The 2022 100m World Champion has explained why he does not think rivalries in sprint racing exist anymore amidst media stars to make him rivals with fellow mates like Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman
2022 World 100m record holder Fred Kerley is adamant rivalries don’t exist in modern day sprinting any more.
Kerley is set to open his Olympic qualifying season by opening his Diamond League campaign with a 100m race on April 27 at the Shanghai/Suzhou Diamond League in China, and he will be racing World Indoor 60m champion Christian Coleman.
Since Bolt’s retirement, there has not really been a major championship where a particular athlete has dominated all the events, and the last three World Champions in the 100m race have all been different, with Coleman winning the 2019 edition, before Kerley won the 2022 one and Noah Lyles won in 2023.
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There also has not been major battles between athletes that have gone on for sustained periods of seasons, like was the case in the 2000s and 2010s decades.
Now, Kerley has explained why he does not thing rivalries in sprints exist anymore.
“I don’t think of it as a rivalry in the sport, I think people get stuff messed up,” Kerley told Rori Dunk.
“Rivalry is something that you gotta compete week in, week out. Like Justin Gatlin-Usain Bolt, that’s a rivalry, Tyson Gay-Usain Bolt, that’s a rivalry, Maurice Greene and Michael Johnson, that’s a rivalry.
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“I think this new crop is not a rivalry, it’s just, people run fast this year and then forget about it next year.
“A rivalry comes on year after year. I don't think this racing today is a rivalry. People run fast eat certain meets and then the media (make it look like one).”
Rori spoke days after Lyles made waves throughout the internet for his recent comment about wanting to smash Bolt’s 200m world record.
“He (Usain Bolt) was the fastest man ever to do it….and soon it’ll be me“. While some people found him ambitious, others took it as an open challenge.
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Kerley also thrust himself into the spotlight alongside his fellow sprinter.
In a recent interview, Kerley had addressed Lyles’ lofty ambition of surpassing Usain Bolt as the fastest man ever. With both athletes making waves with their confident proclamations, the stage is set for an intriguing rivalry to unfold on the track.
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