continue when things don’t go well. I don’t believe that you’re able to be mentally tough if you don’t have a strong mental health foundation first, meaning you have a solid identity, you know where your strength comes from yourself, you have joy in the sport or whatever you’re doing. All of that needs to be in check first before stepping into the arena and competing at a level which requires and demand so much mental toughness to compete well.

How did you managed to fit in studying a Master’s degree in Marketing Analytics and training/competing?

I actually finished my Masters in Marketing when I was injured and I wasn’t really competing and I was also going through a lot of mental health work. So I was training but I wasn’t really in a competition mindset. I was in a lot of counselling sessions and physical therapy because I had injured my back, had a bulging disc and fractured my heel. I really wasn’t in a capacity to compete, but I had always wanted to get my Masters because both my parents had had theirs. So, I pursued that and I am so thankful that I did. I learned a lot through the programme and made incredible friends, and I also found who I was.

It was nice to have a little mental health break from javelin and the athletics setting. I needed just to be a college student for a little bit. There were some really hard seasons in the programme and some moments that I’m not proud. But I know that I was lost in a lot of areas during that time, but I also know that God is so good and was pursuing me the whole time. I really dived into my faith at that time and I am thankful for that season of hardship because it resulted in a lot of growth. Without it, I don’t think I would have found who I am now and I wouldn’t have created the foundation that I now have.

What are your plans going into the 2022 season and what are you looking forward to the most?

I have recently moved to Phoenix, Arizona and I am really excited about that. I finally get to be closer to my strength coach who I love, Malcolm Gwilliam. He is incredible. Having him in the gym has already made a huge difference, demanding so much of me and pushing me to limits that I have never felt before.

I am really excited about the World Championships in Eugene and excited to see where the season goes, because I feel I have built a strong foundation with the team around me. I have such an awesome team with my strength coach, my mental coach, technique coach and nutritionist, and we are all going for the same goal: a gold medal at some point. I really want to get a medal at Worlds and the Olympics. That is what I am pursuing right now. I am looking forward to this new training environment. It is very positive, and I am excited to build on the foundation from this last year. I want to throw 70m. I want to see what God has in store for me, hopefully I can reach those heights. I don’t know if that’s in the cards for me, but I will do everything in my power to achieve that.

I am also looking forward to training with my boyfriend Sam Harden, who also coaches me in Javelin. I would love to see him make the World Champs team, and we could do it together in 2022 and make the Olympic team in 2024.

Also getting the focus more on javelin, I have worked a full-time job these last few years. I’m taking a step back from that and pursuing javelin full-time. I am excited to see what happens when I dedicate more time to the sport.

I am excited to go to Europe and compete in the Diamond League. I am looking forward to competing with the best in the world, that is something I have dreamt of doing. I am fired up to be around all the women I admire, Kelsey-Lee Barber, Līna Mūze and Barbora Špotáková - all the women I have looked up to and now call friends.

We read that singing is one of your hobbies, what is your favourite song to sing and why?

One of my favourite songs is King of Kings by Hillsong. I love worship music, it soothes me and brings me so much peace and joy and it is pleasing to God. Leading worship in my church is something I would love to do in the future.

What is the WORST advice you have ever been given?

Love this question! One is definitely that I should tint my eyebrows and that resulted in embarrassing pictures that I never want to see again because I looked insane!

As an athlete, it is that “Stronger is better” meaning that If I’m really strong that means I will throw further. That is a lie, and some coaches have it backwards. You don’t have to be the strongest to throw far. Stronger is not always better and could lead to injuries if you don’t know how to utilise your strength correctly and can cause imbalances.

END

23 November 2021: On the eve of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Executive Committee and Foundation Board meetings, we call on all stakeholders, particularly governments, to support athletes’ repeated calls for a fully independent WADA Executive Committee; including the provision of a voting seat at the decision-making table for independent athlete representative organizations.

