The 2025 athletics season has taken an unexpected turn for American sprint hurdles star Grant Holloway. The reigning Olympic 110m hurdles champion has withdrawn from the upcoming Diamond League meet in Shanghai, scheduled for May 3, 2025.
His replacement will be Eric Edwards, as confirmed by Track & Field Gazette in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“Grant Holloway has withdrawn from the Diamond League taking place this weekend. He has now been replaced by Eric Edwards,” the tweet said.
A Season of Unexpected Struggles for Holloway
Grant Holloway, long considered nearly unbeatable in the hurdles, has faced surprising setbacks in 2025. His most alarming performance came at the Diamond League meet in Xiamen on April 26, where he finished a shocking 10th place with a time of 13.72 seconds, far slower than his personal best of 12.81. The race was won by Cordell Tinch in 13.06.
Earlier in April, Holloway suffered another rare defeat at the Tom Jones Invitational, losing to rival Trey Cunningham in a tight race. Cunningham, the 2022 World Championships silver medalist, clocked 13.09, while Holloway finished in 13.18.
Beyond his on-track struggles, Holloway revealed a concerning training incident on the Ready Set Go podcast. While attempting a 435 lbs front squat, his knee suddenly gave out.
“Thirty minutes later, my knee swelled up like a balloon,” he admitted.
Glimpses of His Former Dominance Still Shine Through
Despite these challenges, Holloway has shown flashes of his world-class ability. In March, he successfully defended his title at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, winning the 60m hurdles in 7.42 seconds. Earlier in February, he extended his legendary 11-year winning streak in the 60m hurdles with another 7.42-second victory at the New Balance Grand Prix in Boston.
In his absence, the Shanghai Diamond League meet remains a highly anticipated affair. The men’s 110m hurdles lineup boasts an impressive field, featuring Olympic gold medalist Hansle Parchment, Xiamen winner Cordell Tinch, and Jamaican star Rasheed Broadbell. Promising talents like Rachid Muratake of Japan, Shunsuke Izumiya, Spain’s Enrique Llopis, and home favorites Liu Junxi and Xu Zhuoyi will join them.
With the 2025 World Championships and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics approaching, Holloway’s recent struggles raise questions about his future dominance. The track and field world will be watching closely as Holloway navigates this difficult period.