If you thought 2025 was going to be Fred Kerley’s big comeback year, think again. This is the same sprint star who lit up the track by winning the 100-meter gold at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, smashing a personal best of 9.86 seconds. That win was historic, it marked the first time since 1991 that the U.S. swept the men’s 100m podium, with teammates Marvin Bracy and Trayvon Bromell taking silver and bronze. But despite all that past glory, 2025 has thrown Kerley some serious curveballs. After a disappointing 7th place finish in the 100m at the Grand Slam Track meet in Kingston and then skipping the Miami leg entirely, things just haven’t clicked.

And then at the Diamond League meet in Rabat on May 25, where everyone expected him to dominate both the 100m and 200m, he lost both races. Yeah, that was a tough reality check for a guy once billed as the next big thing in sprinting. But here’s the thing, Fred Kerley isn’t letting setbacks keep him down. Recently, he took to Instagram to share some serious motivation.

One video showed him pushing hard in training, running fast and faster with the caption, “Only one thing matter run run run run 🏃🏿‍♂️ ⚡️ 🇫🇷 🇺🇸.” Another clip showed him running with style, captioned, “Y’all stuck on scenes. I’m writing chapters. Skit over, story beginning.” It’s clear Kerley is grinding behind the scenes, working harder than ever to come back stronger.

Of course, there’s a wrinkle: he’s currently suspended from competing in the upcoming Grand Slam Track event in Philadelphia due to ongoing legal proceedings. But that hasn’t dimmed his fire or focus. Looking ahead, Fred Kerley’s got his sights set on the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. He’s determined to reclaim the 100m crown and break Usain Bolt’s legendary record, a goal he calls “very realistic.”

As he puts it, “records come and go, but gold lasts forever.” With that mindset and his undeniable talent, don’t count him out just yet. But how did he fail very badly in the Diamond League Rabat?

Fred Kerley faces tough competition at Rabat, but the fire’s still burning

So, at the recent Diamond League meet in Rabat, Fred Kerley ran into some tough competition, and it showed. In the 200m, Courtney Lindsey stole the show with a quick 20.04-second run, making up for just missing out in Doha. Joseph Fahnbulleh squeezed past Kerley by a tiny 0.04 seconds to grab second, leaving Fred in third at 20.16.

Even with Kerley’s solid resume, two Diamond League Final titles, and a dozen wins across the 100, 200, and 400 meters, he just couldn’t get that win this time. The 100m wasn’t any easier. South Africa’s Akani Simbine is on fire this year, undefeated and snagging first with a 9.95. Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala came in second, and once again Kerley was third at 10.07.

With these results piling up, you have to wonder: When is Fred going to remind everyone why he’s a champ? The good news? His next big shot is just three months away, and you know Kerley doesn’t just talk; he’s got what it takes. Kerley is no one-trick pony. He’s one of the rare elite sprinters who’s run under 10 seconds in the 100m, under 20 seconds in the 200m, and under 44 seconds in the 400m.

His journey from a 400m specialist to a world-class 100m sprinter has been impressive, highlighted by his 2022 World Championship gold in Eugene, where he ran a personal best of 9.86. Plus, he’s got Olympic medals too, silver in Tokyo 2020 and bronze at the 2024 Paris Games. So yeah, he’s no flash in the pan; Fred’s got staying power. What makes Fred Kerley stand out is his explosive starts and work ethic.

He’s known for getting off the blocks fast and setting the tone early. Behind the scenes, he’s all about grinding, pushing limits, perfecting technique, and staying disciplined. So yeah, the wins haven’t been rolling in lately, but don’t sleep on Kerley. His moment to shine again? It’s coming, and it’s coming soon.