WADA’s proposed addition of a few athletes to its governance structure is once again, more smoke and mirrors. WADA continually hides behind headlines rather than implementing meaningful reforms, and as a result, athletes have lost confidence in WADA’s integrity and ability to fulfill its mandate. Meaningful change cannot happen without independence, the first step of which is an independent Executive Committee with independent athlete representation.

One of WADA’s inherent flaws is its lack of independence. The many conflicted actors with divided loyalties to sport and government is particularly evident at the Executive Committee level. These conflicts of interest have undermined WADA’s effectiveness and have been repeatedly exposed over the past several years with these very same conflicted actors rendering anti-doping decisions based on politics, not principle. WADA should neither be controlled nor governed by anyone who has a stake in the economics of sports competition if they are to be considered legitimate.

The sports movement has a stranglehold on WADA and its mission, and they have made it clear they have no desire to relax this control. We implore government representatives to listen to athletes’ calls for equal independent athlete representation and a fully independent Executive Committee. Independence will rebuild trust, accountability, transparency, and a balance of power.

Signed by:

Athletics Association

International Swimmers’ Alliance

Athleten Deutschland e.V.

Global Athlete

 Background:

Over the past years, athlete groups and player unions have repeatedly called on WADA to undergo substantial reforms:

-        11 November 2020: Athletes Groups and Anti-Doping-Leaders Join Forces to Call for Further Reforms of WADA

-        23 July 2020: Independence, Transparency, Accountability and Human Right Must Drive Change

-        17 July 2017: World Players Proposals

NEERAJ CHOPRA

Country: India

Profession: Athlete – Javelin

Career highlights:

-                  2020 Olympic gold medallist

-                  2018 Asian Games gold medallist

-                  2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist

-                  2017 Asian Championships gold medallist

-                  2016 World U20 champion and World U20 Record (86.48m)

-                  National record 88.07m

Neeraj is the first Indian track and field athlete to win a gold medal at the Olympics, this was also India’s only gold in Tokyo. Five years earlier at the 2016 World U20 Championships, he became the first Indian athlete to ever win a U20 World title and the first to set a world record.

Congratulations on becoming Olympic Champion! What did you feel the moment you realised you had won Olympic gold?

At the beginning, there was a powerful wave of emotion that I felt, but it took some time for the feeling to sink in and for me to realize that I had actually won an Olympic Gold. To win Gold at the Olympics is a dream for every athlete, myself included, and so it took a while for the feeling to fully register. But I did feel a very strong sense of pride and happiness about the achievement once it did.

What goes through your mind when the javelin is in the air after your throw?

It varies vastly from one throw to the other, to be honest. And the way I go about my throws, you can probably tell very easily what’s going through my mind! Because I’ve been throwing the javelin for so many years, I get to know the moment the javelin leaves my hand whether it’s a good or a bad throw. It just comes naturally; I don’t quite know how to explain it. And my body language also changes accordingly: if I feel the throw is good, my body language automatically becomes aggressive and pumped up, as you may have seen after the second throw in Tokyo. When I feel it’s not a good throw, I am just waiting to go back and try to come back better in my next attempt; and that’s also evident from the way I react 😊

How do you deal with the pressures of competing on a global stage?

I think at the Olympics the pressure comes automatically because it is considered the biggest stage for our sport. Compared to other major events, there’s always an added pressure that comes with the Olympics because it only comes once every 4 years (this time, it took 5 years!). Additionally, this was my first Olympics, so I did feel that pressure heading into the Games. Having said that, what helped was that I had had a very good training stint ahead of the Games and was in great physical shape with regards to my fitness. So, going into Tokyo, I knew that I had prepared the best way possible and was confident about doing well. That helped me deal with the pressure a fair bit because I knew I was at my best.  Being able to breach the qualifying mark comfortably in my very first throw to qualify for the finals also helped ease some of those early nerves and boost my confidence.

Every athlete needs a team that will support and guide them, who makes up your team?

