Največji zaslužek v zgodovini atletike

Predstavljajte si, da odtečete eno samo dirko in odidete bogatejši od skoraj vseh športnikov v zgodovini svojega športa. Prav to se je ta mesec zgodilo na povsem novem prvenstvu, zgrajenem okoli ene same preproste zamisli: zmagovalce plačaj kot prave zvezdnike.

Imagine running one race and walking away richer than almost any athlete in the history of your sport. That is exactly what happened this month at a brand new championship built entirely around one simple idea: pay the winners like real stars.

Prireditev je za nekaj dni tekem zbrala najboljše atlete na svetu, nagradni sklad pa je bil takšen, kakršnega ta šport še ni videl, vreden okoli deset milijonov dolarjev. Zmagovalec ene same discipline je lahko domov odnesel znesek, kakršnega so atleti prej zaslužili šele v več sezonah skupaj.

The event brought together the best track and field athletes in the world for just a few days of racing, but the prize fund was unlike anything the sport had seen before, worth about ten million dollars in total. A single event winner could take home an amount many athletes previously earned across several seasons combined.

Zagovorniki pravijo, da tako plačilo atletiko končno obravnava kot velik šport, kar v resnici je. Kritiki se sprašujejo, ali bo to dolgoročno sploh kaj spremenilo. Kakor koli že, za nekaj septembrskih dni so bili šprinterji in metalci naenkrat med najbolje plačanimi športniki na svetu.

Supporters say paying athletes this well finally treats track and field like the major sport it is. Critics wonder if it will actually change anything long term. Either way, for a few days in September, sprinters and throwers were suddenly some of the highest paid athletes in the world.