American Grant Holloway has only himself to blame for missing gold in the 110-meter hurdles

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TOKYO Earlier this week, a reporter asked US hurdler Grant Holloway to identify his rivals at the Tokyo Olympics, those who could possibly fall between the reigning world champion and a gold medal.

“Me, myself and me,” he said. “Respectfully.”

And even after Holloway’s stunning silver in the 110-meter hurdles on Thursday, that mantra held true.

The 23-year-old arrived in Tokyo as a big favorite, but finished five hundredths of a second behind Jamaican Hansle Parchment, who won gold in 13.04. Holloway has repeatedly praised Parchment, saying he had run “one hell of a race.” But the American also admitted that as the last obstacles approached, he was letting the nerves take over.

“I got a little excited towards the end of the race,” Holloway said, “and my form kind of fell apart.”

Another Jamaican, Ronald Levy, won bronze. And another American, Devon Allen, finished fourth on the podium.

Grant Holloway reached the finish line in the 110-meter hurdles on Thursday.

Holloway had appeared to be nearly unbeatable in the event this year. He had recorded three of the four fastest times in the world at the start of Thursday, including a touch with the world record at the American Olympic trials in late June. And he hadn’t lost a race in 2021.

In a seven-minute conversation with reporters, Holloway used a variation of the phrase “that sucks” more than a dozen times. He was visibly disappointed with the result but not in a state of desperation, understanding how slim the margins can be in a race of this caliber.

“It comes with the territory of the hurdles. I just need to improve,” Holloway said. “It’s nobody’s fault. I was prepared, I was ready, I had everything in my corner to win. I just let my form slip away, and that’s the result.

“If I had to say I’m not upset then I’m lying. But I have to be happy with the money. I have to go home, work to get the gold again.”

The story continues

Holloway lamented the fact that Parchment, 31, had been in both his prelims and semi-finals, and the American had come out on top every time. Holloway won the prelims by two tenths of a second and the semi-final by one tenth.

But then, when it counted, Parchment walked away.

“I was watching Grant from the first round, and at home also during the season,” Parchment told reporters. “I had to make a few changes to my style. I knew I had to be closer to him from the start if I wanted to do better than him.”

Holloway has long dreamed of winning an Olympic medal, dating back to his high school days in Chesapeake, Virginia. A four-star football rookie, he has passed up scholarship offers from several top football programs, including one from Georgia to attend Florida and track running, in hopes of reaching the Olympics.

In Gainesville, Holloway was an eight-time NCAA champion and broke the college record in the 110 hurdles. He then turned pro in 2019 and won the world championships in Doha, Qatar later in the year.

This year has brought more success, including a performance at the Olympic trials in which he finished within a hundredth of a second off Aries Merritt’s world record of 12.80.

“I’m kinda at the point now where it’s like, what more do I have to prove?” Holloway said. “I ran fast this season indoors. I ran fast this season outdoors. I have a medal under my belt.… I am now at the point where I have checked everything in my box for 2021 . “

The United States won three gold medals in four Games in the men’s 110 hurdles, from 1984 to 1996. Since then, they have won only one gold: that of Merritt’s in 2012. Holloway continues to plan to win. ‘to be the next man on this list. “I’m going to work my ass until I get there,” he said.

He had planned to watch a movie of the race and talk to his trainer, Mike Holloway, about what he could get out of it. He will compete at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon and already had his eye on the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Holloway had no intention of finishing second, obviously, but he seemed at peace with it. He had written “the will of God” on his running cleats Thursday morning, and said “this is what he has for me today”. He wasn’t lacking in self-confidence, and he probably never will be.

“Every time I get on the track I know I’m up for something special,” he said, “just because I’m Grant Holloway.”

Contact Tom Schad at [email protected] or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Grant Holloway Wins Silver in 110-Meter Hurdles at 2021 Summer Olympics

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