When Grand Slam Track announced a staggering $100,000 prize for the winner, all eyes turned to Fred Kerley, the unsponsored Olympian with a history of dominance.
Kerley finished a disappointing seventh in the men’s 100m final, clocking 10.30 seconds, while Kenneth Bednarek seized victory in 10.07 seconds.
The loss stung, but what followed was even more concerning—a raw, emotional confession from the three-time world champion that has left fans worried about his physical and mental state ahead of his return to the 400m.
Taking on his X account,Fred Kerley revealed his struggles in a cryptic post directed at his coach, JB.
“Coach JB, it’s one of those days—I can’t even get out the car. It feels like the pre-Olympics all over again… legs locked up, stiff like they jammed again. Greatness .”
Before the 2020 Olympics, Kerley opened up about mental health.
“Keep pushing, because there are always brighter days, and they’re always dark days, but no matter what, keep on going.”
The 2024 season was a rollercoaster, his Olympic bronze was bittersweet after the U.S. relay team’s disqualification due to a botched baton exchange. Then came the crushing blow, losing his ASICS sponsorship. Even before Paris, his performances wavered, failing to break the sub-10-second barrier in early-season races.
His last outing in the event was a dominant 44.65-second win at the 2023 Sydney Track Classic. Now, he’s set to compete at the 65th annual Mt. SAC Relays (April 16-19), facing top NCAA contenders like Williams Jones, Gabriel Medina, and Johnny Goode.
Kerley’s personal best of 43.64 seconds (2019 U.S. Championships) remains one of the fastest times in history. Kerley switched to shorter sprints during the pandemic to boost speed before returning to the 400m stronger.
