American Sprint Legend on Why Christian Coleman Is Set to Face the Biggest Challenge of His Career

Former Olympic champion and sprint legend Justin Gatlin has weighed in on Christian Coleman’s 2025 season.

The former 100m world record holder has warned that the world indoor 60m record holder is facing perhaps the most difficult chapter of his career yet.

As Coleman attempts to earn a place on Team USA for the upcoming World Championships, Gatlin offered a candid assessment of the hurdles that lie ahead.

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“Keep it real about Coleman this year. Is Christian Coleman not making the team? Is he making it out of USA’s? It’s going to be hard. This is going to be his toughest challenge yet," said Gatlin on a recent episode of the Ready Set Go podcast.

Gatlin pointed to a period of transition for Coleman, both in terms of technique and mindset, as one reason the 2019 world champion is struggling to hit peak form.

Having not won a single individual race so far in 2025, Coleman’s journey has been filled with fourth- and fifth-place finishes, raising serious concerns ahead of the U.S. National Trials and major global competitions.

According to Gatlin, the challenge is not only internal but external as well.

The American sprint scene is undergoing a dramatic transformation, with a surge of young, fearless talent emerging from the NCAA system and even from the high school ranks.

“This year for him is a year where he’s transitioning and trying to learn how to run—maybe with different techniques or race strategies,” Gatlin explained.

“And he’s doing it during a year where it’s a changing of the guard," he added.

Rising stars like Maurice Gleaton, who recently stunned fans by beating Coleman twice in one day at the Star Athletics Sprint Series, represent just a fraction of the emerging competition.

These new athletes are not intimidated by the big names, and they’re hungry to make their mark.

For Coleman, the next few week could define the future of his sprinting legacy.

Once considered Usain Bolt’s heir in the 100m, he’s now fighting to prove he can still compete with the best.

Despite the setbacks, Gatlin remains hopeful that Coleman can regroup and rediscover the form that made him world champion.

Still, the path forward is anything but guaranteed. “Yes, it’s going to be a very, very tall order for him to go out there and do so,” Gatlin concluded.

As the Trials loom, all eyes will be on Coleman, not just to see if he makes the team, but to see if the former king of the start can rise again in a sport that never stops moving.