“World record next time I touch the 100m,” Fred Kerley had boated a few days back, despite his disastrous run in the Doha Diamond League. But it looks like he will need to wait before putting his money where his mouth is. With the 2024 Paris Olympics looming overhead, the world’s top track and field athletes are putting in the final preparations. However, with the latest development, fans can’t stop sneering at Kerley’s grand plans.

The 29-year-old isn’t having the best time of late. From being handed a defeat by fellow American Christian Coleman at the Wanda Diamond League to the loss in Doha, the three-time World Champion hasn’t been able to prove his worth on the tracks for a long time, despite being one of the top-10 ranked sprinters in the world, and fans have a few words to say.

Fred Kerley’s Olympic dreams coming to an untimely end?

According to a recent post by Track Spice on X, Kerley will be pulling out of the Stockholm Diamond League, slated for June 2. “Fred Kerley has withdrawn from the Stockholm DL due to an injury”, informs the post. The seriousness or details of the injury have yet to be made official, but it may prompt Fred to even opt out of the Olso Bilett Games at the end of May as well.

However, fans will have to wait for a few more hours before getting the confirmation about what will go down at the Norwegian capital. “Oslo withdrawal not confirmed yet.” notifies the post.

As Kerley (personal best 9.76s) followed the instance of Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman in claiming to break Usain Bolt’s world record (9.58s), the track community has already started taking a dig at him. An X used had even mocked him, saying that he would give away a million to Kerley if he attains that. However, with the fresh development about his injury, they went one step up alleging he might just be buying time.

Fans aren’t taking the matter lightly

After the news came to light, Elphonso thought this was just Kerley’s attempt not to face the consequences of his misplaced statement from earlier this week. “Just like his American compatriot Brommell. The excuses are starting.“ vented the frustrated fan. Notably, just a few days back Tryavon Brommell pulled up approximately 30 meters ahead of the finish line of the 100-meter final at the Savona International Meeting in Italy. This was just his second run of the season. The fan noted that the authorities might finally have come around to giving Kerley what he deserves.

User ShanGlo went a step further, mocking that Kerley might have already achieved what he promised, only away from the public gaze. “Probably broke the world record in practice and body is still recovering“, joked the fan about the two-time Diamond League winner’s attempts to keep true to his words.

Another fan couldn’t remember how Fred has been eyeing to reignite the rivalry with Italian sprinter and Olympic gold medalist Marcell Jacobs with his sonorous comments. Notably, when Kerley made the world record comment, Jacobs cryptically put some smiling emojis in the comment section of the post in an apparent mocking. These two sprinters have a long history of hurling comments at each other. It all started in March 2023, when Kerley was asked on the “Sprint Culture” video podcast about Jacobs’ performance at the 2023 European Indoor Championships.

Kerley replied, “Indoor is indoor. The real dogs come and play outdoors.” He was then further asked if he implied Jacobs was the “dog”. To which he cryptically replied, “I don’t think so. I’m just going to be truthful.” Understandably, Jacobs did not take it lightly. In reply, he posted, “The lion doesn’t turn around when a small dog barks.” Since then, the back and forth never stopped. Probably because of this, the two sprinters have always avoided racing each other before a major championship. This led Kerley to even call Jacobs a ‘duckling’. Recalling all those, one fan noted, “Bro been insulting Marcel.”

Who does not know Fred Kerley’s fiery rivalry with Noah? Kerley went all out to criticize the decision to include Noah in 4x400m relay at the World Indoors. But a fan page of Noah Lyles thinks Kerley probably just isn’t ready to try out his luck with Lyles on the same track. “His body wasn’t ready for the 9.57 speed yet but don’t worry he’ll be back.” joked their comment, underscoring the fact that Noah isn’t the top-rated sprinter in the men’s 100m race for nothing.

The track and field Olympic team trials will be held from June 21-30 in Eugene, Oregon. “Injury 1 month before Olympic trials“, reminded another fan as well, highlighting that this might be a good time for the USATF, the apex body for track and field in the country, to take matters into its own hands.

With so much online clout jeering Kerley’s big plans, what do you think fate has in store for the San Antonio native? Tell us in the comments.