American sprint hurdler Grant Holloway has revealed why he has reservation about going back to Tokyo, a sentiment shared fellow Olympians Noah Lyles and Rai Benjamin.
American sprint hurdler Grant Holloway has revealed his reluctance to return to Tokyo for the 2025 World Athletics Championships.
Fellow American Olympians Noah Lyles and Rai Benjamin echoed his sentiments during a candid discussion on the Beyond the Records podcast.
The episode featured Coby Cotton, a member of the sports and comedy group Dude Perfect, as their guest.
The conversation began with Cotton reflecting on the trio’s triumphant performances at the Paris Olympics last year, where all three secured gold medals in their respective events. Cotton described the experience as unforgettable.
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“I’ve told a lot of people we’ve been incredibly lucky to do all the big cool sports things. That (Paris Olympics) was by far, not even close, the best sports moment I’ve ever experienced. It was truly insane to be in the building for it,” he said.
The discussion shifted to the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, set for September 2025. Benjamin mentioned the event, prompting Cotton to express curiosity about visiting Japan for the first time. However, Holloway quickly interjected with a surprising admission.
“I got PTSD. I don’t want to go back to Tokyo,” he said.
Benjamin responded in agreement, recalling his emotional experience, stating, “You and me both. I cried my a** off.”
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Lyles chimed in, saying, “All three of us,” as Benjamin concluded, “We all got our a** whooped in Tokyo.”
The trio’s reluctance stems from their experiences at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021, where they fell short of gold in their events despite strong performances.
Lyles finished third in the 200m, behind teammate Kenny Bednarek in second and Canadian Andre De Grasse, who clinched gold while Holloway claimed silver in the 110m hurdles, narrowly losing to Jamaican Hansle Parchment as Benjamin also settled for silver in the 400m hurdles, in a thrilling race won by Norway’s Karsten Warholm.
While Tokyo left them with bittersweet memories, the Paris Olympics in 2024 marked a turning point for all three athletes. Each claimed gold in their events, reinforcing their dominance on the global stage.
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Despite their reservations, the 2025 World Athletics Championships could offer a chance for Holloway, Lyles, and Benjamin to rewrite their Tokyo narrative.
Both Lyles in the 100m and 200m and Holloway in the 110m hurdles have titles to defend at the September Championships.
For now, however, the memories of Tokyo linger, serving as a reminder of the challenges the trio face in their pursuit of excellence even as they season debuts, Lyles and Benjamin at the New Balance Grand Prix in February and Holloway at the meet in Lievin in the same month.
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