It’s crazy how things change so much in so little time. And this is even more true for one Olympian. After all, while his career has seen him in the career forever, he knows just how different things could’ve been if today’s NIL deals existed back when he was grinding his way from the American collegiate battlegrounds called the NCAA. But with the added promise of financial stability that these new deals have brought to this system, he feels like his decision to stay at the University of Florida could be much more worthwhile. Care to guess the name of this Olympian? Well, it’s none other than Grant Holloway.
And now the gold medalist finally reveals what compelled him to stay at Florida. Though Grant Holloway got a scholarship for his football from the University of Georgia, the Olympic gold medalist decided to transfer to the University of Florida, where he found his stride both on and off the track. That move proved pivotal, shaping his athletic career and setting the stage for his rise to international stardom. And now, Holloway has the real reason revealed—the story behind the University of Florida.
“The Flamingo” appeared on a podcast of “Ready Set Go,” with legends Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green. While talking about the NIL journey, the Olympic gold medalist said, “It’s crazy with NIL,” as he reflected on a decision that could’ve completely rewritten his entire career path. “If I had had NIL, I don’t think I would have been at Florida, though,” Holloway revealed.
Back in 2016, before his rise to track and field stardom, he was verbally committed to the University of Georgia—a powerhouse in college football at the time. “That’d be crazy to see me in a Georgia T,” he says with a laugh. “At the time they had Mecole Hardman, Jake Fromm, Jacob Eason, Nick Chubb, Sony Michel… they had a squad,” he added. The energy was electric, and the team would eventually go on to win a national championship. But something didn’t sit right.
But taking tough decisions is not easy, and it wasn’t for the track star either. “I had to look at myself in the mirror and be like, are you a team player? Honestly,” he shares. Grant Holloway further goes on recalling the moment when he made himself understood. He can be a team leader and a player at the same time. His words were, “Not just like, ‘Oh yeah, man, we won by 28, but I had one catch for -2 yards.’ Are you going to be upset because of the negative two, or are you going to be happy because of the 28?”
His answer was honest and self-aware: “I’m going to be pissed off because of the negative two, because that’s a testament to my name.” That clarity pushed him to recommit from Georgia and head to the University of Florida—“and I haven’t looked back since, man,” he says confidently. But if NIL had existed back then? “You said, ‘Hey Grant, come over here and we’ll give you 500K.’ What? I’m darting—I’ve got to go sign this contract,” the Olympic gold medalist revealed.
Still, there’s no regret in his voice. “I’m glad everything works out for a reason. I’m glad I wasn’t here for NIL,” he says. “Money can’t buy everything. And I think that’s just a true testament to that.” Though Grant Holloway is a fire on the track, sometimes setbacks make athletes slow, but still, every athlete has their definition of their moment of joy.
With setbacks, Grant Holloway had many AHA moments, too
Every athlete has turning points—moments when things suddenly click. Grant Holloway had his fair share of setbacks, but had made some good moments as well. For this Olympic gold medalist, two stand out as true “aha” moments that reshaped his mindset and career. In the same podcast, Gatlin asked, “Was there an aha moment because it seemed like you started like you were absorbed with yourself, and then you became a leader?” Grant Holloway takes?
“The aha moment was 12.98, honestly,” Grant Holloway said, referencing one of his breakout race times. Holloway made this feat in 2019, when he ran the 110m hurdles at the NCAA Championship. Eight-time individual NCAA title holder put it, “Like I said, I didn’t believe in myself. It was just one of those things where it was like, “I had too much pride on the line to let Nike say that about me.” That race wasn’t just about the time; it was personal.
“I just wanted to kind of be like, ‘I told you so.’ A ‘prove-you-wrong’ type of moment.” But it didn’t stop there. The journey deepened in 2020, amid a challenging season for athletes worldwide. “I think the biggest aha moment was probably 2020,” he continues. “When I had to—well, I didn’t have to—but I chose to go overseas and run these track meets.” The decision that was made during uncertain times was fueled by fear of being cut, reduced, or forgotten.
“I’m on a plane traveling across the pond. I’m like, ‘I’m doing this… like I’m really in it.” These moments, born from both doubt and drive, didn’t just shape his results—they shaped his leadership. It all started with those humbling yet powerful realizations that only come when the stakes are high and pride is on the line. And now Grant Holloway is proving himself with each race.
The post ‘It’s Crazy’: Olympic Gold Medalist Says How NIL Would Have Kept Him Away from University of Florida appeared first on EssentiallySports.
