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Josh Kerr slams 'appalling' prize money he receives for running the fastest mile ever

Josh Kerr - the new fastest man over a mile - felt the financial reward he was given didn't reflect the magnitude of his achievement

[Josh Kerr of Team Great Britain speaks to the media during the press conference ahead of the Novuna London Athletics Meet, part of the 2026 Wanda Diamond League at London Stadium on July 17, 2026]

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Josh Kerr said he felt short-changed by the prize money he received(Image: British Athletics via Getty Images)

Josh Kerr criticised the $50,000 (37.2k) bonus awarded to him for breaking the one-mile world record. Kerr's time of 3:42.66 was the quickest in 27 years, toppling previous holder Hicham El Guerrouj's by 0.47 seconds.

The Scotsman sparked scenes of wild celebration in front of a sold-out crowd at the London Stadium. However, the financial reward didn't reflect the achievement in his eyes.

He received the exact same sum from World Athletics as Moroccan El Guerrouj did in 1999. Once the dust had settled, Kerr called out the prize money situation.

"It was a good day for me financially but $50,000 is a ridiculous number," he told The Times. "To get the same amount 27 years later is appalling, not to sound greedy.

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"I know how much that took from investing in myself financially over the last eight years as a professional. I just feel like Ive been a bit short-changed a little bit."

World Athletics offer a $100k bonus (74.5k) at flagship outdoor global championships but that sum is halved for Diamond League meetings. Kerr also admitted he had hoped to have "gone a little bit faster," although he was happy to have hit his goal.

[Great Britain's Josh Kerr celebrates after winning and breaking a world record ]

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Kerr smashed the 27-year world record(Image: Adam Davy/PA Wire)

"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. 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.' So crossing the finish line, seeing 42-something - anything - was my goal, so it was great.

"I am surrounded by amazing people and was just able to stay consistent, put the work in, and I knew I had 3:42 in me. I nearly lost it there at the end, but I got over the line.

"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."

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