U.S. sprinter Fred Kerley, who won a bronze medal in the 100m final at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, recently opened up about his nerve-wracking experience leading up to the race.
Kerley finished third with a time of 9.81 seconds, behind his compatriot Noah Lyles (9.79 seconds) and Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson (9.79 seconds).
In a conversation with former U.S. sprinter Justin Gatlin on the “Ready Set Go” podcast, Kerley admitted that he felt petrified before the race, especially during a lengthy delay before the starting gun.
The athletes were made to wait in their lanes for about five to ten minutes, causing anxiety and restlessness among the competitors.
“I feel like we waited too long, so my heart was just beating, beating, beating fast,” Kerley recalled. He speculated that had the race started sooner, it could have resulted in even faster times for all competitors.
Despite the tension, the final was one of the most thrilling races in Olympic track history. Both Lyles and Thompson crossed the finish line nearly simultaneously, with Lyles ultimately claiming gold after a photo finish.
Kerley expressed that the long wait impacted the race’s outcome, suggesting that a quicker start could have led to times the world wasn’t ready to witness.
Kerley’s performance secured him a place on the podium alongside Lyles, marking a significant moment in his Olympic career.
