Defiant Fred Kerley still adamant he will eventually break Usain Bolt's world record

Defiant Fred Kerley still adamant he will eventually break Usain Bolt's world record

Mark Kinyanjui 19:59 - 24.11.2024

Kerley, who claimed a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, remains steadfast he will eventually smash Usain Bolt's 15-year 100 meter record.

American sprinter Fred Kerley remains steadfast in his quest to rewrite history by breaking Usain Bolt’s 100m world record.

Despite setbacks earlier this year, the 2022 world champion continues to radiate confidence, sharing his unshakable belief on the Ready Set Go podcast and in Netflix's Sprint Season 2.

Kerley first sent shockwaves through the track and field community in May when he boldly declared on X (formerly Twitter):

“World record next time I touch the 100m.”

He set his sights on shattering Bolt’s 9.58-second record—a mark untouched since the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. His opportunity came at the New York City Grand Prix, but the race ended in disappointment due to a series of false starts. Reflecting on the incident, Kerley admitted:

“I had put in the work in training and was ready, but things didn’t go as planned.”

In the aftermath, Kerley parted ways with his sponsor, Asics, just months after signing with the brand in February 2023.

Despite the challenges, Kerley’s confidence has not wavered. His personal best of 9.76 seconds, achieved during his gold medal-winning run at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, places him in a tie for the sixth-fastest time in history alongside Christian Coleman and Trayvon Bromell.

On Sprint Season 2, Kerley elaborated on his mindset and his aspirations:

“The ultimate thing in track and field is the Olympic gold medal, and if I’m getting on the line, I expect to win," he said.

He continued: “If you speak positivity into your life, positive things will come. I am very confident in everything because, why do something if you do not believe you are the best? Why live if you do not believe in yourself?”

Kerley’s quest for greatness is clear. Bolt remains the only man to have broken the 9.60-second barrier, with Tyson Gay and Yohan Blake tied for second all-time at 9.69 seconds. Kerley believes he has the ability to join—and even surpass—this elite group.

“I believe I’ll break a record every time I touch the track,” he declared.

While he secured a bronze medal in the 100m final at the Paris 2024 Olympics with a time of 9.81 seconds, he fell just short of Kishane Thompson and Noah Lyles, who tied at 9.79 seconds.

Kerley has faced his share of skeptics, but his response is always firm. Addressing his critics, he said:

“When people doubted me at USA trials, I showed them. I am going to keep showing people what I am capable of doing until they have no choice but to ride my coattail.”

When a fan countered his belief, calling it unrealistic, Kerley retorted unapologetically:

“I am a realist too. I ain’t come where you come from, but I know where I come from.”

Kerley’s determination and confidence paint a portrait of an athlete who is as relentless in his mindset as he is on the track. With his sights firmly set on history, fans eagerly await his next electrifying performance—one he hopes will end with his name etched into the record books.

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