As Grant Holloway bids to make history by landing his third consecutive world indoor title, the Olympic champion talks about the winning habit, keeping things simple and earning some recognition
“I’m human,” says Grant Holloway. “I’ve lost races before.” No sooner has he uttered that remark, however, than he breaks into a knowing smile and immediately qualifies his statement. “Outdoors more than indoors.”
For over a decade now, the American has been nothing but unbeatable over the 60m hurdles. You would have to turn the clock back to March 16, 2014, when he was just 16 and competing at the New York New Balance Nationals to unearth the last time the now 27-year-old didn’t finish first over that distance.
He’s pretty formidable over the 110m hurdles outdoors, too, having charged to the first Olympic gold of his career last summer, adding another honour to a pile that already contained an Olympic silver, three world titles outdoors and two indoors.
He wants more and, later this month, Holloway is aiming to complete an unprecedented second “three-peat” and become the first athlete ever to win three consecutive world titles and three consecutive world indoor titles.
He arrives at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing with yet another national title in his back pocket and his times heading in the right direction. You will struggle to find a more overwhelming favourite for gold in China.
An underlying knee problem means it has not, he admits, “been the quickest start I’ve had [to a year]”, Holloway opening 2025 with a win at the New Balance Grand Prix in Boston.
“I had a piece of KT tape on at the first meeting that brought up some questions,” he says. “But to still go out there and run 7.42, I think it’s pretty quick and it shows my character, shows how strong I am.”
Few of his opponents are in any doubt about that. At the time of writing, he sits as world leader after runs of 7.36 in Lievin and in New York in winning the US Indoor title, and Holloway loves nothing better than competing when there’s something tangible at stake.
“It’s all about showing up when it counts,” he says. “Each year I always challenge my team just to be better than we were last year. For me, [the targets are] always to win the main championships. There are only four races I gotta win – the World Indoor trials, World Indoors, outdoor trials and outdoor championships.”
Grant Holloway (Getty)
He has ticked the…
CLICK HERE to Read the Full Original Article at AW…