Paris 2024 Olympics: Grant Holloway’s ‘career Grand Slam is officially complete’

The three-time World champion, Holloway, won his maiden Olympics title with 12.99 in 110m hurdles.

“I just wanted to make sure I just came out here, regardless of the situation, just to get to the finish line before anybody else. That’s what I did,” Grant Holloway said. | Photo Credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR / The Hindu

Having placed him in the club of some great hurdlers after winning the Olympic title with 12.99, new 110m hurdles champion Grant Holloway is a relieved man.

The three-time World champion valued his maiden Olympic title after his feat at the Stade de France here on Thursday night. “The career Grand Slam is officially complete. To have indoors, the Diamond League, outdoor world titles, and now the Olympic gold is great,” said 26-year-old Holloway.

“I’m just happy and ecstatic. The relief is finally (it’s) off the shoulders. Now these next couple of races, we can definitely just go sub-13 hunting. That’s what Aries Merritt did in 2012. At the end, he was able to find a rhythm and figure that out. That’s the main thing for me, is just to continue, just to keep up this rhythm that I have.”

“I think I’m at 11 sub-13s now. I think I’m tied with (former World and Olympic champion) Allen (Johnson). I’m solidifying myself as one of the ones,” asserted Holloway.

However, Holloway, who settled for a silver medal behind Jamaican Hansel Parchment in the Tokyo Games, did not agree that his win in Paris was a moment of redemption. “Tokyo was three years ago. Obviously, Hansel made a great race. This was my time. It wasn’t redemption. It wasn’t anything. I just wanted to make sure I just came out here, regardless of the situation, just to get to the finish line before anybody else. That’s what I did.”

It was a moment of joy for Holloway as he and his compatriot Daniel Roberts finished one-two to put the USA on top of the podium. “We’ve been talking about this since 2019. Obviously, Daniel’s a little bit late to the party, but for everything going on, to get medals in back-to-back years is always a great feeling for him. Even myself, just to stay dominant.”

“Ever since 2021, it’s just been my one off year, every single year after that, I’ve been on top of the podium, and that’s where I want to stay. As one of the greats in the sport, you got to be able to show up, even on your off days, and still be able to compete.”

Holloway said he felt a cramp but won when it mattered the most. “Towards the ninth and the tenth hurdles, I caught a cramp. It doesn’t matter. I made it to the finish line. I’m afraid to probably yell, so I’m happy about that,” said Holloway.