“Speed has always been – I don’t want to say a ‘weakness,’ but it’s been something I’ve needed to improve on.” That’s the guiding mantra for a certain 25-year-old track and field star, and it’s clear she’s put in the work to back it up. But who? Alexis Holmes. Even though she took gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she still wants to improve – and rightfully so. Her recent race at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing in mid-March wasn’t exactly the gold medal moment she’d envisioned.

For most of the 400m final, Holmes was in control. She held the lead, looked calm, and had the race pretty much in the bag. But Amber Anning wasn’t having it. After a little shove from Holmes midway through, Anning kept her cool and turned up the heat when it mattered most. The two were neck and neck in the final stretch, with Anning pulling ahead by just three one-hundredths of a second, finishing in 50.60 seconds. Holmes crossed the line at 50.63 seconds, taking silver but leaving it all on the track.

Even though this track and field star didn’t grab the gold, Alexis couldn’t have been prouder of the effort she put in. It didn’t go unnoticed, either. On the Ready Set Go podcast, Rodney Green and Olympic legend Justin Gatlin were discussing the race, and Justin had some pretty strong thoughts about the outcome. Rodney asked, “Your girl was upset in the 4, man. What did you think about that, Alexis?” Justin’s response?

“Holmes did not bring home the gold once again. I put her in the same category as Ronnie Baker, man. Like, I had my money on Alexis pulling it off.” For anyone who doesn’t know, Ronnie Baker was a big contender in the 60m final, but he pulled up with an injury in the final stages of the race, missing out on a medal.

Even though the result wasn’t what this track and field star Holmes wanted, Justin still praised Alexis for her consistency and strength over the years. He said, “She’s been so consistent, so strong. You watched her evolution of becoming faster through the professional ranks. But I think she gave her all, bro. It wasn’t even that she messed up anywhere—it was just that she ran what she was capable of running at that time.” And Alexis didn’t shy away from that reality either.

Justin wrapped up the conversation with a hopeful note: “She’s happy with it, but I think she’s going to want more, for sure.” Such mindsets will drive Alexis to reach new, successful heights in her career. The near gold experience failed to diminish Alexis as she bounced back after missing out on the gold. Despite her feelings of disappointment, she presented both joy and annoyance to track and field fans after several hours.

The truth behind the track and field star’s emotional Instagram post!

Following her silver medal victory at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, Alexis Holmes expressed her emotions freely via Instagram posts. “World Silver Medalist🥈🌍🇺🇸! God, thank you❤️,” she wrote, admitting, “This one stings… bad lol.” But she quickly reminded herself and her followers that this is what sports are all about: “showing up, being fearless, and giving your all.”

She took a sift through and feel the emotions, but then shifted her view, saying, “It’s time to focus on the next goal, the next race, and the next opportunity.” Her message to fans? “Keep going. Always believe in yourself and never let the crown fall👑; your time to shine✨ will come.”

This silver medal is just the latest win in a standout year for Alexis. After claiming gold in the 4x400m relay at the Paris Olympics and earning a bronze at the World Indoor Championships, she had already planned for 2025. Alexis wanted to add the 200m to her competition list, hoping it would help her 400m performance. And she is not stopping there.

Alexis has already joined Grand Slam Track for her first professional season in 2025, where she’ll race in both the 200m and 400m at events in Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. With top athletes like Marileidy Paulino and Salwa Eid-Naser in the mix, it’ll be tough competition. But with Alexis’s determination and focus on improving, she’s sure to be a major contender, ready to take on whatever comes next.