Absolutely, whether it’s an individual sport or a team sport, having a support team is extremely important for any athlete. For me, my immediate team comprises of my coach and physiotherapist, who were with me throughout during my preparation phase for Tokyo. My coach, Dr. Klaus Bartonietz ensured that I had a good training program to help me peak when it mattered most, and my physio, Ishaan Marwaha, was instrumental in keeping me injury free and my body in shape. The extended team, including family members and friends, also play a hugely important role in keeping the positivity, which I feel is supremely important for any athlete. While speaking to them, even during the Olympics, they never let me feel any sort of pressure and just let me be myself, which ensured I entered the Games with a very positive mindset.

Most athlete love to have their family around when competing, we find it interesting that you have never invited your family to watch you compete. Can you tell us what lead to this decision?

Yes, that’s something that I have noticed while competing that a lot of athletes do have their family members watching. In my case, it’s something that came about during my early days competing. At some point I began to feel that my natural aggressiveness during throwing was something that I couldn’t bring out in front of them, because I would tend to be a little more reserved if they were watching. That’s just something that I had earlier though, now I’m actually waiting to find the right moment to invite some of my family over to come and, hopefully, watch me do well at some major event. I think I would like to have them watch me from the stands while I’m competing now.

What impact do you hope your success will have on athletics in India?

There’s already been quite an impact and positive momentum from what I’m seeing and reading around me. There are many children who are taking up javelin and athletics in general, which is great to see. I think there was a mental block somewhere because of India’s history of never being able to win an Olympic Track & Field medal and there was a mindset that we are weaker than those from the other countries who are used to winning medals at the highest stage. To some extent, when I won the Junior World Championships and set the Junior World Record, I felt that us Indian athletes do have what it takes. Following my success at the 2018 Asian and Commonwealth Games and once I started competing, and doing well, at the Diamond League circuit, I actually felt strong mentally knowing that yes, we Indians can compete against the best in the world and excel. Leading into Tokyo with a good preparation, and following that up by returning with a Gold, I think it will do wonders for that mental block that Indian athletes potentially have and I hope this can be the start of a string of medals from our country’s talented athletes on the global stage.

Can you tell us an interesting fact about Indian culture? 

To be honest, India is a massive and extremely diverse country with multiple states, languages and cultures. What I can talk about is the culture from my home state of Haryana in Northern India. The state has a strong culture of sport and physical fitness, with many parents taking active interest in their children pursuing sports and even the armed forces. A large part of the Indian contingent and medalists actually are from Haryana. Having said that though, there’s a growing and developing culture for sport across many states in India and with the momentum of this year’s successful Olympics, I am confident that we will be able to develop a solid culture for sports in India, which will hopefully see us win many more medals in the future.

Where are you at your happiest?

How much ever I like to travel and roam around different places, I am truly at my happiest when I’m on the ground, doing my training. It’s something I’ve grown up loving and something that makes me feel the most alive.

What is your screen saver photo on your phone right now?

It is currently a very nice picture I clicked myself of a javelin statue at the Inspire Institute of Sport, which is a training centre in India where I train at sometimes. The place has some wonderful scenery and the picture I have is of a lovely sunset when the javelin statue is silhouetted against the sky, which is almost an orange-pink hue. It just looks extremely picturesque. 

END

GENEVIEVE GREGSON

Country:  Australia

Profession: Athlete – 3000m Steeplechase

Career highlights:

-        2x Olympian

-        2016 Olympic finalist in the 5000m and 3000m steeplechase

-        2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games finalist

-        National record and Oceania Record holder with a PB of 9.14.28.

Genevieve is a middle-distance athlete born in Queensland, Australia. As a junior she won numerous races and awards, yet when offered a scholarship to go study at the University of Florida, she worried that that she would be “found out as an average athlete against all the college kids”.

Well, she need not have worried about that!

Genevieve has gone on to win a silver medal at the NCAA’s, compete at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games and is now preparing for the Tokyo Games. She was also chosen to be Australian team co-captain at the 2019 World Athletics Championships and is Australia’s best ever 3000m Steeplechaser.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for her when she arrived in America. While studying for her Bachelors Degree in Applied physiology and kinesiology she went through a very difficult time personally when her parents divorced and she was on the other side of the world to her family. Then she struggled with injuries between the 2013 and 2016 seasons, starting when she broke her ankle at the Birmingham Diamond League. What followed was a cycle of “always rushing to qualify for the next championships” and never giving her body enough time to recover.

