The game is still on! Clash, controversy, defeat, and triumph—after Paris, the spotlight was set to shift to the Zurich Diamond League, anticipated to be a fireworks competition. But before Zurich even gets off the ground on September 4th, the heat is already on. It all started when Armand Duplantis recently stirred the pot on X, by announcing that he would be squaring off against Karsten Warholm, the silver medalist in the 400m hurdles, in a 100m sprint.

To which Fred Kerley, not one to shy away from a challenge, jumped into the fray, daring anyone to take him on in a head-to-head race. So, Vernon L. Norwood, a 400m specialist, couldn’t resist calling out Kerley’s reluctance to tackle the 400m distance. In response, Kerley brushed off the criticism, making it clear that he’s not losing any sleep over it. But now it seems the NFL player is also challenging Fred Kerley but, in a way, got trolled.

Chad Johnson, formerly known as Chad Ochocinco, a former NFL wide receiver, recently took to X to share a post. He retweeted a video by Fred Kerley showing Rai Benjamin, the American hurdler and sprinter, training for the 400m most probably. Chad captioned it sarcastically with “Quarter horse” and added a salute. Kerley responded with “You know what it is,” to which Chad replied, “So you’re saying he can beat me in the 400m?” Kerley asked, “Who?” and Chad clarified, “Rai, you, any of y’all.” Now the time had come for a roast.

That the McDonald’s talking in you sit down https://t.co/uJ1PSud8H0

— Fred Kerley (@fkerley99) August 14, 2024

Fred Kerley put Chad Johnson in his place with a biting remark, saying, “That’s the McDonald’s talking—sit down.” Rai Benjamin joined in with his own jab, commenting, “Looks like that McGriddle hit you hard this morning.” Well, Rai Benjamin’s best times are 10.03 seconds in the 100m and 44.21 seconds in the 400m. In comparison, Fred Kerley’s top performances are 9.76 seconds in the 100m and 43.64 seconds in the 400m. However, Kerley’s success hasn’t always been confined to shorter distances.

How did Fred Kerley go from dominating the 400m to conquering short distances?

Well, Fred Kerley initially made his name as a standout 400m runner, capturing multiple NCAA titles and setting collegiate records in the event. His professional breakthrough came in 2017 when he clinched the U.S. national title and earned a silver medal at the World Championships in London. However, a pivotal shift occurred in 2021 when Kerley decided to focus on shorter sprints. This bold transition proved successful, as he went on to win a silver medal in the 100m at the Tokyo Olympics and claim the world title in 2022.

So, what prompted Fred Kerley to shift his focus from the 400m to the 100m and 200m? Kerley explained his decision back in 2021, “Well, I talked to my coaches and staff about my plan. Right now, I’m just focusing on getting my speed up so I can make history.” His ambition was evident—he aimed to excel in short distances while keeping the 400m in his future plans. This strategic move has proven to be a champion’s decision, allowing him to make a significant mark on the track.