Despite being one of the most promising sprinters in the world, Fred Kerley had to face a mixed bag of emotions at the Paris Olympics. Entering the competition with high hopes, the Texas-born speedster was poised to leave his mark on the track and Olympic history. And his main focus was the 100-meter final, a race which could have solidified his status as the ‘World’s Fastest Man’. But as it appears, he did not emerge as the winner. Although he made his nation proud with a coveted spot on the podium, Kerley found himself leaving Paris with just a bronze medal. 

Despite his confident preparation and a competitive run, Kerley’s performance and phenomenal timing of 9.81 left fans and critics alike yearning for more. For a man who was so sure of breaking records, the outcome was not satisfactory and not up to the mark of the confidence he was carrying. And somewhere the race proved that even the best-laid plans can often falter under the immense pressure of the Olympic stage. But as it appears from the recent updates, Kerley is not ready to give up so easily.

The disappointment of track fans surrounding the performance of Fred Kerley did not end with the 100-meter dash. Kerley alongside the other sprinters of the 4×100 meter US men’s relay team not only failed to secure a podium place finish but also got disqualified leaving fans disheartened. But shortly after returning home from Paris with his bronze, he’s already gearing up for a redemption. His recent Instagram post tells that he is preparing for the second half of the season. Fred shared a picture where he can be spotted on the tracks. He captioned the text, “Second half of the season start now. I am ready now”. In another post, he shared his picture in his jersey and wrote, “Meant to be. Greatness Always”

Undeterred by Olympic setbacks, Fred Kerley prepares to fire back with renewed determination

Kerley had a major role to play as a valued team member and an anchor for the USA Track Team for the relays besides the individual race. The U.S. men’s 4×100-meter relay team, boasting one of the deepest pools of sprinting talent, once again stumbled in a crucial moment. While Kerley wanted to effectively lead and anchor the team watched them getting disqualified from the event. A botched baton exchange between Christian Coleman and Kenny Bednarek unfortunately dashed their relay medal hopes, leading to their disqualification. And with this setback, it marked the fifth consecutive Olympics where the US men failed to reach the podium in the 4×100 meter relay. As a result, Fred Kerley had to face questions in the press meet.

However, Kerley was determined enough not to let the disappointment and frustration hamper his calm and resolve. Kerley on the one hand warned the media not to ask “dumb questions”. On the other hand, when asked if the team has been left disappointed, he calmly said, “I don’t think we’re disappointed. I think we just gotta learn from this one and keep on going.” Yet, despite these setbacks, Kerley is far from defeated. Rather, he recently appeared way more determined than ever. 

As he now prepares for the second half of the season, he announced a clear warning to his rivals, the fact he’s not done yet. The average performance of Kerley at Paris may have fueled his drive to perform better in the upcoming days. With the lessons learned from Paris fresh in his mind, he is likely to approach the upcoming season with renewed vigor and a determination to silence any lingering doubts. And as his fans we can only wait for his return on the track. What do you think? Was this setback of Kerley merely a blip on the radar or will it become a catalyst behind his comeback? Share with us in the comment section.