"It was an exaggerated motion for photographers"- Justin Gatlin weighs in on Asafa Powell's famous Toe-Drag emulated by many sprinters and coaches

Retired US sprinter Justin Gatlin opened up on the iconic 'toe drag' of retired Jamaican sprinter, Asafa Powell, claiming that it was an exaggerated move of the photographer in a photoshoot. Asafa Powell and Justin Gatlin were toe-to-toe competitors during their active years.

Justin Gatlin swept the 100m gold and 200m silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the debut Olympiad of his career. His long list of laurels also includes three more Olympic medals and 12 World titles. His prowess in the 100m shone through at three gold-winning Diamond Leagues as well.

Post-retirement, Gatlin started a sports podcast, "Ready Set Go", alongside the former Bahamanian sprinter, Rodney Green. In a recent episode, Asafa Powell, the former Jamaican sprinter with five world medals in his repertoire, graced the seat, discussing his iconic toe drag that left the nation abuzz.

In his X post (clip of Ready Set Go podcast), Gatlin did not recommend the toe drag to any sprinter or coach aiming for the Olympic podium. He also claimed that Powell's toe drag, which the next generation of athletes tend to adopt, was just an overemphasis by the photographers in a shoot.

"It was a photo shoot. It was an exaggerated motion for the photographers in a photo shoot, which birthed a whole generation of toe-draggers," he said in the podcast.

Chiming in, Rodney Green confirmed that Powell resorted to that specific running technique in training but never in a meet. Justin Gatlin requested Powell to bring his truth to stop coaches from instilling the 'toe drag' element in training.

"Tell the coaches out there because the coaches coaching this too."

Powell then spoke his truth and how keeping his foot as low to the ground to reduce airtime was misread as 'toe drag'.

"The aim is to stay as low as possible to the ground. I don't know, I don't think I dragged my toe in the races.... It's very low to the ground like you probably can't put a pin between it,"

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Justin Gatlin on Asafa Powell's absence in 4x100m relay team at the 2012 Olympics

Gatlin suggested that the 4x100m relay world record time of the Jamaican team could have been faster had the two-time 100m record breaker, Asafa Powell, been in the squad. In a candid conversation on the "Ready Set Go podcast" in April, Justin Gatlin said:

"Adding Asafa Powell to that already formidable lineup of Bolt, Blake, Carter, and Frater could have pushed the team to an even faster time."

At the 2012 London Olympics, Powell ran the 100m final but was narrowly edged out by Justin Gatlin, who claimed the bronze behind Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake. Asafa Powell doesn't hold any individual Olympic gold but broke the ten-second barrier in the 100m a record 97 times, the most by any athlete.