Fred Kerley, a two-time Olympic medalist with silver from Tokyo 2020 and bronze from Paris 2024, shocked the sports world when bodycam footage surfaced on January 2, 2025, showing him being tasered and wrestled to the ground by Miami Beach police. The incident, sparked by Kerley approaching an active scene to check on his parked car, escalated into a physical confrontation, with officers delivering punches and deploying a stun gun—moves that fueled outrage against the police action. Months after the incident of such a public beatdown, could that incident have somehow affected the Olympic medalist’s performance?
After a period shrouded in drama, Fred Kerley finally laced up his spikes and returned to the arena, a clear signal that the former champion is hungry to reclaim his throne amongst the sprinting elite. The anticipation was palpable, the faithful eager to see if Kerley could immediately flash the brilliance that has defined his career. But what unfolded on the track left many scratching their heads.
In this year’s Trojan Invite at the University of Southern California, as Fredey was heading into Fred Kerley’s 2025 season debut. A scorching 9.99 to kick off 2022, followed by an even more impressive 9.91 in 2023, and even 2024’s 10.03 suggested a runner primed once again to launch his year in the sub-10-second realm. The anticipation was palpable: would Kerley break the barrier, or at the very least, get right on the cusp? The answer, however, was a resounding no. While his start appeared solid, the explosive mid-race acceleration we’ve associated with Kerley wasn’t there. In a race against a mix of competitors, including collegiate athletes, Kerley struggled to find his usual gear, clocking a disappointing 10.23 seconds. For a sprinter of his caliber, that mark is an anomaly – his slowest season opener in the 100m, by a significant margin.
He might not have had the best run at the Trojan Invitational, but his fans are not willing to believe that Kerley is past his prime. They took no time to stick up for him and flocked to the comments to support the sprinter in no time.
Fans lift Fred Kerley following his season-debut run
Fred Kerley’s fans are not letting anyone downplay the possible repercussions of the Miami incident on the athlete’s performance and well-being, “Didn’t he get arrested and tasered just 2 months ago? I imagine I wouldn’t be running really well either.” The fan wondered if that trauma could still be echoing in his strides. Still, Kerley’s camp isn’t sweating it, and neither are his diehards, even after a slower 2025 season opener raised eyebrows
Fans see past the noise: “I’m not worried for Fred. If he stays healthy he will be there at the top when it counts,” one said, while another added, “So we just going to ignore what the police did to him how they kicked him beat him and tased him. He’s probably coming off of an injury.” commented yet another fan, speculating on the possible aftermath of the Miami incident. But however rough a shape the Texas native may now appear in, his admirers know he will be back!
“He looks like he’s dropped decent weight. He’ll be back,” a fan noted, eyeing a leaner frame as a sign of grit, while another chimed in, “He might seem out of it, especially with his decision-making, but he seems to manage getting on podiums when people doubt him.” The clincher? “If he’s healthy in September, he will be ready and a threat.” The user is referring to the much-awaited World Athletics Championships, scheduled in Tokyo, Japan, in September.
But the best response to Kerley’s seemingly unferwhelming run? “No worries, this man knows how to peak at the right time :).” We are hoping against hope for that to be the case! Who can forget Kerley’s World Championships Gold medal in 2022? When he clocked an incredible 9.86s in the 100m event!
The post Fred Kerley’s Surprising Return Questioned as Fans Defend Track and Field Star Months After Police Brutality Incident appeared first on EssentiallySports.