Africa’s fastest woman Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith has hit out at the producers of the Netflix documentary SPRINT, which shines a spotlight on the lives of global sprinters, for excluding her in the final cut.
Netflix released the six-part docuseries in July, which focuses on the life, on and off the track, of top sprinters in the world with global icons such as Noah Lyles, Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce among those who made the final cut.
The documentary delves into the rivalries, relationships and trials and tribulations of the sprinters behind the scenes before they shine on the track.
“I feel really disrespected because when you say you are going to produce a series about the fastest sprinters in the world, you should show [feature] everyone, not only those who win,” Ta Lou-Smith told The Inside Lane.
“Track and field is not only about winning, it is also about people who overcome different situations, good or bad. So, if you want to show the real life of track and field, show everything, don’t leave out others.”
Besides Lyles, Jackson and Fraser-Pryce, Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, Italian Marcell Jacobs, the 2020 Olympics 100m champion, Fred Kerley, world 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson, triple Olympics gold medallist Gabby Thomas and Elaine Thompson-Herah are the athletes who made the final cut.
Ta Lou Smith is not happy that she was among athletes who were followed at different events all year round during the filming of the documentary but still did not make it to the final product, despite being Africa’s record holder.
“Do not follow people for many hours, record them and just show the people who win, this is not good. I am the African record holder I deserve respect,” she added.
“People look at me and others from Africa see me as a role model and so everything I show them is not just winning medals.
“When I started track and field, I was not winning, people were beating me but my hard work and sacrifices is what put me where I am. So, if you want to show only people who win so what is the point?” she posed.
The 35-year-old said the decision left her hurt and feels the producers’ focus on only those who win watered down the whole product as it denied the audience much more.
“I cried this year and I feel that this is the moment when they have to respect everyone coming from Africa and everywhere in the world because we deserve respect,” said Ta Lou-Smith.
“I deserve respect everywhere, if it is a meeting. Show everything because people are struggling behind and you have to show that to other athletes and the whole world.”
Ta Lou-Smith has had a difficult season and things turned for the worse as she sustained an injury during the 100m final at the Paris Olympics, missing the 200m race in the process, while she is yet to taste a win in the Diamond League.
She, however, finished an impressive third in 100m at the season finale in Brussels on Friday and she will be among the headline acts in the 200m on Saturday, after Richardson pulled out.