Now fully healthy and fit, Genevieve is married to fellow Australian Olympian Ryan Gregson  - also a middle-distance runner - and has settled into her new home in the USA.

She took some time out of her training to speak to us about her Tokyo preparations, why she chose the steeplechase as an event and the worst advice she has ever received.

 Congratulations on your selection for the Olympic squad. What is the game plan heading into the Olympics?

Now that I have been selected for the Olympics in the 3000m steeplechase, I will head over to Europe to prepare for the European circuit. My aim is to practice competing in high calibre races to prepare for the Olympic final.

I would also love to qualify in the 10,000m so my plan is to give one race at this distance a go to see if I can get the automatic qualifying time. 

You were a 1500m athlete when you joined the Florida Gators, what made you fall in love with the 3000m steeplechase?

When I first started to compete for the Florida Gators I was mainly just a distance runner - predominantly cross-country. But in my freshman year we didn’t have an athlete to represent us in the 3000m steeplechase, and so I was thrown into the event. I ran okay and ended up thoroughly enjoying it so I decided to stick with it! 

Most elite athletes have to learn to tolerate pain, but Coach Nic Bideau has said about you that “she is never scared of pain” – how do you manage to push though when things begin to hurt?

Although it sounds cliche, I always tell myself that pain is temporary – it is not going to last very long – and this helps me to tolerate it much better. Also, when I get to the point of a session or race where it begins to hurt, I remind myself of all the work I have done up to that point that can get me through, and that helps me always mentally push through the rough stages.

How would describe a perfect day for you?

The perfect day starts with a sleep in with no alarm. Wake up and have a nice strong coffee, peanut butter, honey on toast and a banana.  Go for a long run. Shower and head to a cafe for brunch somewhere near the beach. Come home, relax and watch Netflix then maybe nap. To finish off an easy day I would end it out at my favourite Italian restaurant then finish again at home, tucked in bed watching a movie. 😊   

You studies a Bachelor of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology - what did you find most interesting about the course?

It was definitely its relevance to my life as an athlete. I found that most classes that I took had direct correlation to my everyday life training and competing, so it wasn’t just theory, I could apply it immediately to myself. I learnt so much and it enabled me to look after myself as an athlete and know a lot more about my body than I would have if I didn’t study.

 You have said Spain is your favourite place to visit. What is your favourite travel memory from there?

Spain has been a popular training location for me and my group over the years. I love the Spanish lifestyle and culture - it is so laid back, the weather is perfect and the food is delicious! Some of my favourite memories are in Hoyos del Espino which is a rural, tiny town we would base out of. Going out to eat was so much fun because there were so many tasty authentic Spanish dishes.

What is the WORST advice you have ever been given?

The worst advice I was given as an athlete was being lighter was better. Over the years as a professional athlete I have learnt that the most important thing to do is fuel your body right. Without fuelling your body, you cannot perform or recover and therefore not reach your full potential as an athlete. 

Follow Genevieve on Instagram &Twitter

May 6th : The Athletics Association today launched the full membership package for current and former athletes with a focus on mental wellbeing.

The Athletics Association, an independent, non-profit organisation formed in 2019 by a group of elite Track and Field athletes, today opened their full membership offering to athletes.

In return for a $50 USD annual subscription members will receive:

• Complimentary access to Headspace (worth $69.99).

• Access to exclusive monthly events and classes on a range op topics, including financial literacy, sports psychology and mental wellbeing.

• The ability to apply for monetary grants (the first awards will be made in October 2021).

• The ability to apply for a limited number of complimentary Talkspace memberships (worth over $2000 USD).

• Substantial and exclusive discounts to industry-leading career transitioning courses supplied by Athlete Biz and The Athlete Advantage.

• Regular updates and dialogue about developments in Athletics and their voice represented by an body committed to the long-term interests of athletes.

