The success of American athletes in Paris could bring new hope to the sport in the country. As the nation prepares to host the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, fans may begin to give these sports a higher profile. With one day of competition remaining, the United States are on course for a record medal haul. 

They have 11 gold, 10 silver and 8 bronze medals for a total of 29. They are undoubtedly leading an athletics medals table of the highest calibre. Coe described the Paris 2024 athletes as a "golden generation". They are led by sprinter Noah Lyles, 400m hurdles gold medallist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and shot-putter Ryan Crouser. They lead a group of athletes who have managed to rival the traditional powerhouses of American sport.

Coe added that the key is to use this talent to raise the profile of athletics in the USA. The challenge, of course, is that the NBA and the National Football League still dominate the spotlight. Despite the enormous potential of American athletes, athletics has yet to reach that level.

Coe referred to the "crazy paradox" that US track and field stars are more likely to be celebrated in Europe, but remain "relatively anonymous in their home towns".

"This is a gap that we all need to address between now and 2028," Coe told reporters. "I have had discussions with USA Track and Field and the USOPC (United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee)" he said.

"With the success and potential of American athletes, it's clear that in any other country athletics would be the national sport. Though in the USA there is still a long way to go," Coe said.

What could happen in the US has already happened in Great Britain. The tremendous success of British athletes after London 2012 has given athletics its rightful place, despite the importance of other sports in the British tradition. Coe hopes that the example set in Britain will be followed in the USA, especially with Los Angeles 2028 on the horizon as the true benchmark.

Great Britain finished fourth on the medal table in Beijing with 51 medals, including 19 golds. Four years later, they improved that tally to 65 with 29 golds.

"Great Britain won a sackful of medals that took you out of the budget discussions and people just said, 'Oh my God, bring it on,'" said Coe, who chaired the organising committee for the 2012 Olympics.

"I hope people in the United States realise that they have this golden generation in athletics. It's fantastic because in the past you talked about Carl (Lewis), you talked about Michael (Johnson). However, they were like magnesium flares in that generation. Now you're seeing a breadth of talent," he said. 

Those two athletes defined an era. Lewis became a symbol of the country with his medals and versatility. He excelled in the 100m, 200m and long jump. He became the image of the perfect athlete, both for his sporting quality and for what he represented. It was a similar phenomenon that happened with Michael Johnson. They were legends, but they were isolated. 

They were alone. Since then that has changed. In the USA, there's no longer just one great athlete. There are many, in different disciplines. That is why Coe and experts see the US as an athletic powerhouse.One that could steal some of the spotlight from traditional sports in the years to come.