Grant Holloway walked into Paris not just as an athlete, but as a man chasing memories—a champion drawn back to the city that etched his name in Olympic glory. “Paris means a lot. I mean, just damn — that was last August, you know? I won my first Olympic gold. So Paris is… is… I’m always gonna enjoy coming to Paris just based off the memories,” he said, his voice warm and nostalgic at the pre-meet press conference. This was Grant coming back from an injury, and reminiscing about the memories of Paris. But now, as he returns to the track, he has a message for all…

Ten months removed from that golden moment, Holloway’s Paris trip was different. He was fresh off a hard lesson in Xiamen—one that left him physically bruised. There, he was flying until the eighth hurdle. Then, disaster. A break in form, a stumble, and a jarring last-place finish in 13.72 seconds. Later, the truth came out: it wasn’t just a bad day. He had been battling injury. He was dealing with a significant knee injury that emerged during a heavy lifting session earlier this season. While performing a 435-pound front squat, he felt and heard his knee “pop,” and it began to swell “like a balloon” shortly afterward. Still, the heart of a champion beats louder than doubt. And so, in Paris, Holloway lined up again.

Here, he clocked 13.16s, seconds behind Switzerland’s Jason Joseph, who ran a season’s best 13.09s. Then came the final. Trey Cunningham stole the spotlight with a blistering 13.00s—his personal best. Holloway, on the other hand, crossed the line in fifth. 13.11. A solid time for most, but not for someone used to winning. Not for someone whose name has been synonymous with dominance in the 110m hurdles. After the race, Holloway didn’t hide.

Standing before the press, visibly composed but introspective, he spoke with rare vulnerability: “Obviously it’s not the result I wanted, but with everything going on, you know, I’ve got to be able to peak in September. I’ve got to take it with a grain of salt.” That’s the thing about champions. It’s not just about the medals. It’s about the moments when they fall—and choose to rise again. Moreover, the 27-year-old athlete gave the impression of having his sights set on the next race.

When asked about the loss, Holloway didn’t blame his training, his coaches, or the circumstances. Instead, he stood grounded and honest: “Just I’ve been having some good weeks of training. Just didn’t come out here and execute.” That’s the mindset of a man who knows exactly who he is—and what he’s chasing.

Despite the fifth-place finish, Holloway is sticking to the plan. “[I will] go back to the drawing boards, back at it again in Ostrava here in a couple of days. So watch some quick film, figure it out, and get back out there,” the 27-year-old shared with a composed nod. So, it’s that blend of confidence and self-awareness that makes Holloway different. He knows success doesn’t live in comfort zones—it’s forged in reflection, in film study, in the quiet hours when no one’s watching. However, like a true champion, Grant has had an idea about the challenges on his path to reach glory, and he has spoken about it before. 

Grant Holloway is on his way to break the chain 

For over a decade, Grant Holloway has ruled the men’s 60m hurdles with unshakable dominance. Year after year, meet after meet, that record has stood untouched—and 2025 was no different. He breezed through the indoor season, keeping his undefeated streak alive without having to dig too deep. But when the hurdles stretch out to 110 meters and the stage shifts outdoors, the story changes.

This year, Holloway has yet to taste victory in a single 110m hurdles final. From the misstep in Xiamen that dropped him to tenth, to a second-place finish at the Tom Jones Memorial, where Trey Cunningham edged him out—his usual script of dominance has been flipped. Still, there’s no sense of retreat. No denial of the challenge. In fact, Holloway embraces it.

“The thing about the hurdles is none of us are scared of anybody. At every Diamond League, there’s gonna be a fierce battle,” Grant said, acknowledging the razor-thin margins and fearless competitors that define the event.

It’s a candid admission from a man who knows what it means to be hunted—and what it takes to fight back. So what’s next for Holloway? Plenty. The season is still unfolding, and the biggest meets are yet to come. With Paris 2024 glory behind him and fresh rivalries pushing him forward, the Olympic champion isn’t chasing records—he’s chasing rhythm, redemption, and the right race at the right time.