For decades, the United States has been synonymous with track and field supremacy. From Carl Lewis to Allyson Felix, American sprinters, hurdlers, and distance runners have consistently owned the podium.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Team USA reminded the world of their might, bagging a jaw-dropping 34 medals, including 14 golds. It was a clean sweep in multiple events while traditional powerhouses like Jamaica, missing their icons Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Shericka Jackson, struggled to keep pace, managing just six medals.
But here’s where it gets interesting.
Doha Diamond League Delivers a Reality Check
Fast forward to May 16, 2025, at the Doha Diamond League, one of the season’s marquee athletics events. The landscape shifted dramatically, where the same American team that dominated Paris was humbled on foreign soil, scraping together just one gold medal across all events.
Sprint Kings Dethroned
In the men’s 200m, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo stole the show, cruising to gold in 20.10 seconds. USA’s Courtney Lindsey pushed hard but had to settle for silver by just 0.01 seconds. Though it was a gutsy performance from Lindsey, the fact that the Olympic champs couldn’t close it out spoke volumes about how quickly the competition is catching up.
Distance Runners Struggle to Keep Pace
In the men’s 5000m, Kenya’s Reynold Cheruiyot delivered a masterclass, clocking a personal best 13:16.40. American hopeful Cooper Teare, despite being one of the nation’s rising stars, finished a distant 12th in 12:57.97. Not a bad time, but nowhere near the elite pack or Grant Fisher’s world lead of 12:44.09.
Hurdles and Middle-Distance
The hurdles offered a glimmer of hope as Jamal Britt grabbed silver in the 110m hurdles, finishing behind Jamaica’s Rasheed Broadbell, who clocked a season-best 13.14. Fellow American Daniel Roberts, expected to challenge for the podium, faded to seventh.
In the men’s 800m, Bruce Hoppel ran a season-best 1:43.26, but Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela edged him for gold with a world-leading 1:43.11. Another near-miss for Team USA.
The 400m hurdles told a similar story. CJ Allen finished fifth in a stacked field, unable to replicate his personal best or challenge for a medal.
High Jump Delivers Lone Gold
The solitary gold came courtesy of Shelby McEwen in the men’s high jump, clearing 2.26m. While a welcome victory, it was the lone bright spot in an otherwise sobering evening for American athletics.
Why the Drop-Off?
While the talent pipeline remains strong, the rest of the world has caught up, and fast. Countries like Botswana, Kenya, Jamaica, and Slovenia are no longer content with playing second fiddle. They’ve invested in elite coaching, sports science, and talent development programs. The days of USA showing up and automatically sweeping events are over.
Doha was a reality check. One gold medal isn’t enough for a team that wants to rule track & field. The talent is there, but if the U.S. wants to stay on top, they’ll need to level up before the 2025 World Championships.
