“I just got to prove to myself and prove to my team that I’m still that guy,” Grant Holloway said with sharp eyes and a steady voice. “And I’ll always be that guy, you know, looking to come out here with some competition and get back on the high horse.” That was before the Xiamen Diamond League. He sounded confident. But once the race went down, reality hit hard. Holloway finished tenth—way off his usual form—and left the track banged up. Turns out, it wasn’t just an off day. He’d been battling a serious knee injury that flared up during a heavy lifting session earlier in the season. His knee swelled up “like a balloon.” Still, he chose to keep going. No excuses, no backing down.

After that rough outing in Xiamen, Grant Holloway hit pause for over 50 days. Then came his return at the Paris Diamond League. But again, the magic didn’t quite land—he finished a disappointing fifth in the 110m hurdles. Four days later, he lined up at the Ostrava Golden Spike. Still no win, but he looked sharper. Grant clocked 13.16 seconds and took second place—not bad, considering everything he’s been through.

Now, he’s back in Eugene, getting ready to take on the USATF Nationals. Another challenge? For sure. Does he need to be here? Technically, no—he’s already got a bye to the Tokyo World Championships. But that’s not how Grant rolls. He’s showing up, competing, and proving a point. And guess what? His journey’s been so powerful, even another Olympic champ said they’ve been inspired by it.

Masai Russell shared the story at the pre-meet press conference in Eugene. Sitting right next to Grant Holloway, she said, “I just want to continue to write this script and honestly be like someone like Grant Holloway, who’s just dominating year in and year out.” And she’s not wrong—when it comes to domination, Grant’s got the resume. He hasn’t lost a men’s 60m hurdles race in over a decade. Throw in two Olympic medals (a gold and a silver), three world titles, and the fact that he’s still out there at 27, doing his thing? That’s serious staying power. Russell made it clear—she’s seriously inspired by everything Grant brings to the table.

“I mean, clearly, [Grant’s] like a walking legend, though, all that,” Masai Russell said with a laugh. “So, to show what I’m really like doing most of the time, I mean, like, I look to someone like him. Like, you know, I’m a hard-out one; he’s like, ‘This is my first year, bro.’” At 25, Russell’s pushing hard—but she’s honest about it: the doubts creep in. Does she want to keep grinding, stay relentless? That’s when she thinks about athletes like Grant Holloway, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Usain Bolt. “These people have shown up year in and year out,”she said.  “And, you know, it’s just super inspirational to show, like, what is truly capable in this work and being so young, too.” Next to her, Grant just smiled as she spoke. For both of them, the USATF Nationals isn’t going to be easy. But they’re ready to face it, head-on.

Grant Holloway and Masai Russell are in front of huge tests 

“For me personally, I am never comfortable. I am never like, ‘Oh, I am the Olympic champion. I could just miss practice, or I could just do whatever.’ NO,” Masai Russell said firmly before heading into the Miami Grand Slam Track. “I am like, I got to come to practice and bust my tail every day because you never know which way I’m going to go on that day.” Nearly a year has passed since she claimed Olympic gold in the women’s 100m hurdles—but to her, the title still doesn’t feel real. She’s not riding any victory wave. The grind? Still the same. If anything, this season has been a rollercoaster. There have been big wins, yes—but also some tough losses that stung just as deep. And with challengers like Grace Stark, Alaysha Johnson, and others bringing heat, there’s no room to breathe easy.

Meanwhile, over in the men’s hurdles, Grant Holloway’s road isn’t looking smooth either. If he slips up at Nationals, the door is wide open. Cordell Tinch—this year’s world leader with a blazing 12.87—will be right there. And don’t count out Trey Cunningham, the 2022 world silver medalist, still chasing his elusive first sub-13. He’s run 13.00 not once, not twice, but three times. The stakes are sky-high. Everyone’s chasing something—respect, redemption, or that first major title. And as the USATF Nationals heat up, it’s clear: nothing is guaranteed.