Fred Kerley has enjoyed many successes in the recent couple of years. He proved his dominance in the track and field events by winning a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships. He went on to add a silver medal to his collection at the Olympic Games. The American ace started the 2023 season with a bold ambition to break more records and earn more medals. However, he experienced a major setback in Budapest and lost out on a major opportunity.

Fred Kerley entered the World Athletics Championships as the defending champion. Ahead of the season, he announced his resolve to rise to the top of the sport. For this reason, Fred Kerley sacrificed his long-term partnership with Nike and signed a new deal with rival footwear brand Asics. The company designed a customized shoe specifically for him, but the results were not what Fred Kerley had hoped for.

Track and field star Fred Kerley faces challenges despite custom gold spikes

Asics offered the 2022 World Champion (in the 100m race) an opportunity that many would envy. The company made Fred Kerley the new face of the brand and gave him a lucrative multi-year deal. As part of the deal, Asics also prepared the kit for the track and field icon’s return to the World Athletics Championships.

The popular Twitter user “Track Spice” shared a picture of the shoe alongside the caption detailing, “Fred Kerley’s custom gold spikes from ASICS.” The shoe was autographed by the athlete and featured a unique design inspired by his personal style.

With this level of preparation, Fred Kerley was thought to be a major contender for the 100m world title. However, to everyone’s surprise, the 28-year-old sprinter failed to qualify beyond the semi-final race at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

Fred Kerley came third in heat with a total time of 10.02. After failing to defend his title, the athlete spoke to the media in a dejected mood, “I should have been there, but I f—d up.” But he quickly regained momentum in the 4x100m relay helping the U.S. team win the team gold.

Asics celebrated the feat on their Instagram account with a video post and a caption that read, “Gold medal to match gold spikes as @fkerley99 helps his team win the 4x100m relay in @wabudapest23 🇺🇸.”

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Now, the superstar athlete is looking forward to the upcoming races to sustain his bid for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The road ahead for Fred Kerley

The setback had not stolen Fred Kerley’s positive outlook as he exclaimed, “Life moves on.” He explained that he is on a journey, and this one loss is not enough to deter him from his ultimate goal of winning gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The track and field superstar is pursuing the eternal glory that an Olympic gold medal will ensure for him. Just like Noah Lyles, he believes that a gold medal will help bring more attention to the sport and help it grow.

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He is confident of his abilities and believes he can bounce back quicker than ever. The ace runner has asked his supporters and his fans to stay in his corner as he keeps challenging himself and pushing towards his goal.