Christian Coleman Admits Deep Frustration After Consistent Poor Performances: “Fighting My Body”

They say you need dedication and ambition to reach the goal you have in mind. It’s true. And it’s the primary driving force that has kept Christian Coleman moving forward. However, despite his bold attempts in the USATF Outdoor Championships, things didn’t seem to go as planned. As a former Diamond League champion, Coleman had hoped to at least stand on the podium for the 100m event; however, all he could secure was fifth place. Day 2 of USATF felt like a day to forget.

Right before the USATF Outdoor Championships, Christian Coleman cracked open a thrilling new chapter. Known for his 100m dominance, he shocked the track world by entering the 100m and 200m. The double reveals more than ambition.  But the reality is, the 29-year-old Atlanta native no longer walks alone atop the 100-meter throne. The 2025 charts now echo with the names of Trayvon Bromell, Kenny Bednarek, and Brandon Hicklin. While Coleman remains a threat, the crown feels less secure.

Thus, speaking with Citius Mag after the 100/200 event on Sunday, Coleman couldn’t help but share his frustration. “I’ll be right in there. But you just got to be better. When you’re an American. So I’m up for the challenge,” Christian Coleman expressed. “Just like I said, where I’m at in my journey, I just continue to put the pieces of the puzzle together. I know I can just continue to be more and be better.”

But that’s not all. He completed one full revolution around the Sun under coach Dennis Mitchell. Further speaking about his fitness, he said, “I feel really good. I think that was the frustrating part earlier on in the year because I feel as if I was in the best shape I’ve ever been in—fitness-wise, body-wise, just my mind, just everything coming into the real fruition of the type of sprinter that I want to be.” Coleman added, “I felt really good. So it was frustrating. It’s like I’m fighting my body because I know I feel good. I know everything should be there, but I’m not necessarily getting the numbers that I want.”

He added, “I think that’s the mental side of it where it’s like, okay, you’re going to rededicate yourself, lock in, double down on what you’re doing, stay the course, and try to make it to the other side of that valley. Like I said, I feel like I’m doing that. I feel like I’m in the middle of that. It just wasn’t enough this weekend. But I know I have so much more to continue to keep clicking and pegging at it, and I’ll be right there.”

Christian Coleman’s 2025 campaign began with flashes of promise and clouds of confusion. Opening with two 4x100m relay runs, he placed second at the Pepsi Florida Relays and struck gold at the Tom Jones Memorial. But the real test came in his individual 100m debut, where the favorite was left stunned by a third-place finish that no one saw coming.

What followed deepened the mystery. In China, he placed fourth in Xiamen and dropped to fifth in Shanghai, prompting concern across the track world. Even legends began to raise eyebrows. Coleman, though in peak shape under new coach Dennis Mitchell, admitted frustration. The form is there. The fitness is real. But something is misfiring.

To be honest, the almost 30-year-old athlete is looking for the ground he’s lost to the young talents marching around. The once-upon-a-time champ on track is finding his relevance in the sea of speed and loud energy. But, for how long?

Christian Coleman’s fight to find his rhythm

Christian Coleman once made sprinting look effortless. In 2019, he started and conquered Doha with a world title in the 100 meters. That flash of brilliance still lingers, but 2025 has forced a different kind of race—one to defend his place. At 29, with fresh competition rising, he’s battling for relevance in a landscape that no longer waits for anyone to catch up.

This season began with promise but veered toward uncertainty. He opened with a 10.06 at the Tom Jones Memorial, followed by 10.12 in Philadelphia, 10.11 in Tokyo, 10.13 in Shaoxing, and another 10.06 at the Prefontaine Classic, where he placed seventh behind Kishane Thompson. In the 200 meters at the Grand Slam, he finished sixth in 20.66. That marked five straight individual losses. The trademark start remains, but the finish is slipping.

His shift from longtime coach Tim Hall to Dennis Mitchell’s Star Athletics was meant to reset the clock. While the group offers elite training, the transition has been rough. Coleman still clocked a wind-aided 9.93 in June, proving there is juice left in the tank. But Trayvon Bromell’s 9.84 and Kenny Bednarek’s 9.86 lead a crowded field. With Noah Lyles holding a bye, one extra ticket is up for grabs. Coleman must now deliver when it matters most.

Well, Christian Coleman is no ghost of greatness—he’s a flame flickering, not fading. The fire is still there, even if the wind has shifted. With youth charging fast and old rhythms out of tune, the clock keeps ticking. But Coleman knows the race is far from over. The next stride could still rewrite everything.