Carl Lewis rips USA Track & Field after 4x100 relay disappointment: 'It is time to blow up the system'

One of the all-time greats, American sprinter Carl Lewis, has had it with the USA’s relay teams in track following yet another high-profile gaffe in the final of the men’s 4×100-meter relay.

He’s calling for sweeping change following Friday’s debacle, which saw Team USA disqualified after finishing in seventh after a botched exchange between the first and second legs of the race.

“It is time to blow up the system. This continues to be completely unacceptable,” Carl Lewis tweeted shortly after the race. “It is clear that EVERYONE at [USA Track & Field] is more concerned with relationships than winning. No athlete should step on the track and run another relay until this program is changed from top to bottom.”

The failure in the 4×100-meter relay continues a long stretch of poor performances in the event.

Team USA last medaled in the event 20 years ago, with botched handoffs and even a doping ban disqualification scuttling things since then. And while there were some extenuating circumstances Friday — a late lineup change due to Noah Lyles‘ absence due to illness — the excuses have worn thin for Lewis.

NBC reporter Lewis Johnson also shared some of Lewis’ critiques on the broadcast shortly after the race, describing Lewis’ mood as “furious.”

“A few moments ago, I talked with the Olympic legend Carl Lewis,” Johnson said. “He was down here just a few feet away from me as the men’s 400-meter relay was contested. Carl is furious and he’s angry about several things.

“First of all, he’s angry about a system that he says is not set up to help the United States move forward and do well. He’s also angry that they didn’t have the right people in the right places. If Noah Lyles was out sick with Covid, they should’ve just replaced the anchor leg and nothing else. But the fact they reordered the entire relay had him worried and at the end, had him upset.”

Johnson went on to explain that Carl Lewis felt even with Lyles’ absence the team could have won. Thus the frustration.

“As he stood there and watched this, he shook his head and was really disgusted,” Johnson relayed. “He was absolutely furious that it happened. He’s frustrated with the athletes and the system that put them in place not to succeed tonight in Paris.”

As for what changes Carl Lewis might suggest, that remains to be seen.