Three-time world champion Grant Holloway eliminated in semi-final
For the first time since 2019, a new 110m hurdle world champion will be crowned at the World Athletics Championships
Kevin Morris
So far, Tokyo 2025 has been marked by one upset after another. On Tuesday evening, the surprising outcomes continued to unfold when reigning world and Olympic champion Grant Holloway, the second-fastest 110m-hurdler in history, did not advance to the final.
Holloway was out to a quick start, but fell back to sixth in his semi-final, clocking 13.52 seconds. Only the top two from each of the three semi-final heats advanced to Tuesday night’s final.
After winning the world title in 2019, 2022 and 2023, the American’s impressive streak will come to an end.
Holloway boasts a blistering personal best of 12.81 seconds, just one-hundredth of a second off Aries Merritt‘s world record of 12.80, which has stood since 2012. He won the 2023 world title in 12.96 and a year later, Olympic gold in 12.99. He also holds the world record for the indoor 60m hurdles (7.27).
The American has not been in top form heading into this year’s world championships; his 13.11 season’s best ranks him 13th in the world for 2025.
The final will run on Tuesday evening from Tokyo at 10:20 p.m. (9:20 a.m. ET).
See here for full results from the 2025 World Athletics Championships.
Canadian Running’s coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships is brought to you by ASICS Canada.