• Further benefits, bonuses and opportunities provided by our partners World 1 League when they become available.

To become a member athletes should go www.athleticsassociation.org and click on BECOME A MEMBER. The application process takes a matter of minutes.

President of the Athletics Association, double Olympic champion Christian Taylor, said: “We’ve worked tirelessly to put together a membership package that we think will really help athletes. With access to our monthly classes, a subscription to Headspace and the possibility to apply for grants, we really want to help athletes as they strive to be the best in our sport, a sport that is so demanding on the body and the mind.”

All of the money raised will go back into providing the benefits and monetary grants for the membership.

For further information about the Athletics Association, or to become a member, please visit our website: www.athleticsassociation.org.

22 April 2021 The Athletics Association are deeply disappointed that after many months of deliberation, the IOC have decided not make any meaningful changes to Rule 50.

Last year we advocated for athletes to be allowed to exercise their basic human right to peacefully protest against social injustices in the world, without punishment or sanctions, and we will continue to do so.

Whilst we acknowledge that the IOC’s athlete commission did survey athletes, a step we encourage and support, in the future we hope that this can be done in collaboration with truly independent organisations that represent athletes of Olympic sports.

We strongly believe that if athletes are protesting in the spirit of Olympism, then to punish them for a peaceful protests goes against what the Olympics is supposed to represent and encourage.

The Athletics Association Board.

Register and find out more at www.athleticsassociation.org

For further details please email contact@athleticsassociation.org.

March 30th: The Athletics Association and #voiced are pleased to announce that they will be collaborating to help amplify the voices of track and field athletes around the world.

The Athletics Association, founded by Olympic champion triple jumper Christian Taylor, and supported by a board made up of some of the sport’s greatest athletes, is an independent body created to protect the interests of athletes as well as the sport as a whole. By partnering with #voiced, an independent online platform dedicated to sharing the stories of all stakeholders in Track & Field and Road Running, the Athletics Association will maximise the storytelling potential of athletes, and provide insightful, relevant, regular and up to date content to its members and the track and field community.

 “We are excited to partner with #voiced as this will give the Association a media arm that can help tell the stories of the athletes. Track & Field is a niche global community, but it is the centrepiece of major events such as the Olympic Games, and in order for the sport to continue to grow and develop, we need to hear more of the voices of the athletes themselves” said Taylor. Dr Kirsten van Heerden of #voiced, was equally excited about the new partnership, “Stories are powerful and can, and do, change the world. Track & Field is full of incredibly powerful human stories, and we are really looking forward to working with the Athletics Association to share them, and make a positive impact”.

For more information about #voiced please visit - www.voicedathletics.com

For further information about the Athletics Association please visit - www.athleticsassociation.org

December 4th 2020 The Athletics Association Board welcomes the news that the 2021 Wanda Diamond League series will once again feature 32 disciplines.

The original decision to reduce the Diamond League disciplines from 32 to 24 in November 2019 was one of the priority issues for this association. Following a year of hard work from the Associations’ members, today’s announcement from the Diamond League really shows the power of the collective athlete voice and the importance of collaboration and unfiltered dialogue.

Christian Taylor, President of The Athletics Association said: “We are delighted that athletes' voices have been heard and the events that were removed from the Diamond League schedule a year ago have returned. Rest assured that we will continue advocating for all stadium events to be included in the future. Working groups have been developed to generate practical solutions to discover the possibilities of making this a reality. Additionally, we are pleased with the open, honest, and considerably positive dialogue with the Wanda Diamond League and World Athletics. In these challenging times, I appreciate everyone's enthusiasm, their creativity and openness because the mutual goal is for the sport to flourish and grow. We look forward to continuing these conversations across a wide range of issues.”

Vice-President of the Athletics Association, Emma Coburn, added: “About a year ago, when athletes all over the world learned that their event would no longer be in the Diamond League programme, a group of passionate athletes formed the Athletics Association with the goal to advocate for athletes and I am so proud of the work we have done so far and on this issue. I’m really pleased that athletes have a win. We Are The Sport and the association are always working to hear the voices and opinions of the athlete body and communicate those voices to the decision makers in our sport. We have more work to do and look forward to continuing our dialogue with the Diamond League, World Athletics and other global sports leaders.”

