With the 2024 Olympics inching closer, the anticipation is also skyrocketing. While the big stage undergoes the final preparations, the country’s top track and field figures are also injecting more fuel into the excitement. Amid that, Usain Bolt’s world record is drawing a major share of discussion for quite some time. After Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman, Fred Kerley is the latest name to enter that circle. The Olympic medalist hasn’t been in his best form in recent weeks, but that hasn’t stopped him from making some bold statements.
A couple of days ago, Kerley took to social media to announce to target the world record (of Usain Bolt) during his next stint at the 100m race. Justifiably, the statement didn’t sit well with many fans, especially with Kerley being handed two back-to-back defeats at the Wanda Diamond League, and then at the Jamaica Invitational. But, the 29-year-old thinks his best days in the 100m race are ahead of him. In fact, if he manages to attain it, that might make her a millionaire as well! Let’s look how.
Recently a user on X took a tacit jab at Fred Kerley for his boastful remarks about Bolt’s record. In an apparent mocking, the user wrote, “I will personally give you a million dollars if this happens,” tagging Kerley’s world-record tweet. Fred is not the one to let it go. The three-time world champ snapped back. “You got to have that million in your bank first but keep talking“, jeered Kerley in his latest post on X.
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You got to have that million in your bank first but keep talking https://t.co/pp75gEzmch
— Fred Kerley (@fkerley99) May 16, 2024
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And it didn’t stop just there. When the Olympic gold medalist Vernon Norwood also posited to hand $100 million to Fred, the two-time Diamond League winner jokingly requested the former to go bigger and possibly make the millions into billions, and then negotiations could be initiated. However, while Kerley refuses to pay heed to the obvious skepticism about his claims, he might do well to consider upping his efforts for the time being.
A long line of A-listers waiting to give Kerley a reality check
While Kerley looks to put his foes on attention with his big words, his list of opponents is quite heavy. At last month’s Diamond League, Fred was left in the dust by his national colleague Christian Coleman, who is also a strong contender for the men’s 100m gold at the Paris Olympics. On the other hand, Noah Lyles has already made clear that he will be coming for more than one gold in July. The current top-rated men’s 100m runner, as well as the reigning 100m world champ, Lyles will undoubtedly be the last person to let Kerley gloat under the attention. Rivalry is ripe from other countries as well.
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Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, fresh from his win over both Fred and Christian at the Jamaica Invitational, is hoping to put his money where his mouth is as he recently proclaimed himself as the favorite to win the ultimate prize on the bank of the Seine. Furthermore, Kerley’s best in the 100m (9.76) is significantly slower than that of Usain Bolt’s record (9.58). The rivalry between Fred and Italy’s Marcell Jacobs has yet to conclude, and what better place to settle the score than on the grandest stage?
If the Olympic silver medalist wishes to etch his name among the elite figures of the 100m race, he will have to seriously buckle up. What are your predictions about Kerley’s score at the Paris Olympics? Tell us in the comments.