It’s not often you see Grant Holloway out of the medals, let alone twice in a row. But that’s exactly what happened on 20 June at the Paris Diamond League, where the reigning Olympic and three-time world 110m hurdles champion faded to fifth place in 13.11 seconds. Coming just months after a last-place finish in Xiamen, the performance sparked whispers of doubt: Is Holloway slipping? Has the gap closed? But let’s not panic just yet, because analyst Emerole Anderson certainly isn’t.

On his YouTube channel, The Final Leg Track & Field, Anderson broke down Holloway’s performance and offered a calm, confident take while most were spiraling into doubt. And honestly, if you look closely at the race sheet, the situation isn’t as grim as it seems. Trey Cunningham took the win in a blistering 13.00 personal best, Dylan Beard was second in 13.02, and Jason Joseph from Switzerland finished third in 13.07. Japan’s Rachid Muratake just edged Holloway with 13.08, while Jamal Britt (13.15) and France’s Just Kwaou-Mathey (13.24) followed. But let’s not forget, in Heat B, Holloway actually posted 13.16, a clear sign he’s beginning to knock the rust off after nearly two months away. Here’s what a lot of fans forget. What?

Grant Holloway doesn’t need to be sharp right now. As the 2023 World Champion, he has an automatic bye to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, which means no need to qualify through the U.S. Trials. He has the luxury of building his form strategically. So what looks like a setback to some is just part of a bigger plan. September is the goal, not June. Still, Anderson saw the backlash and addressed it head-on with this perspective: “Grant Holloway. Ran 13.11 seconds. here in the heats He ran 13.16 seconds. Yes, you may look at it like, ‘Oh, he finished down in fifth place.’ No, I actually look at this really, really good. This is his first race over the past couple months, right? Since about April, where he’s getting back onto the track  took some time away to, you know, rest and recover and all that.”

And he didn’t stop there, his belief in Holloway’s comeback was loud and clear: “I think this is an excellent race for Grant Holloway. Let’s not get jaded by the fact that, you know, Grant has run 12 seconds a whole bunch of times. 13.1 is still very, very fast. So for him to open back up with 13.1, knowing he has a wild card to the World Championships … his goal is September. Now he’s going to make some progress. I mean, by the end of this season, Grant Holloway is going to be running 12 seconds, guaranteed. And, in my opinion, he’s still the favorite for the gold medal at the World Championships.” So, where does that leave us?

Yes, Trey Cunningham is on fire. Dylan Beard is quietly stacking strong results. Jason Joseph and Muratake are clearly in the mix. But Grant Holloway isn’t chasing qualifications; he’s chasing precision. And if Anderson is right (and track history suggests he often is), then come September in Tokyo, the question won’t be: Has Grant Holloway slipped? No! It’ll be who’s ready to chase him when he’s in 12-second form again? Because if his injury hadn’t happened, he would’ve been in top form, even in the recent meets. Injury?

The fastest hurdler alive, Grant Holloway, just faced his hardest obstacle

Undefeated for over a decade? Yes, you read that right. Grant Holloway is living history. Since 2014, the man hasn’t lost a single 60m hurdles race indoors. That’s 94 straight wins. He’s the only hurdler ever to win three back-to-back World Indoor titles and holds the world record too, 7.27 seconds of pure speed and perfection. Add in an Olympic gold from Paris 2024, three World titles outdoors, and a 12.81s personal best in the 110m hurdles (second-fastest in history), and it’s clear: nobody’s ever done it like Grant. Nobody. But even legends get tested.

Earlier this year, while casually repping a 435lb front squat, yes, four hundred and thirty-five pounds, Holloway felt a sudden pop in his knee. Within 30 minutes, it swelled like a balloon. Most athletes would’ve backed off, but not Grant. He showed up to every race, knee taped and limping, and still came out on top indoors. That’s not just tough, it’s unreal. But the pain caught up with him outdoors. His start was rocky.

He stumbled to 10th in Xiamen, a rare sight in itself. Then came the withdrawal from Shanghai. Fans started to worry. But he came roaring back in Paris even though he didn’t podium. It wasn’t peak Holloway, but it was proof that he’s fighting, fixing, and far from finished. Word is, he’s regrouping now, eyeing a comeback in Ostrava, and gearing up to peak when it counts most: the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. One thing’s for sure: if there’s anyone who can turn pain into gold, it’s Grant Holloway.