Grant Holloway finally snagged his Olympic gold at the Paris Olympics, ending a three-year wait that started with a silver medal in a fan-less 2021  Tokyo Stadium. This time, he made his mark in front of a roaring 80,000-strong crowd at the biggest stadium in France, cruising over the hurdles to a dazzling 12.99-second finish. His victory capped off one of the most thrilling track and field events in Paris, with fellow American Daniel Roberts snatching silver by the skin of his teeth—three-thousandths of a second ahead of Jamaica’s Rashed Broadbell.

It was the first time since 2012 that American men went 1-2 in the event. With three world titles and a world indoor record under his belt, Holloway came close to breaking Aries Merritt’s 110-meter hurdles world record, but that elusive 12.80 remains just out of reach. However, this Virginia native isn’t just a track star; he’s also got a big heart. In an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, sponsored by P&G brands (Gillette), the inaugural ambassador for the brand for the Olympics, Holloway, revealed a philanthropic side that few know about!

Ever his humble and witty self, “The Flamingo” Grant Holloway caught up with our correspondent, Shreya Verma, in Paris after his epic gold medal win. He even let our team wear his gold medal, showing just how down-to-earth he really is. When we dug a little deeper and asked about his charity work, Holloway didn’t miss a beat. “Yeah, so right after the Olympics is done, I’m actually doing a charity event, a golf charity event in October. We’re going to try to raise as much money as we can to, you know, feed people for Thanksgiving, as well as give some Christmas gifts out to some less fortunate families.”

He shared with EssentiallySports how the Grant Holloway Athletics Foundation came to life: “So we launched, well, I launched my charity actually at the last Olympics in 2021. It raised close to about $5,000 after it was launched, you know, just something small.” But just like his athletic achievements, the charity has only grown since 2021! This was evident when a similar event he hosted last time turned out to be a massive success!

A Gator in need is a Gator indeed, as Grant Holloway proved with his special holiday gesture!

In October 2023, Grant Holloway, now a two-time Olympic medalist and three-time world champion, hosted the inaugural Grant Holloway Athletics Foundation Golf Tournament at Ironwood Golf Course in Gainesville, Florida. Held on October 14, the event brought together athletes and community members for a day of friendly competition and philanthropy, all to support two important causes: helping former Gators aiming for the Olympics and providing Thanksgiving meals to families in need.

The tournament featured a silent auction, a raffle, and some good food, with breakfast and lunch served to participants. And it paid off big time! Holloway, the Gator alumni, proudly shared with EssentiallySports, “Last year at the World Championships in Budapest, I really took it upon myself to really, you know, raise as much money as I can. And within like two and a half months, I raised close to $32,000.” So why does Grant Holloway do what he does?

The second-fastest man in history in the 110-meter hurdles, Flamingo opened up, sharing, “Yeah, so I’m just trying to raise as much money as I can, you know, to basically be that vessel and that push in my community.” And after his success at the Paris Olympics, the Grant Holloway Athletics Foundation is soaring even higher!

With a bright smile, he told our team, “You know, I have some great donors this year. You know, I have some great people reach out saying they want to help out. And, you know, that, that, that right there is, you know, that I love track and field.” He continued, “Track and field is very high on me, but doing charity work, you know, for the Lord is even better.”

Speaking about P&G’s support in his Paris Olympics journey, Grant Holloway said that working with the company has been “as easy as brushing your teeth in the morning.” He thanked P&G and spoke largely about the care he has received at the Olympic Village. “So, P&G has been nothing but you know, great for me and my career, especially this year.”

Reflecting on Grant Holloway’s words and efforts, what do you think about his commitment to giving back to the community and using his platform for the greater good? And how do you feel about his heartfelt words to EssentiallySports? Share your thoughts in the comments below!