Christian Coleman, once hailed as the heir to Usain Bolt’s sprinting throne, is now facing one of the toughest stretches of his career.
At 29, the former world champion’s individual victories have dried up, with his only first-place finish this season coming as part of the men’s 4x100m relay at the Tom Jones Memorial in April.
His latest outing at the Star Athletics Sprint Series painted a concerning picture. 18-year-old phenom Maurice Gleaton Jr. beat Christian Coleman in the preliminaries. And in the final, it was Brandon Hicklin who crossed the finish line first, leaving Coleman in second place. It’s a surprising turn for a man who famously defeated Usain Bolt at the 2017 World Championships and once clocked a jaw-dropping 4.12-second 40-yard dash to rival NFL combine times.
These results haven’t gone unnoticed. Coach Rob, a respected voice in the sprinting world, addressed Coleman’s struggles in his latest YouTube episode on June 16. Speaking bluntly, he remarked.
“He doesn’t have any more medals of any color from that 2019 moment up until now. He’s still competing on the pro circuit.”
Rob’s comments reflect the growing uncertainty surrounding Christian Coleman’s medal prospects, especially with rising talents like Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley grabbing headlines.
“Maybe he’ll get a medal. But then again, maybe he won’t. It just is what it is.”
Despite the criticism and the shifting landscape of American sprinting, Christian Coleman remains defiant. In May, he took to social media to address his early-season form.
“First few races haven’t gone exactly as expected,” he admitted.
“But the good thing is I know what I’m capable of. I feel it every day in practice. The challenge is pulling that out and putting it on the track.”
With the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo fast approaching, Coleman still has time to turn things around. His past achievements prove he has the talent, now it’s a question of whether he can rediscover that explosive edge in time.