Over the past few months the Athletics Association has been engaging in regular dialogue with both the Diamond League organisers and World Athletics and its Athletes’ Commission. This engagement has resulted in tangible, positive outcomes and benefited everyone involved. We look forward to continuing and further developing our relationships. Regarding the “Final Three” format, we canvassed our members in August and published their views, and have discussed those views with both the Diamond League organisers and World Athletics.

While we may disagree fundamentally, we respect the intention of the Diamond League and World Athletics to showcase a format that they believe is for the good of the horizontal jumps and throws. We also appreciate the confirmation that “Final Three” will be reviewed at the end of the season and evaluated against an agreed set of criteria, after which a decision will be taken about inclusion in the 2022 series.

Representatives of the Athletics Association have agreed to form a working group with Diamond League organisers, broadcasters, as well as members of World Athletics’ Athletes’ Commission. This group will regularly review the format throughout the season, provide feedback and seek to ensure that participating athletes are both informed and regard given to their views. One of the first tasks of this group will be defining the criteria by which the “Final Three” format will be evaluated. We will also be requesting that the reasoning and thinking behind the format be explained to athletes well ahead of the upcoming season to give all competitors a greater understanding of how to prepare and compete under the unique circumstances.

We look forward to working together in the coming year to evaluate this format against our shared goal of presenting the sport at its best for both audience and athlete.

The Diamond League returning to 32 events is an important step on a long road and we will continue to do everything in our power to advocate for all Track and Field athletes and events, regularly speaking to our members around the world as we seek to effect change that benefits our sport.

We will be sharing our membership benefits in the near future as we prepare to take another positive step forward into 2021.

For more information please visit www.athleticsassociation.org

11 November 2020: Athlete representatives from 14 countries join forces with 14 leading Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs) to collectively call on meaningful reform at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). As individual organisations, we have repeatedly submitted formal proposals for change. Now we speak collectively to elevate our call for more independence, transparency, and accountability at WADA.

We reaffirm the need to strengthen human rights and eliminate conflicts of interest in the anti-doping system. WADA’s major stakeholders have united to call yet again for substantive change and meaningful reform at WADA.

Athletes bear the brunt all of the anti-doping testing, and National Anti-Doping Organisations carry out a majority of it, yet neither are properly represented in WADA’s governance, nor the review of it. While WADA says its priority is in engaging and empowering athletes, the agency still does not give them the place they deserve.

We all will benefit from a stronger and more effective WADA that builds trust with athletes and effectively carries out its mission.

WADA’s standing can only be improved through meaningful reforms that embrace both independent athlete representatives and NADOs as essential components of global anti-doping governance.

This Media Statement is released by the following Athlete Groups and National Anti-Doping Leaders.

Athlete Groups: Canada (Athletes CAN), Athletics Association, Austria, Australia (Sports Integrity Australia Athlete Advisory Group), Denmark (NOC Athlete Committee), France (AFLD Athlete Committee), Athleten Deutschland, Global Athlete, Ireland (NOC Athlete Committee), Netherlands (NOC Athlete Committee), Norway (NOC Athlete Committee), UK (British Athletes Commission), UK (UKAD Athletes Commission) and USA (United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Athletes Advisory Council).

National Anti-Doping Organisations: Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, UK and USA.

The Athletics Association is an independent group representing the interests of Track and Field athletes all over the world. For more information please visit our website: www.athleticsassociation.org

August 22nd The Athletics Association was formed to amplify and empower the voices of athletes all over the world and today we are stating our opposition to the “Final Three” format that will be used at the Wanda Diamond League in Stockholm on August 23rd 2020.

After speaking to and hearing from lots of jumpers and athletes around the world, we feel it imperative that we use our platform to share their opinions regarding the proposed “Final Three” format.

