Grant Holloway — the name once synonymous with invincibility in the 110m hurdles — is suddenly the centerpiece of track and field drama. Fans were quick to notice his absence from the Miami edition of Grand Slam Track, the buzzy new league shaking up the sport. And while he sat out the spotlight in Florida, another spotlight found him halfway across the globe — and let us tell you, not for the reasons he would’ve liked.

Last weekend in Xiamen, Holloway finished dead last in the men’s 110m hurdles at the Diamond League opener. Just a week before, he was edged out by Trey Cunningham at the Tom Jones Memorial. Two straight losses — a rare occurrence for the reigning three-time world indoor champion. Dramatic? Absolutely. But that’s not even the full story.

Adding fuel to the fire is the rise of 22-year-old Sasha Zhoya, the Australian-born French prodigy who’s turning heads — and challenging legends. While Holloway skipped the inaugural Grand Slam Track event, Zhoya didn’t just show up, but he showed out. He clinched gold in the 100m in Jamaica, grabbed silver in the 110m hurdles, and walked away with the coveted $100,000 Slam Champion prize. But things took a turn when Holloway, perhaps feeling the heat, commented on a social media post, “I know, they know, I’m the real Grand Slam Champion.”And when Zhoya was asked to respond to it at the pre-GST press conference in Miami today. Well, let’s just say, he left no stones unturned.

Zhoya made his stance clear, with a calm confidence that carried an edge. “I will say the last time we did race on the hurdles, I was in front,” he said, referencing his victory over Holloway at the Galà dei Castelli meet last September. “So I’ll invite him to come do a slam. If he wants to come do a slam, I think we all want to see him race. And Grant, come race a slam. Let’s see if you are the real Slam champ.” To be fair, that one race in Switzerland is Zhoya’s only win in their last ten head-to-heads. But he’s aware of the gap — and still, he’s not backing down.

“I got a lot of respect for Grant,” Zhoya admitted. “I do my training camps with Grant on his territory. So Grant’s one of my guys.” He added, “I got a level of respect for the athletes. I’m one of the youngest guys in the field. Grant Holloway is one of the older guys. And he’s done a lot more than I’ve ever done.” It’s a rivalry built not just on competition but on mutual respect — and a subtle generational shift. But as Sasha rises and Holloway falters, the question looms: Is the throne up for grabs? And for Grant? A few days ago, things went from bad to worse. Another setback. Another stumble.

Grant Holloway’s days of heartbreak 

Grant Holloway didn’t just enter the 2024 season with goals — he entered with a mission. Before lining up in Xiamen for his Diamond League opener, the reigning indoor world champion stood in front of the media and made his intentions crystal clear.“This season was to stay undefeated all the way throughout,” he declared. Subsequently, he added, “I just got to prove to myself and prove to my team that I’m still that guy…And I’ll always be that guy, you know, looking to come out here with some competition and get back on the high horse.” The confidence? Unshakable. The voice? Steady. The performance in Xiamen? Well…Crumbling.

Against a loaded field, Holloway fell flat, finishing last in the men’s 110m hurdles. It wasn’t just a loss. It was a statement… for the rest of the world. The gap is closing, and Holloway’s iron grip on the event is loosening — fast. And now, the twist: he’s pulled out of the upcoming Shanghai Diamond League meet. No hurdles. No Holloway. And, no redemption — at least not yet. For a man who aimed to run the table, two straight defeats and a sudden withdrawal have sparked a new question: Is Grant Holloway losing his place at the top? Fans are speculating. Rivals are circling. And a new generation — led by names like Sasha Zhoya and Trey Cunningham — is sprinting full speed into the spotlight.