Nine-times Olympic champion Carl Lewis says the sport that made him an international celebrity has hit hard times.
“It’s in trouble,” the American told reporters at the USA Track and Field indoor championships in Boston, his first appearance at such an event in a decade.
“When I see poker and I don’t see track and field on TV - that’s a problem.”
Still, the 45-year-old Lewis urged today’s track and field stars to clean up their act in other ways if they want to boost interest in the sport.
“It’s not just about going across the finish line and getting your pay cheque,” he said.
“(It’s about) what else did you do to help your sport? What else did you do to help your community today?”
Lewis said he hopes to use his name to help promote interest in the sport after staying away for a decade.
He declined to discuss the reason for his prolonged absence.
“There were a lot of issues,” he said.
“It’s easy to describe but it would take some time.”
Lewis said his appearance in Boston - where he handed batons to runners before the start of a relay race - formally marked his return to the sport.