Whilst we hugely appreciate all the work and effort that has taken place by meeting directors and organisers this season, in the midst of a global pandemic, it would be remiss not to say something. We hope that in the future we can normalise athletes being present and involved with decisions before they are made.

It’s clear that the athletes we have spoken with do not see “Final Three” as a positive innovation. Instead it’s a format that disrespects the jumps, detracting from the spectacle.

Of the athletes that we spoke to, approximately 87% disliked the “Final Three” concept, including some athletes who will be competing in Stockholm.

Ruswahl Samaai - The Athletics Association Board member and double African Long Jump champion: “We’ve reached a point where both fans and athletes do not see “Final Three” as a positive innovation. Over the last couple of years World Athletics and the Diamond League had tried numerous new formats and innovations and non of them have been success. We as athletes encourage innovation and change but it has to be done in a way that will enhance the event in a positive light. The “Final Three” brings no excitement to our event. Stop this! There’s no need to change a format that has been working for decades.”

Tianna Bartoletta - The Athletics Association Board member and reigning Olympic Long Jump champion: “The field events are dramatic. Lead changes, fouls, personal bests, chokes, all happen within the six rounds of jumping. The problem is that they are attempting to make the event interesting by diminishing the effort of the majority of the field to create faux drama of a last round mini-final, and not presenting the event as it deserves to be, that means actually caring about the event enough to educate the presenters, creating graphics and sharing narratives that appeal to the spectators. Right now, World Athletics is seeking to entertain at the expense of athletes not in cooperation with athletes.”

British Olympic finalist, Jazmin Sawyers: “I recognise the efforts of World Athletics to innovate, but please listen to the athletes and fans - this is not the way to do it. It was trialled indoors and people didn’t like it - we’re trying to make the people like the sport more, not less. Instead of adding excitement, it takes away the possibility of someone coming from eighth place to win the competition - infinitely more exciting than having the top already decided by round six. Following a full competition from start to finish is how to build drama and excitement, not rendering the first five rounds meaningless. Please reconsider this change!”

Bermudian Olympic Long Jumper, Tyrone Smith: “In other professional sports leagues, rules and procedural change are forbidden without the participation and input of the athletes. In our sport, athletes commit their lives and every waking moment to achieving greatness only to have the bar by which that greatness is measured continually changed. In the jumps we’ve seen this format change packaged a few different ways over the years, only to result in a watered down or unsustainable last few rounds. How can we grow the profile of this sport and have the world recognize us as professional if we continue to treat the athletes as participants rather than the product? We don’t need to change the format of the Long Jump to make it more exciting we just need to find better ways of engaging with our fans. We the athletes have great ideas, we are intelligent, resilient, forward thinking individuals. If our minds are respected as much as our bodies, we can help bring our sport to the level it deserves to be at.”

The Athletics Association looks forward to meeting with both World Athletics and their World Athletics Athletes’ Commission, and also Diamond League stakeholders, so that we can propose our ideas for the 2021 series and beyond.

For more information or to register please visit www.athleticsassociation.org.

17 July 2020 The Board of the Athletics Association are adding our voices to the calls around the world for the IOC to make changes to Rule 50 - changes that would allow athletes to exercise their basic human right to peacefully protest against social injustices in the world, without punishment or sanctions.

For too long athletes have been powerless and without a real voice. 52 years after Tommie Smith and John Carlos, supported by Peter Norman, peacefully protested on the medal podium following the 200 metres, very little has changed. 52 years and the systemic racism that Tommie Smith and John Carlos were protesting against is still destroying communities and lives all over the world. And yet, athletes today have been warned that if they peacefully protest then they too will face sanctions and risk being disqualified or suspended.

We strongly believe that if athletes are protesting in the spirit of Olympism, then to punish them for these peaceful protests goes against what the Olympics is supposed to represent and encourage. The IOC defines Olympism as “The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”

It’s clear that the IOC’s Rule 50 is not fit for purpose and is in fact preventing athletes from displaying Olympism at the Olympic Games.  We call on the IOC to make changes to the Rule ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Games that are due to take place in 2021.

