A streak of bad luck! That’s one way to sum up Christian Coleman’s 2025 so far. Five races. Five losses. Yep, you read that right, and we’re not even halfway through the year! What’s going on with the guy who once had the track world buzzing? This is the same Christian Coleman who beat Usain Bolt in 2017, the same one who became World Champion in 2019. Even Bolt gave him props back then, saying, “I lost the race to a great competitor… He has great talent and a great future ahead of me.” And for a while, he lived up to that mark. But now? The wins are missing, and fans are wondering if the spark is fading. Yet while the world turns away and critics count him out, someone close to his heart still believes in him!
If you’ve been paying attention since 2023, then you already know Christian Coleman and Sha’Carri Richardson have been quietly building something special. They kept it on the low for almost two years, but here we are in 2025, and it’s official—their bond is out and open. And just recently, all eyes were on Philly for the Grand Slam track meet. The weather? It looked good at first glance, sunny, clear skies, but the wind was doing just enough to mess with the vibe. Not horrible, but definitely not ideal.
There was a subtle crosswind, just enough to throw off rhythm and timing if you weren’t locked in. Christian Coleman stepped onto the track ready to compete, but his performance didn’t match the hype. His training partner, Kenny Bednarek, cruised to a clean 19.95 in the 200m. Coleman, though? He faded to 6th with a 20.66, behind Zharnel Hughes (20.50), Aaron Brown (20.50), Andre De Grasse (20.58), and Bryan Levell (20.63). That fire-start we know him for? Missing in action.
Shacarri comforting Christian Coleman after the 200m #grandslamtrack pic.twitter.com/DQ39oMWaKE
— Dalilah McLaughlin (@TalkingTrack) May 31, 2025
Now here’s where it shifts. After the race, you could see it—he was not happy with himself, his body language heavy. But instead of retreating into the locker room, Coleman made his way to the stands. And there she was: Sha’Carri Richardson. Not racing this time—she recently signed with Athlos and is taking a competitive breather—but fully present in her signature laid-back style: black tee, dark cap. She wasn’t just there—she was there. As Coleman walked over, she leaned down from the stands, reached out her hand, and held his. Simple. Steady. You didn’t need audio to know what that moment meant. That was the support he needed right then, and he got it.
That moment? That was everything. Because while track and field can be brutally honest, the clock doesn’t lie, and the rankings don’t care, having someone who sees you beyond the stopwatch? That hits on a whole other level. Coleman might’ve lost that race, but in that quiet exchange with Sha’Carri, he found something else, maybe even more powerful than a win. Yet, it feels like the track and field community is being harsh on Coleman after this loss.
People have been saying things like, “Christian Coleman you good dawg?” and others chiming in with, “oh christian coleman is truly over #grandslamtrack” on X. Some fans even added, “Christian Coleman should regularly run in Grand Slam Track next year. He’d benefit from the 200m reps,” while others insisted, “Christian Coleman better win tonight.” Meanwhile, there’s also chatter about Sha’Carri, with someone saying, “Cute but when is Shacrri going to do something on the track. I swear she is just sitting there watching other athletes compete when she could be competing herself. I dont know what training regime she is following but Melissa aint playing this year.” It’s clear the conversation is buzzing with expectations and some doubts for these athletes.
This story is developing…
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