This U.S Olympic medallist is boycotting race bibs for the 2024 season

An American hurdler is creating buzz in the track and field world in an unconventional way by boycotting race bibs for the 2024 track and field season. The Olympic silver medallist in the 400m hurdles, Rai Benjamin, has not worn a bib in either of his races to start the season, and plans to continue.

After winning the 400m hurdles event at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix over the weekend in 46.64 seconds, Benjamin told Citius Mag in a post-race interview that he considered the use of bibs a waste of money and felt they ruined the appearance of the uniform. “I’m not wearing that thing. It’s a waste of money and the uniform looks too good to wear a bib, so I’m continuing my no-bib campaign here today,” said Benjamin.

Benjamin is not the only professional athlete to speak out against wearing race bibs. Former U.S. Olympic champion Michael Johnson was quoted by The New York Times in 2023 as having similar beliefs: “When an athlete is trying to focus on performing at their best, the bibs are a distraction. The fastest, most efficient athletes in the world compete with a piece of paper safety-pinned on. It just reeks of amateurism.”

Race bibs are a mandatory staple of every runner’s race-day attire. While their main purposes are live-tracking and identifying runners, they also generate significant race-day revenue through sponsorships.

Per World Athletics competition rules, all athletes competing at a World Athletics sanctioned meet are required to wear a race bib. According to technical competition rules 5.8-9, “no athlete shall be allowed to take part in any competition without displaying the appropriate bib(s) and/or identification. These bibs must be worn as issued and may not be cut, folded or obscured in any way. If any aspect of Rule 5 of the technical rules is not followed, a disqualification may follow.”

Benjamin’s first two races of the season have been at low-key events; it will be interesting to see if race officials will follow the World Athletics rulebook and disqualify him at future events like the U.S. Olympic Trials in late June and the Olympic Games in August if he does not comply.

The 26-year-old is one of the favourites to medal in the 400m hurdles event in Paris. He has medalled at the last four major championships in the event, dating back to the 2019 World Championships in Doha.