We also call on National Olympic Committees around the world to support the athletes that represent their countries on the world’s biggest sporting stage, by guaranteeing that any athlete that peacefully protests in the spirit of Olympism will face no sanctions or punishment.

The Athletics Association Board.

Register and find out more at www.athleticsassociation.org

For further details please email contact@athleticsassociation.org.

16 July 2020 Today marks the formal launch of The Athletics Association, an independent organization established for athletes, by athletes.

Formed in response to the calls from athletes worldwide for independent representation, the objective of The Athletics Association is to provide Track and Field athletes with a meaningful voice, to fight for stronger athletes’ rights, and to seek an athletes first approach to our sport.

The Athletics Association aims to engage in positive dialogue with the sport’s governing body, World Athletics, and their own athletes’ commission, but will of course hold World Athletics to account when necessary and challenge them if they are not acting in the best interest of the athletes.

The non-profit Athletics Association has been busy developing a number of support services and member benefits for athletes, including a hardship grant fund, training courses, and discounts on products. Details of the full annual membership package will be announced ahead of the full roll-out in January 2021.

The Athletics Association initial objectives:

1 – Lobby World Athletics and the Diamond League stakeholders regarding the changes to the Diamond League schedule that were announced for 2020. We will offer suggestions and alternatives that would include all stadium disciplines, and would benefit athletes and fans, as well as the long term interests of this diverse and wonderful sport.

2 – Gain a seat at the table with World Athletics to command real involvement and power when it comes to decision-making in the sport, as we look to amplify the voices of our members and athletes all over the world.

3 – Announce the Athletics Association’s welfare charter, highlighting our commitment to improving the conditions for athletes across a range of issues.

4 – Solidify our membership package that will begin in January 2021 and will offer access to courses on issues such as financial literacy and life after Athletics, and also discounts on products.

5 – Present World Athletics with innovative ideas for the growth of the sport.

The collective has launched with two-time Olympic and four-time World champion, Christian Taylor, as the inaugural president “I am very proud of the progress made by the members of the Athletics Association Board. Since its initial inception a lot of work has been put in to establish the right governance and long-term viability that is essential to do justice to the athletes we represent. It’s this that has attracted the commitment and support of the athletes on the Board. We have athletes from every continent, and a wide variety of disciplines; we are made up of Olympic and World champions, as well as world record holders and continental champions. “

“In addition to the board members, there are so many other athletes who have helped get us to this stage. World Athletics recently published a strategic plan, and athletes have been identified as key stakeholders. The Athletics Association provides a representative voice and a simple way for the sport’s governing body to follow through on their commitment. We are ready to contribute to the growth of the sport that we love, ensuring that athletes are part of the decision-making process.  This association is for the athletes, by the athletes, and we are determined to make a real difference. We firmly believe that we can affect positive change in our sport. We are ready for the challenge.”

The Athletics Association has also agreed to a strategic partnership with Global Athlete, a progressive athlete start-up movement aiming to inspire greater athlete representation in organisations across the world of sport. The partnership brings together two organisations with similar values to collaborate on projects, share insights and drive change that will ultimately benefit the athletes and the sport.

“Global Athlete is proud to be a partner with the Athletics Association. Establishing an independent association is a critical step in enhancing athletes’ rights. It is so important for athletes to have their own representation” said Rob Koehler, Global Athlete Director General.

“The sport of athletics needs to find a new and exciting path for success. This success can only be possible with real meaningful athlete engagement. Athletes have the desire to further grow the sport while at the same time ensuring the utmost care is given to athletes’ rights. Together we are stronger.” said Emma Coburn, The Athletics Association Vice-President.

The Athletics Association structure:

The Athletics Association Board is made up of representatives from every continent and comprises 24 athletes, including individual global champions: Christian Taylor (President) Emma Coburn (Vice-President), Allyson Felix, Ashton Eaton, Julius Yego, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Tianna Bartoletta and Tom Walsh.

To see all the board members and their roles please visit our brand new website www.athleticsassociation.org and sign up and register to receive up-to-date information.

For further details please email contact@athleticsassociation.org.