“Christian Coleman nowhere to be found. Again.” That’s how track and field commentator Alex Predhome summed it up on Saturday, July 5. Why? We’ll get to that shortly. But first, Saturday had the potential to be a milestone moment in Coleman’s career. He had several opportunities lined up that could’ve secured his legacy in track and field history. For instance, since Justin Gatlin’s dominant streak in the men’s 100m at the Prefontaine Classic from 2012 to 2014, no athlete had managed to claim three consecutive victories. Having already won in 2023 and 2024, Coleman was on the brink of becoming the second man to do so. He also had a chance to quiet the growing criticism surrounding his fourth-place finish at the Wanda Diamond League. But in the end…

On Saturday, Christian Coleman disrupted expectations. Competing in the men’s 100m at the 50th Prefontaine Classic, the former world champion placed seventh out of nine sprinters, clocking 10.96 seconds (+0.4). Notably, he failed to dip below the 10-second mark—a surprising outcome for someone of his caliber. In fact, this marked the seventh time Coleman has finished outside the sub-10 range. These results likely contributed to Predhome’s pointed remark. Yet, he wasn’t the only critic. 

One harsh comment read, “Coleman is losing everything.” So far this season, Coleman has yet to secure a win in any individual race, and his finishing times continue to fall short of expectations. Additionally, his quick start, which once used to be his best shot in winning the races, is now non-existent. Any technical issues? 

Interestingly, ahead of the Paris Olympics last year, Coleman teamed up with Dennis Mitchell’s Star Athletics in hopes of revitalizing his performance. However, the results haven’t shown much progress. Adding to the frustration, he chose not to defend his men’s 60m world title at this year’s World Athletics Indoor Championships, opting instead to concentrate fully on the outdoor season. But even with that focus, his performances have remained underwhelming, leaving fans increasingly impatient. Many have taken to X to voice their disappointment.

Christian Coleman faces the harsh words 

“What happened to Christian” —a question hanging heavy over the track world, with no clear answer in sight. This is the same Christian Coleman who once blazed through the 100m in under 9.80 seconds twice—a feat reserved for the sport’s elite. This is the same sprinter who, back in 2016, covered 40 meters in 4.12 seconds, outpacing the NFL Combine record of 4.22. And yet today, that explosive dominance seems like a distant memory.

The signs of decline have been hard to ignore. Just weeks ago, Coleman was beaten twice by Maurice Gleaton at the Star Athletics Sprint Series in Florida—losses that added to a growing list of underwhelming results. Even last season, Coleman’s form raised eyebrows. “Coleman getting smoked these days,” one fan bluntly posted—and it’s not far from reality.

Zoom out to the international stage, and the outlook doesn’t improve. At 28, Coleman failed to qualify for any individual event at the Paris Olympics. His only opportunity came in the men’s 4x100m relay, which ended in heartbreak after Team USA was disqualified in the final.

So what now? Is there still a future for Coleman in the red, white, and blue? Or is this the closing act of a once-brilliant career? “So is Coleman’s career officially cooked.” one commenter asked. Another didn’t hold back: “Christian Coleman at the end. He should hang it up.” Time will tell—but for now, the silence is louder than the starting gun.