LA 2028: Seb Coe Breaks Silence On Why Women's 100m Runs in One Day, Contrary to the Men

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe has pushed back against criticism over the new single-day format for the women's 100m at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, stating the decision was made with the full endorsement of the athletes involved.

In a significant break from tradition, the world governing body announced in November that all three rounds of the women's 100m, heats, semi-finals, and final, will be contested on a single day. This replaces the conventional two-day schedule used at major global championships.

The change is part of a broader overhaul that will see athletics run for the entire duration of the Olympic Games for the first time, from July 15 to 30.

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Speaking after a recent four-day visit to Jamaica, Seb Coe explained that logistical challenges in Los Angeles prompted the scheduling shift.

"There were some challenges in the timetable in Los Angeles, and that actually gave us the opportunity of having athletics going first this time," he said as quoted by the Jamaica Observer.

"For the very first time, I think, in pretty much the modern history of the Games, and that’s really around venue allocation."

The decision has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from Jamaica, a nation that has medalled in the women's 100m at every Olympics since 1984. Athletes could now face three high-stakes races in under 12 hours.

Stephen Francis, founder of the MVP Track and Field Club and coach to champions like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah, labelled the move "anti-female," accusing World Athletics of lacking the "guts" to challenge the host city.

Similarly, Glen Mills, the renowned coach of Usain Bolt, said the schedule "sends the wrong message" and suggested the women were "being sacrificed."

However, Seb Coe firmly rejected these claims, insisting that top sprinters and their coaches were consulted and embraced the change.

"We spoke to all the top 100m athletes in a detailed engagement. We have the exchanges, the WhatsApps, the written verification, particularly amongst their coaches," Seb Coe stated.

"The overwhelming majority of the female 100m runners were comfortable about doing the three rounds in the day, were equally excited about being the first major medal of the Games, and don’t see it as being working against the interests of women’s athletics."

Seb Coe also dismissed any notion that male athletes were receiving preferential treatment. "This isn’t about finding an opportunity to protect the men and just put the women out there first. They were absolutely engaged with it," he explained.

"We actually also engaged with the men, and the men were more reticent about doing all that in one day. It was the women and their coaches who were comfortable around that."

Coe sought to allay these fears, noting that adjustments have been made to the schedule. "We’ve given a longer period between the semi and the final," he said.

"We had 20 individual discussions with athletes at the very highest level... and I think 17 of those that we discussed it with were comfortable about it. Many of the coaches said that it was perfectly manageable."

The World Athletics president confirmed the format is not set in stone and could be revisited for future Games if it proves unsuccessful.

"It may well be when we get to Brisbane [2032], we look at something different. But if it works, and the women are comfortable with that, then it may well be that we will follow their lead."

The new schedule has received public support from prominent athletes, including American world champion Sha’Carri Richardson and Great Britain's three-time Olympic medallist Dina Asher-Smith.