Josh Kerr, the new fastest man over a mile, has criticised the $50,000 (£37,200) bonus he received from World Athletics for breaking the 27-year-old world record, calling the sum 'appalling' and feeling 'short-changed' despite his historic achievement.
Record-Breaking Performance
Kerr ran 3:42.66 at the London Stadium on 20 July 2026, shaving 0.47 seconds off Hicham El Guerrouj's previous mark set in 1999. The time is the fastest mile ever recorded, sparking wild celebrations from a sold-out crowd.
However, the financial reward did not reflect the magnitude of the feat in Kerr's eyes. He received the exact same $50,000 bonus that El Guerrouj was awarded 27 years ago, with no adjustment for inflation or increased commercial value of the sport.
Kerr's Criticism
'It was a good day for me financially but $50,000 is a ridiculous number,' Kerr told The Times. 'To get the same amount 27 years later is appalling, not to sound greedy.'
The Scottish runner highlighted the personal investment required to reach the top: 'I know how much that took from investing in myself financially over the last eight years as a professional. I just feel like I've been a bit short-changed a little bit.'
World Athletics offers a $100,000 bonus (£74,500) at flagship outdoor global championships, but that sum is halved for Diamond League meetings, where Kerr's record was set.
Athlete's Perspective
Despite the financial disappointment, Kerr expressed joy at achieving his goal. 'It was just incredible, that last lap,' he told the BBC. 'It was just me, my shoes and the track. I was absolutely deaf in the last 110 metres.'
He added: 'I didn't take my foot off the gas, but I started to glide and I was like, 'Oh, wow, this feels incredible.' It's incredible because I'm slowing down. So, I was like, 'I better get to the line.''
Crossing the finish line, seeing '42-something' was his goal. 'I knew I had 3:42 in me. I nearly lost it there at the end, but I got over the line.'
Legacy Ambitions
Kerr also reflected on his place in British athletics history: 'If I'm to leave my mark on this sport as a British legend, with the legends behind me and following in their footsteps, I have to put in those performances.'
The record-breaking run has drawn praise from track legend Steve Cram, who called Kerr's achievement 'extraordinary.' The Commonwealth Games 2026 athletes have also begun arriving in Glasgow, but Kerr's mile remains the headline act.
