"Everybody doesn't understand the Olympics is for the mamas. It's for mamas and for Facebook and everybody back home who wants to have something to watch and a dog in the fight, but the sport is done every day for four years in advance. Guys like me are professionals all the time" - Sam Kendricks Not something that is talked about enough, track and field is not the top 3 in each event at the trials every 4 years. Track and field is something that happens every hour of every day by thousands upon thousands of high schoolers, collegiates, amateurs, semi-pros, masters, and professional athletes. It is a beautiful and brutal sport. I can tell that Sam gets it.
Wow. As former Olympic Pole vaulter myself, I've been watching Sam compete since he was in college. After listening to him talk about his refusal to get the Covid vaccine, I think he's just become my number one favorite track and field athlete of all time!
What he’s saying makes perfect sense. How do you get people to get involved with and root for track & field when the most important event is once every 4 years?
Because they compete every year in at least one, sometimes 2 world championships? They have a pro circuit and nationals, a pro championship... There's plenty to see outside of the Olympics.
I think the journalist will have a tough one writing their report after this interview as Sam is tormented between what happened in 2021 and not seeing his team mate KC Lightfoot getting through the trials.
His real problem, i suspect, is that he used to be nr1 and now he is no loner competitive. He is a spectator at the Mondo Show and so are all the other guys. The reality of the pole vault competition in Paris will be the answer to the question: will Mondo break the world record? The rest is just settling who is coming in second.
For an interview of a Pole Vaulter, Sam didnt hold back. I am surprised at how much of this was NOT about pole vaulting and more about his frustration with USATF and policy makers.
@@williampatrick8814 Many people in the world had to cancel once in a lifetime events during covid. He tested positive yes claims it was a false maybe he just didn't have symptoms but what happened happened and he needs to get over it an accept it. Not be going on about not competing three year later if that is the case why are you there taking up a space that someone else could have competed in. All I see is someone who clearly still needs therapy to get over this if he is still going on about it. People had to cancel many large events and activites during this time that is the realitiy. Yes, you can not believe in covid and all the other things but rules are fucking rules and learning to make peace with what happend. Rules exist yes some are stupid and we don't always agree with them but you are on the world stage and that is what the situation was in Japan he couldn't go. It would be better to find peace and acceptence than bitter resentment and holding on to that for years just builds it and shows that he is playing the victim and it is not a witch hunt it is the reality of the games happening during covid he wasn't the only one either.
Disappointed because he wants the people who were completely wrong in their conclusions and procedures, that costed everyone, but this guy specifically?
this goes for anyone who choose to NOT get the sticky. I'm still pissed off too. the compliant ones just want to give themselves up, AND their kids & roll over on command. if you're not pissed you're either stupid, don't care, or both.
Irrelevant. IOC did not require mandatory vaccination for Tokyo 2020. No need to bring this up unless your intent was to badmouth him. About 15% athletes were not vaccinated going into Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Try to understand his context better.
"Everybody doesn't understand the Olympics is for the mamas. It's for mamas and for Facebook and everybody back home who wants to have something to watch and a dog in the fight, but the sport is done every day for four years in advance. Guys like me are professionals all the time" - Sam Kendricks
Not something that is talked about enough, track and field is not the top 3 in each event at the trials every 4 years. Track and field is something that happens every hour of every day by thousands upon thousands of high schoolers, collegiates, amateurs, semi-pros, masters, and professional athletes. It is a beautiful and brutal sport. I can tell that Sam gets it.
@nathanielrussell4932 this is 2024 we are all aware...cmon now. This quote is an unaware statement
nice mix of thought-provoking and unhinged
Wow. As former Olympic Pole vaulter myself, I've been watching Sam compete since he was in college. After listening to him talk about his refusal to get the Covid vaccine, I think he's just become my number one favorite track and field athlete of all time!
Sam is a hero
What he’s saying makes perfect sense. How do you get people to get involved with and root for track & field when the most important event is once every 4 years?
Because they compete every year in at least one, sometimes 2 world championships? They have a pro circuit and nationals, a pro championship... There's plenty to see outside of the Olympics.
ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT!!!
I think the journalist will have a tough one writing their report after this interview as Sam is tormented between what happened in 2021 and not seeing his team mate KC Lightfoot getting through the trials.
His real problem, i suspect, is that he used to be nr1 and now he is no loner competitive. He is a spectator at the Mondo Show and so are all the other guys. The reality of the pole vault competition in Paris will be the answer to the question: will Mondo break the world record? The rest is just settling who is coming in second.
For an interview of a Pole Vaulter, Sam didnt hold back. I am surprised at how much of this was NOT about pole vaulting and more about his frustration with USATF and policy makers.
always my favorite justification to hear, "I'm from the South..."
Amazingly there was an entire legion of athletes from the South on Team USA in Tokyo that neither harbored his grievances or experienced his woes.
Got to love this guy. Hot and heated for sure… great to hear a fresh view, harsh, but grounded.
I’ve never seen that side of Sam Kendricks before. I’m kinda scared.
Sam is on one, I like this guy, a lil out there but he makes sense.
Bro is spitting, its ridiculous how these guys obsess on a dream that ends up to nothing more than the validation of saying “im an olympian”
Bro you had Covid
That has been proven to be 🐄 💩. He should be able to sue these people
What did the interviewers ask, I forgot the question?
When did kanye start pole vaulting?
The guy went ham but for there to be winners there has to be losers
he should be able to express his opinions without flack
No he shouldn't. That'd mean other folks aren't allowed to express their opinions (perhaps about his opinions).
This dude needs a psychiatrist.
so true
@@williampatrick8814 Many people in the world had to cancel once in a lifetime events during covid. He tested positive yes claims it was a false maybe he just didn't have symptoms but what happened happened and he needs to get over it an accept it. Not be going on about not competing three year later if that is the case why are you there taking up a space that someone else could have competed in. All I see is someone who clearly still needs therapy to get over this if he is still going on about it. People had to cancel many large events and activites during this time that is the realitiy. Yes, you can not believe in covid and all the other things but rules are fucking rules and learning to make peace with what happend. Rules exist yes some are stupid and we don't always agree with them but you are on the world stage and that is what the situation was in Japan he couldn't go. It would be better to find peace and acceptence than bitter resentment and holding on to that for years just builds it and shows that he is playing the victim and it is not a witch hunt it is the reality of the games happening during covid he wasn't the only one either.
Sigh….People views tend to not surprise me nowadays but this is disappointing. Maybe because I’ve been rooting for this guy for over 10 years 😢
What's disappointing
Bro you really need help
Disappointed because he wants the people who were completely wrong in their conclusions and procedures, that costed everyone, but this guy specifically?
@@KellOne what happened exactly?
Sooo much emotion.
He got alot to say for a pole vaulted
this goes for anyone who choose to NOT get the sticky. I'm still pissed off too. the compliant ones just want to give themselves up, AND their kids & roll over on command. if you're not pissed you're either stupid, don't care, or both.
People who try to bash Sam have never heard of perspective
All this just to get beat by Mondo
Bravo Sam Kendricks
Hes a heart attack waiting to happen eventually if he dont calm down a little
you all in the comments are mad because he didn't get vaccinated?!
What does tirading bi-polar narcissism have to do with being vaccinated?
@@slipperyslope3912 it ain't that serious
At this point it's just obnoxious that he's complaining about it. He made is choice. Stop complaining.
@@adamjohnson5285 you have a good point
Irrelevant. IOC did not require mandatory vaccination for Tokyo 2020. No need to bring this up unless your intent was to badmouth him. About 15% athletes were not vaccinated going into Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Try to understand his context better.