The entire track world held its breath as Grant Holloway, the Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion, finally stepped back onto the Diamond League stage in Paris on June 20, 2025. After a truly rocky start to his season, marred by a knee injury and a shocking last-place finish in Xiamen, Holloway’s return was hyped as his grand redemption arc. The Stade Charléty was buzzing with anticipation for the men’s 110m hurdles, where the American superstar faced an incredibly stacked field and fans were expecting fireworks. The big question was: could Holloway reclaim his throne?

But, sadly, the final race shattered those hopes. Holloway, known for his explosive starts and absolutely flawless technique, clocked a season-best 13.11 seconds but stumbled to a deeply disappointing fifth place. The race itself was a masterclass in depth, with personal bests and season bests flying left and right. Holloway, usually untouchable, seemed just a bit off-pace, unable to match the blistering rhythm of his rivals. His earlier season struggles, second in Gainesville, tenth in Xiamen, now loomed even larger. So, what exactly went wrong for the Olympic champion?

Enter Trey Cunningham, Holloway’s American rival, who completely stole the show. Cunningham, the 2022 World Championships silver medalist, equaled his personal best of 13.00 seconds (+1.1 wind) to claim a dominant victory from lane two. His lean at the line just edged out Dylan Beard, who ran a stunning 13.02 seconds for second, his second personal best of the day. Switzerland’s Jason Joseph also shone brightly, matching the Swiss record with a 13.07-second finish for third. The podium was a true testament to the event’s fierce competition, with Holloway uncharacteristically left in the dust. The question now is, can Cunningham sustain this incredible momentum?

Trey Cunningham talks about the resilient Win

The Paris Diamond League on June 20, 2025, delivered a truly thrilling men’s 110m hurdles final, and the undeniable star was America’s own Trey Cunningham. Fresh off what he himself called a challenging season, Cunningham stepped onto the track at Stade Charléty to face a fierce field, including the reigning Olympic champion, Grant Holloway. 

Despite battling illness, Cunningham’s performance was nothing short of electric. “I did not make 12 mistakes, but I think I did like three or four,” he admitted post-race, reflecting on his run with remarkable honesty. “It is really hard to run that fast whilst making mistakes, but it is promising.” His sheer grit edged out fellow American Dylan Beard, who ran a stunning 13.02s personal best for second, and Switzerland’s Jason Joseph, who tied the Swiss record at 13.07s. Holloway, surprisingly, lagged behind in fifth with 13.11s. How did Cunningham manage to push through the illness and deliver such a winning performance?

“It is promising, because we hope I can run the fabulous 12 seconds everyone chases after,” Cunningham said, clearly eyeing that elusive sub-13 barrier. “Ultimately, I got a win today after being sick, really sick. I can not complain.” With the World Championships looming on the horizon, everyone is now wondering: can Cunningham’s incredible resilience carry him to even greater heights?