When it comes to track and field, Noah Lyles is a name that stirs up everything. Records, rivalries, and headlines. And yet, for all the noise that follows him, one of the most intriguing “what ifs” in his career never even made it to the starting blocks. A relay team-up with none other than Grant Holloway. The reigning Olympic champion and three-time world titleholder has cemented himself as the undisputed king of the high hurdles. But back in 2022, there was a serious buzz about something different. Holloway was closer than ever to joining Lyles and other U.S. stars for a sprint relay squad that could’ve redefined relay history. But it didn’t happen. But why?
In a recent episode of the Ready Set Go podcast, the legendary sprinter Justin Gatlin joined forces with Grant Holloway to unpack one of the biggest missed opportunities in U.S. relay history. And Holloway didn’t hold back. Reflecting on what could’ve been a dynamic team-up with Noah Lyles and others, he peeled back the curtain on 2019. His breakout year and a moment when the call-up nearly became a reality. “In 2019 they was supposed to use me cuz uh Mike had… like a groin injury or a hamstring injury… But I was in the talks. 2019, they were like, ‘Look instead of playing with fire, we could use Grant.’” At the time, Holloway was fresh off making his first national team, and while his main event, the 110m hurdles was wrapped, whispers started swirling that he might be called into the 4x100m relay squad.
With veteran sprinter Mike Rodgers reportedly nursing an injury, Holloway was told to stay ready, even as others celebrated. “Jog and strides, couple hundreds,” his coach kept saying. Team USA was seriously considering pulling the trigger on Holloway stepping in. “My event is done… I’m trying to go out… but they ended up not using me,” he added, revealing just how close he came to a history-making turn on the relay squad.
Just like that, what could have been a team set to make history, never actually made it to the track together. True track fans are probably super bummed to learn that something as epic as this was on the table, but did not materialize. But on the brighter side, Grant Holloway’s individual appearances are enough to make us beam with pride, aren’t they?
From setbacks to comebacks, Holloway’s path to glory
Grant Holloway is a brand in himself. But his path to greatness has never been smooth, but those hurdles, both literal and metaphorical, make his rise all the more inspiring. Going back to the Tokyo Olympics, Holloway was the clear favorite in the 110m hurdles. Yet in a dramatic twist, he was edged out by Jamaica’s Hansle Parchment in the final stretch, settling for silver. For some athletes, a loss like that would break momentum. But Holloway came back stronger than ever, fetching indoor and outdoor titles after titles: Belgrade (2022), Glasgow (2024), Eugene (2022), and Budapest (2023). But the real redemption? Paris Olympics.
Clocking 12.99, Holloway avenged his Tokyo defeat at the French capital. But 2025 brought a new kind of challenge. A freak injury during a front squat session had left his knee swollen “like a balloon.” Even though he ran to glory at Nanjing, in a surprising turn of events, he succumbed to Trey Cunningham at the Tom Jones Invitational in April. As fans were still reeling from this defeat, a 10th-place finish at the Xiamen Diamond League, where he clocked 13.72 seconds, was too much to take. The performance wasn’t just off. It was alarming. Visibly off-balance, slow between hurdles, Holloway looked like a shadow of the athlete who had ruled the event for years.
Yet if there’s one thing that defines Grant Holloway, it’s his refusal to hide from adversity. Instead of retreating, he’s chosen transparency speaking openly about the injury, the pressure, and the expectations that come with being a leader in the sport.
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