Christian Coleman on why beating Usain Bolt twice in 2017 was the real highlight of his career

Christian Coleman is already a world 100m champion and a two-time indoor 60m winner but he has revealed why beating Bolt twice at the same meet was the real highlight of his career.

American sprinter Christian Coleman has revealed why his 2017 race against the legendary Usain Bolt, during the Jamaican’s final 100-meter championship, stands as the defining moment of his career. 

While Coleman’s resume includes a World Championship gold and a record-breaking performance in the 60 meters, it was his thrilling finish ahead of Bolt in the 2017 World Championships that marked a pivotal high for the then-21-year-old.

Coleman, who competes in the 60, 100, and 200 meters, has firmly established himself as a top contender in the sprinting world. The 2019 World Champion in the 100 meters and part of the gold-winning 4x100-meter relay team, he holds a personal best of 9.76 seconds for the 100 meters, placing him as the sixth-fastest man of all time. 

In the 200 meters, he clocked an impressive 19.85, further showcasing his speed across sprint distances. Coleman also holds the world record for the indoor 60 meters, with a blazing time of 6.34 seconds, a mark that has yet to be surpassed.

Reflecting on his first major championship in 2017, Coleman recounted his experience running alongside Bolt, a dominant force in sprinting for over a decade. He finished second in the 100-meter final with a time of 9.94 seconds, coming in just behind Justin Gatlin and narrowly ahead of Bolt, who was retiring from competitive track and field.

The 2017 season marked the beginning of Coleman’s rise as a formidable sprinter. In a highly anticipated semi-final race, Coleman clocked 9.97 seconds, edging Bolt by just 0.01 seconds— a feat last achieved by Gatlin in 2013. This victory positioned Coleman as the first sprinter in four years to beat Bolt in any competition, setting the stage for his rise on the world stage.

Reflecting on his milestone, Coleman shared in an interview on Sprint, “Definitely winning the 2019 World Championships gotta be the highlight of my career, but I came into it like really young. My first world championships in 2017, Usain Bolt was in that race, and I was 21. That was a pretty big moment.”

 He added, “Coming into the sport, you get kind of thrown into the deep end. Now I am still doing my thing and part of the new generation of guys.”

Coleman acknowledged the intensity of competition in the sprinting world and the mental toughness required to compete at the highest level.

“There are some dogs in track and field, and you have to be a savage when you get out there,” he remarked, underlining the fierce rivalry and drive that come with competing among the best.

Bolt, known for his sportsmanship and respect for fellow competitors, praised Coleman’s performance at the time, tipping him for future success.

 “I lost the race to a great competitor,” Bolt said, following his final race. “I came third to a young kid that’s coming up… He has a great talent and a great future ahead of him.”

Now, as Coleman continues to compete among a new generation of sprinters, his legacy as one of the sport’s most formidable talents grows. 

His achievements in the 100 meters, combined with his status as a two-time Diamond League champion and his continued presence at the top of the world rankings, reinforce Coleman’s status as a leading force in sprinting.

 But for the American sprinter, that unforgettable race against Bolt in 2017 remains a defining moment—one that not only marked the end of an era but also heralded the beginning of his own.