Christian Coleman’s 2025 campaign is starting to feel less like a redemption arc and more like a warning sign. Once heralded as the next great American sprinter, Coleman has hit another frustrating roadblock. This time at the Shanghai Diamond League. After a disappointing fourth-place finish in Xiamen, fans looked to Shanghai as a chance for him to reset. Instead, it was deja vu. Not only did Coleman fall short of the podium again, but he was also outclassed by Akani Simbine.
Adding to the sting, Kishane Thompson, returning from a long injury layoff, stormed past Coleman, reigniting the conversation around who’s leading the newsprint generation. What’s troubling isn’t just Coleman’s times. It’s the pattern behind them. For a man known for his explosive starts and elite speed, the second half of his races is now raising eyebrows. That’s exactly what Coach Rob zeroed in on during his Coach Rob Track and Field podcast.
David E. Robinson took to YouTube, highlighting what many in the track and field world have been quietly whispering: Christian Coleman is officially in trouble. “So far, has Christian Coleman had a victory in 2025? He doesn’t. He doesn’t. Does not,” Robinson stated bluntly, his tone echoing the growing frustration around the former world champion’s trajectory. The facts back it up!
Coleman is still winless this season, and not only is he falling behind the leaders, but his signature explosive start, once hailed as the most dangerous weapon in sprinting, has vanished. “The clocks are not fast and the start isn’t there,” Robinson added, capturing a shift that has unsettled both fans and analysts alike. Once the undisputed king of the 60 meters and hailed as perhaps the greatest starter in modern history, Coleman is now being outrun in the phases of the race that once gave him an edge.
“It wasn’t that Christian Coleman that we know, who’s arguably the greatest starter, at least of the current guys, maybe in history; you can argue that,” Robinson noted. And indeed, you could argue that… until recently. In 2023, Coleman offered a glimmer of hope when he clocked a world-leading 9.83 at the Prefontaine Classic. But consistency has escaped him ever since. That pattern continued into 2025. At the Tom Jones Memorial, with no elite contenders in the field, expectations were sky-high for a breakout.
Instead, Coleman placed fourth with a sluggish 10.06. Another missed opportunity in a season full of them. “That was then, and this is right this moment,” Robinson emphasized, summing up the stark contrast between past potential and present struggles. While Robinson remains cautiously hopeful, the margin for error is rapidly shrinking. Each slow race pulls him further from the conversation of the global elite.
From Usain Bolt slayer to chasing the pack, Coleman’s slide continues
Christian Coleman’s recent run of form paints a stark contrast to the explosive start that once defined his career. From leaving Usain Bolt behind in his farewell race to now struggling to find his footing, the American sprinter’s trajectory has taken a troubling turn. After missing the Tokyo Olympics due to a suspension, Coleman bounced back to claim gold in the 60m at the 2024 World Indoor Championships. Outdoors, he showed glimmers of potential, but they’ve been overshadowed by inconsistencies.
The biggest blow came at the U.S. Olympic Trials, where he failed to qualify for Paris 2024, finishing fourth in both the 100m and 200m. Determined not to let that define him, he entered the 2025 season hungry to reclaim dominance. But for him, things haven’t gone according to plan. Fans expected Coleman to challenge for the win at the Shanghai Diamond League, but Akani Simbine stole the spotlight, clocking 9.98 seconds and proving why he remains one of the world’s most consistent sprinters.
Just behind him, Kishane Thompson confirmed his resurgence with a strong 9.99 after injury setbacks, while Letsile Tebogo cruised to a season-best 10.03 to take third. In contrast, Coleman slipped to fifth with a modest 10.13, marking another frustrating outing in a season full of them. The result only fueled questions about whether the once-unstoppable starter can still hang with the new wave of elite sprinters. Simbine, speaking after his victory, summed it up with clarity.
“And for me, it’s to come here to win, come here to run well, and just start the season off well and on a high note.” Coleman’s response came on the track days later in Suzhou, but the outcome didn’t change. Another fifth-place finish, another 10.13 on the clock, and more doubt clouding his comeback. Coleman, once known for his domination and record-breaking starts, now struggles to resemble the sprinter he used to be. Coleman’s season remains stuck in neutral. His road back to relevance just got steeper.
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