After a stellar 2024 season, where Grant Holloway reclaimed his dominance with four Diamond League wins and, most notably, an Olympic gold medal to finally fill the lone gap in his glittering résumé, 2025 has arrived with far more questions than answers.
Holloway, known for his blistering sub-13 performances and relentless consistency, has struggled to find his rhythm this season. In three Diamond League appearances, the defending Olympic champion has managed just one podium finish and is yet to claim his first win of the year, a stark contrast for an athlete used to standing atop the podium.
With the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo drawing near, fans have begun to wonder: Is it time to worry about Grant Holloway?
Gatlin on Holloway’s Form
Speaking on the June 29 episode of his Ready Set Go podcast, the 2004 Olympic champion Justin Gatlin took a measured view of Holloway’s early-season struggles.
“He [Grant] seemed not as sharp and aggressive as he usually is over the hurdle and off hurdles,” Gatlin remarked. “So that tells me he might be a little rusty. That’s it.”
For Gatlin, these performances are not signs of a deeper decline but rather typical early-season races that serve as high-level tune-ups for bigger stages ahead.
“I think he has time,” Gatlin affirmed.
Despite battling a knee injury that caused significant swelling earlier in the year, Holloway has consistently clocked around 13.1 seconds in his races, times that would have secured victories not too long ago.
While the global level of competition has tightened, Gatlin remains convinced Holloway’s pedigree and championship mentality will see him peak at the right moment.
Analysts Back Holloway’s Long Game
Track and field analyst Anderson Emerole echoed Gatlin’s sentiments, urging fans not to be swayed by Holloway’s current standings.
“Let’s not get jaded by the fact that, you know, Grant has run 12 seconds a whole bunch of times,” Emerole said on his podcast.
“13.1 is still very, very fast.”
With a wild card already securing his place at the World Championships, Emerole believes Holloway is deliberately pacing himself.
“His goal is September,” he emphasized.
“And in my opinion, he’s still the favorite for the gold medal at the World Championships.”
With nearly 100 days remaining before the World Championships in Tokyo, the real Grant Holloway is yet to be seen in 2025.
