"I feel shoe companies don't respect us" - Fred Kerley makes his feelings known about sponsorships in track and field

American sprinter Fred Kerley has shared his thoughts on sponsorships in track and field. Notably, Kerley has previously been associated with two popular sports brands, ASICS and Nike.

He first signed a sponsorship deal with Nike in 2017 after winning his 400m event at the NCAA Division I Championships. However, the contract expired in 2022 and he inked a partnership with ASICS on February 21, 2023.

At the 2024 NYC Grand Prix, Kerley, an ASICS-sponsored athlete, forgot his shoes at the airport. As a result, he used a pair of Puma spikes to run in the race. However, he recorded a did not start in the event, and it was then made public that both Kerley and ASICS had parted ways mutually. Following the Paris Olympics, he was notably seen wearing Nike at Diamond League events, suggesting that he may have rejoined the brand.

Kerley recently appeared on the ‘Ready Set Go’ podcast, where he spoke on how he feels about shoe companies and how they don't value athletes. He said (starting at 5:57):

“I don't feel like the shoe companies actually respect us athletes. We're all great in our own ways, no matter if you're at the bottom of the pole or the top at the podium because every athlete can market themselves in different type of ways, which these companies don't understand. Everybody is great in their own ways, and we are competitive in our own ways. I feel like at the end of the day, the shoes brands don't really respect us, they respect themselves.”

He added:

“The athletes are the ones that make the brand. The brand don't make the brand. Without us, there's no brand.”

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Fred Kerley announced as one of the racers for Grand Slam Track

Fred Kerley at the Paris Olympics 2024. (Photo by Andy Cheung/ Getty Images)

Fred Kerley, a two-time Olympic Games medalist, has been announced as one of the racers for the 2025 Grand Slam Track. This league is all set for its debut in the 100m and 200m, and was launched by American retired athletics star, Michael Johnson.

Besides Kerley, Kenny Bednarek is another top athlete in the sprint category who will feature in the Grand Slam Track. It is worth noting that four Slams will be held each year, with the winner receiving a cash prize of $100,000, based on their overall points total from two events.