Former 100m world champion Christian Coleman has recently made the news mostly for his relationship with Sha’Carri Richardson than for his sprinting accolades. Can the 60m world champion shake off the tag?
American Olympian Christian Coleman, once renowned for his explosive starts and dominant sprints, is now making headlines more for his relationship with Olympic silver medalist Sha’Carri Richardson than for his performances on the track.
The former world champion endured a disappointing 2024 season, despite an early bright spark.
At the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, Coleman showcased his signature speed, winning the men’s 60m race in 6.41 seconds ahead of his fierce American rival, Noah Lyles, who clocked 6.44 seconds.
This victory was a statement performance during an Olympic year that was expected to cement his status as a top contender.
However, the rest of the season did not go as planned. The 60m world indoor champion failed to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team in the 100m, finishing fourth in both the 100m and 200m at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
This marked his second consecutive Olympic miss in individual sprint events, with his only consolation being a spot on the U.S. 4x100m relay team.
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Meanwhile, his then rumored girlfriend, Sha’Carri Richardson, alongside his sprinting rivals, took the spotlight leading into the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Lyles went on to claim gold in the men’s 100m final, while Richardson secured silver in the women’s event, finishing behind St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred.
Richardson then led Team USA to gold in the women’s 4x100m relay, anchoring a squad that included 200m champion Gabby Thomas, Twanisha Terry, and Melissa Jefferson.
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Coleman, on the other hand, saw his Olympic hopes completely unravel in the men’s 4x100m relay.
A botched baton exchange between Kenny Bednarek and Coleman resulted in a disqualification, adding another chapter to the U.S. team’s history of relay mishaps.
As Lyles solidified his reputation as the undisputed sprint king, Coleman was left on the sidelines, overshadowed both on and off the track.
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Fast forward to 2025, and Coleman has yet to start his campaign. His primary rival, Lyles, has already begun his season with a victory in the 60m at the New Balance Grand Prix while Richardson has already announced her expected season opener.
With no announcement yet on when Coleman will open his season, questions remain about whether he will defend his 60m world indoor title or if his dominance in short sprints is fading.
Can Coleman recapture his sprinting prowess and reclaim his place among the world’s elite? Or will he remain in the shadow of his rivals and his high-profile relationship?
The 2025 season will be crucial in determining whether he can shed the label of “Sha’Carri Richardson’s boyfriend” and reassert himself as a premier sprinter in men’s athletics.
