Reigning 100m world champion Christian Coleman ready to defend title at world championships
Christian Coleman has endured highs and lows during his track and field career.
Coleman’s biggest moment of triumph was winning gold in the men’s 100 meters at the 2019 Track and Field World Championships in a personal-best time of 9.76 seconds (tied for the sixth-fastest time in history). Coleman’s career reached a low point when the Olympic gold-medal favorite was forced to watch the Tokyo Olympics at home due to a two-year suspension for missing three drug tests in a 12-month span, all in 2019.
Coleman’s ban was later reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport after he appealed the decision.
The U.S. sprinter went through a wide range of emotions following the ruling, but eventually found peace.
“I feel like I came to terms with that a while before the Olympics even came. It is what it is,” Coleman told USA TODAY Sports. “I processed it, went through all my emotions, cried all the tears that I needed to cry a while before the Olympics even happened.”
Coleman was reinstated in Nov. 2021. He won his 100-meter season debut in May and is fresh off running a season-best 9.87 at the U.S. Championships in June.
The 26-year-old sprinter skipped the 100-meter final at the U.S. Championships by virtue of having a bye into the world championships as the reigning champion. This weekend in Eugene, Oregon, Coleman is motivated to regain his 100-meter throne at the 2022 Track and Field World Championships.
“I’m the defending world champion. This is the stage that I belong on,” Coleman told USA TODAY Sports. “I feel like I’ve proven that throughout my career. I’m super excited for the opportunity.”
TRACK & FIELD: 10 storylines to watch at the world championships
'EXCELLENCE IS UNMATCHED': Allyson Felix to bid farewell at world championships
STAY UP TO DATE: Subscribe now to our Sports newsletter now!
Coleman’s toughest competitor figures to be his American teammate, Fred Kerley. Kerley, the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist in the 100 meters, has run the two fastest times in the world this year, including a career-best 9.76 at the U.S. Championships last month.
“It’s the speed coming at the right time,” Kerley said, per World Athletics. “When everybody’s dying, I’m just passing.”
The first track and field world championships on American soil could feature something special for the U.S. men 100-meter sprinters. The Americans have a chance to sweep the medal stand with a speedy contingent of Coleman, Kerley, Trayvon Bromell and Marvin Bracy. Bromell is ranked No. 2 in the world this year and Bracy is tied for third.
“Anyone betting against us getting first, second and third, they’re probably crazy,” Bromell said, per World Athletics.
Coleman, Kerley, Bromell and Bracy all have a chance to capture the world’s fastest man title in what is a highly competitive 100-meter field that also features Tokyo Olympic 100-meter gold medalist Marcell Jacobs of Italy.
The 100-meter competition begins on Friday and the final is scheduled for Saturday evening.
Kerley is the favorite heading into the marquee event, but Coleman is determined to retain his world championship title in the 100.
“It’s hard to even put into words what that will mean (to win another world title),” Coleman told USA TODAY Sports. "With how I’ve been feeling, I feel like I have a good shot.”
Follow USA TODAY Sports Tyler Dragon on Twitter @TheTylerDragon.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Track world championships: Christian Coleman seeks repeat 100M gold
