After crushing it with four gold medals in this year’s Diamond League, you’d think Grant Holloway would wrap up his season on a high note at the Brussels final, right? Well, not quite. After taking a surprising L from Sasha Zhoya at the Gala dei Castelli just two days ago, the American hurdler had the perfect chance to redeem himself in Brussels. But nope, things have taken a different turn, and now that ship has sailed for Holloway.

In a jaw-dropping X-post on September 10th, the reigning Paris Olympic champion in the 110m hurdles sent shockwaves through the track and field world. He revealed he was pulling out of the Brussels Diamond League final due to some behind-the-scenes drama—a failure to reach an agreement with the League’s authorities. He didn’t mince words either, closing his post with, “Shame that they doing athletes like that..”

The exact reasons are still up in the air, adding a layer of mystery to the whole situation. But one thing’s for sure: without Holloway on the track, the Brussels Diamond League just lost a major dose of 110-meter hurdles excitement.

In fact, after posting a 12.99-second time at the Zurich Diamond League, the 26-year-old athlete made history. He now holds the record for the most sub-13-second performances in the 110-meter hurdles. But despite this eye-popping consistency, Holloway seemed indifferent. In the mixed zone after the Zurich race, his mind was already focused on the next season.

Speaking with FloTrack, the reigning world indoor champion shared, “I didn’t, I didn’t really care about running, to be honest. Like, most of these is just checking the box for me, but like, taking advantage of it. Do what you got to do for next season.” However, this doesn’t mean Flamingo was demotivated. In fact, he credited the presence of his close circle at each of his post-Paris Olympic meets as a source of motivation. He also added, “I’m happy. I’m pleased. I’m excited.” Yet now, Holloway’s sudden withdrawal has come as a surprise.

Since bursting onto the professional circuit, Grant Holloway has been a regular fixture in Diamond League events. This year alone, he’s competed in five editions, winning four of them. Oh, and let’s not forget that the world-leading time in the men’s 110m hurdles (12.86 seconds) belongs to him too. So, missing such a powerhouse in the Diamond League final definitely dims the spotlight.

A large portion of fans speculate that the tension between the three-time world champ and the Diamond League organizers boils down to an issue over his appearance fee. One fan even wrote, “They Not Paying You What You Deserve … I Understand Ahk.” While no official statement has been made, that might just clarify things. Interestingly, this isn’t Holloway’s first post-Paris Olympics dispute over payment either!

Grant Holloway demands the flowers he deserves for his consistency on the track

After clinching the men’s 110-meter hurdles gold, Grant Holloway made a beeline to the corner of the track at Stade de France, ready to ring the victory bell. But instead of one celebratory ring, Holloway hit it five times—each ring echoing his five world titles (three outdoors, two indoors). His smooth dominance in both the 60m and 110m hurdles speaks volumes about his consistency over time. As he put it, “Just going forward with that, I’m looking forward to just continuing to pay out my legacy.” But beneath that triumph lies a sense of being underappreciated—or underpaid.

Paris 2024 Olympics – Athletics – Men’s 110m Hurdles Final – Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France – August 08, 2024. Grant Holloway of United States celebrates after winning gold as bronze medallist Rasheed Broadbell of Jamaica looks on REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Before the Paris Olympics, Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson promised $25,000 to any gold medal-winning athlete, with the world record holder set to pocket $50,000. Naturally, Holloway felt he deserved the bigger prize after his Olympic win. So, he took to social media, tagging Sharpe and Johnson, writing, “Good morning from Switzerland family! So @NightcapShow, @ochocinco & @ShannonSharpe… we doing anything about this gold medal or was y’all just capping? Asking for some friends..”

But while Holloway dominated the 110m hurdles, it looks like the $50,000 payday promise remains unfulfilled. As of now, the Florida Gator alum hasn’t seen a penny from the Nightcap hosts. And with the recent uproar over his Diamond League withdrawal, the drama continues.