Reigning World Champion Admits Struggle After Loss to Vernon Norwood: “Couldn’t Walk Properly Last Month”

Heat 5 of the 400m at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships delivered, perhaps, one of the most shocking results of the competition so far. In the heat were the 400m defending world champion, Vernon Norwood, and others. After the race, the top 3 read: Zakithi Nene 44.34, Vernon Norwood 44.55, and Attila Molnar also 44.55. World Champion? He finished 8th in 46.28s. Not qualifying for further competition in the 400m. What does he have to say?

In a post-race interview, Antonio Watson, the 2023 World Champion, confessed, “I’m actually happy that I could come out here and run. A month ago, or a month and two weeks ago, I actually couldn’t walk properly. So coming out here and finishing this race, I feel very proud of myself, but knowing my quality, I’m a bit disappointed, but I’ve got to just move on from this one.” We saw some hints early on in Jamaica that some was wrong with the Jamaican.

After clocking a 46.22s win in heat 6 of the Jamaican Nationals, he did not finish in the semifinals. Watson pulled up with a calf injury about 120 metres into the race and stopped after a few metres in what was described as a precautionary move by his coach, Glen Mills. But this might not be the end for Antonio Watson in the World Athletics Championships.

In the interview, he was asked if he would be able to heal from this in time and compete in the 4x400m relay. Replying to this, he said, “It’s possible, it’s possible for me to come back in the 4×4. Um got good guys working with so I just got to just go come back work with them and see what it is from there.” The men’s 4×400 Metres Relay is on 20 September, so Watson has time. Injury has ruined things for him before as well.

Antonio Watson has been under the radar since 2023

After becoming the world 400m champion in 2023, Watson hit several setbacks through 2024 that disrupted his momentum. He pulled up injured in the 400m heats at the Jamaica Olympic trials in June 2024 and missed qualifying for Paris 2024. The world champion was nighmared by a calf injury. That marked the end of his 2024 season with just 6 races and an Olympics missed, just after winning the world championships. 

Returning in the 2025 season, he hoped for a good performance at the 2025 Grand Prix. “I’m in a good place both mentally and physically. I’m feeling better than I was feeling in 2024. I’m feeling healthy and my preparation has been top-notch,” Watson said. But then he did not race. He made his return in the Camperdown Classics in February 2025, where he finished first in 46.03s.  Let’s just hope he gets better and performs in the 4x400m.