The first four days of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., have been nothing short of spectacular. We’ve witnessed triumph, world-record performances, as well as heartbreak, with TV ratings reflecting the excitement. According to NBC, Sunday’s 100m final attracted an audience of 5.2 million people who tuned in to watch Noah Lyles compete against Fred Kerley and Christian Coleman.
In a country with a population of 330 million people, 1.5 per cent of the viewership might not seem significant. However, this race was the most-watched track and field event in the U.S. since the Olympic Trials for London 2012. This bodes well for NBC, with the Paris Olympics (athletics portion beginning on Aug. 1) being the pinnacle of the track and field season later this summer.
Lyles won the 100m final with a personal best time of 9.83 seconds, earning his first U.S. men’s 100m outdoor title and qualifying for his first Olympics in the 100m event. Olympic 200m silver medallist Kenny Bednarek finished second with a personal best of 9.87 seconds. The 2022 world champion, Kerley, edged out Coleman to secure his spot on his second consecutive Olympic team, placing third in 9.88 seconds.
USATF and NBC have provided spectacular coverage so far, featuring a model Eiffel Tower for Olympic-bound athletes to sign at the finish line after they qualify for Paris, and well-known American rapper Snoop Dogg offering casual comedic insight.
5.2 million of you tuned in to see Sunday’s Olympic trials for track and field on NBC.
That’s the biggest audience for the sport in 12 years.
Thank you!
— Ato Boldon (@AtoBoldon) June 25, 2024
While the U.S. Trials are seeing impressive numbers, they still pale in comparison to the Super Bowl, the world’s biggest TV sporting event. This year’s Super Bowl had an estimated audience of 200 million, meaning more than 60 per cent of the country tuned in to watch the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas.
The U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials are halfway done and will resume with the women’s steeplechase final, men’s 5,000m and 200m heats on Thursday, June 27, on NBC. They will conclude on Sunday, June 30.
