In 2016, during the U.S. Olympic Trials, this track and field athlete’s dreams were abruptly halted when he pulled up mid-race, unable to continue. The injury, a result of insufficient recovery, was a harsh lesson in the importance of rest and self-care. Fast forward to 2025, and Norwood’s recent cryptic message has left fans concerned. What is that?

Vernon L. Norwood made a cryptic tweet on May 21, 2025. What did he write? That’s the thing—he didn’t write anything but just dropped three emojis: “💔🙏🏿😔”. The tweet left the fans wondering,” What happened?”. This comes after his average 2025 season. At the NB Grand Prix, held in Boston, Massachusetts, the athlete delivered a standout performance in the men’s 300m final, securing second place.

He finished just behind American sprinter Matthew Boling, who took the win. While the exact finishing time for the athlete is not publicly available, his podium finish highlights his strength over the non-standard 300m distance and his ability to compete with other top-level sprinters. At the Shanghai Diamond League on May 3, 2025, held at the China Textile City Sports Center Stadium in Keqiao, he ran the men’s 400m and clocked a strong time of 44.93 seconds, finishing fourth.

The race was won by American Christopher Bailey in 44.17 seconds, followed by Bayapo Ndori of Botswana (44.32) and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi (44.63). Despite narrowly missing the podium, he finished ahead of notable names like Kirani James and Quincy Hall, demonstrating his place among the world’s elite. At the GST Meet, he continued to show his versatility and competitiveness.

In the men’s 400m, he finished third, although his official time was not listed. Later, in the men’s 200m final, he ran 20.92 seconds into a strong headwind of -3.3 m/s and placed fourth. Despite the tough conditions, he delivered a commendable performance, rounding off a series of consistent results across sprint events. Despite his tweet, the fans have sent him prayers.

Fans and track and field stars send prayers to Vernon Norwood

Things seem to be serious for Norwood; one fan said, “Chin up to the sky, she’s going to love everything you do in her honor! You and your family will get through this!” Perhaps bad news? Who could it be? Fans have also been sending non-stop prayers to the fans, “Sending ♥️ to you and your fam.” This further solidifies the chances of something uncertain.

One other fan took to the comment section to say, “Praying everything is ok 🙏🏽”. Meanwhile, even some other track and field stars dropped by to show their love. “I got you bro 🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾” This came from the man Fred Kerley himself. You know there is something serious when you have Fred saying days after both of them were feuding over X over who’s better.

Even Rai Benjamin commented, “My Brother”. With no other details whatsoever made clear by Vernon, it is too early to say what exactly went down that made him post this tweet. But taking into account the solemn mood of all the folks and Vernon himself, we can say that it might not be something. But irrespective of what the track star is dealing with, the fans simply hope that he will be okay soon.