In Netflix’s Sprint, Noah Lyles didn’t hold back when talking about Christian Coleman. “I came more to his playground than he came to mine, his event was the 100, mine was the 200, I wouldn’t say we were friends.” Christian’s response? Much colder, far more measured: “I’ve been knowing Noah for a long time, we’ve competed over the years.” True, they have. But last year, their rivalry wasn’t just about history—it was about results. And Noah owned that chapter.

Well, indoors, their 60m head-to-head ended 1–1. But it was the outdoor season, especially the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, that tilted the scale. In the men’s 100m final, Noah surged to victory, booking his ticket to Paris. Coleman? Left out of the individual 100m—again. The 200m told the same story: Lyles first, Coleman fourth. Then came Paris. Noah delivered big-time, medaling in both events and claiming his first Olympic gold in the 100m. Christian? No individual event, and disappointment in the 4x100m relay, where Team USA was disqualified. A frustrating, underwhelming finish for the former world champ. Sure, he salvaged some pride with a runner-up finish in his season-end Memorial Van Damme meet, but by then, the headlines were already Noah’s. But this season, Coleman is hinting at something different. Maybe even a comeback. But before that, he explained what happened last year. 

At the Xiamen Diamond League press conference on April 25, Christian opened up like never before: “I feel like I kind of really just started like right after trials. Just because, like you said, I knew I didn’t perform to the capabilities that I know I’m capable of. And I know what my talent level is. And I know what I bring to the sport. And I feel like I just kind of say being been in my own way. But I know it’s just another level that I can tap into and get to. And so that was just the goal right after that, that, like, I mean, I feel like I’ve been selling myself short.”  Words with sad notes coming out of the core! However, last year, after the Memorial Van Damme meet, he hinted at such a note. 

After the event, while providing an all-over look of his Olympic season, Christian said Citius Mag, “did some things well, did some things I know I need to improve on but I feel like it’s been a little bit of like a transformational and transition type something for me just like you know coaching changes my personal life and just growing.” But how is it about selling short? 

Three meets in, and the buzz around Christian Coleman’s 2025 season is growing—but not quite for the reasons he might have hoped. His latest stop? The Tom Jones Memorial at Percy Beard Track in Gainesville, Florida—his first 100m race of the season. Expectations were cautiously high. Fans were watching closely. After all, this is Christian Coleman—former world champ, one of the fastest men alive. But the result? A head-scratcher.

Coleman clocked 10.06 seconds and finished fourth. And just to add to the sting? The 18-year-old sensation, Christian Miller, beat him to the line, taking second place. Yes—18. A generation apart, but in that moment, Miller was the one making headlines. So, what does this mean for Coleman? Is it just early-season rust? Or is the road back to the top steeper than we thought?

Christian Coleman claims to come back strong 

Christian Coleman isn’t just showing up this season—he’s chasing something deeper. In the Xiamen Diamond League press conference, he delivered a quiet but powerful affirmation about where his head is at: “I just before I walk away, want to see what my full potential is. And so even before we got the  fall training, I was just ready to get back into it and, and just ready to get back to these type moments, you know, so I can work on my craft and hopefully be at my best in July USA.” That’s the mindset of a man not just trying to win, but to be whole again. And the next “type moment” he’s talking about? It comes fast—April 26, when he lines up for the men’s 100m at the Xiamen Diamond League.

But this won’t be a walk in the park. The field is stacked:

• Letsile Tebogo – the fearless young star from Botswana
• Akani Simbine – a seasoned sprint tactician
• Ferdinand Omanyala – raw power and explosiveness
• Lachlan Kennedy – the wildcard from Australia
  …and a few other hungry names, all chasing glory.
  

But here’s the twist: Coleman owns the meet record in Xiamen—9.83 seconds, set in September back in 2023. That was a flash of vintage Christian, though. Can he channel that form again and silence the doubts? After a shaky start to the season, the stakes feel personal. Can he bury the ghosts of 2024 and step into the light again?