Grant Holloway has emerged successful in redeeming himself in the Paris Olympics with the gold medal around his neck after securing a second spot back in Tokyo. However, this win makes the hurdler’s journey from the gridiron to the tracks even more historic. Once a standout wide receiver in high school, Holloway seemed destined for the NFL back in 2016. Yes, you read that right. Holloway has always been a powerhouse, and thus as a highly sought-after recruit, he had the option to pursue football at the University of Georgia.

But, instead of running behind the roar of the stadium he chose to run behind the hurdles. And he settled for a comparatively solitary path of track and field at the University of Florida. After winning the gold in the 110m hurdles in Paris, Grant Holloway sat for an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports correspondent in Paris, Shreya Verma. During a candid conversation, Holloway reflected on his decision to choose hurdles over football, honestly admitting the reason behind the same.

Tracing back to a few years back, Shreya asked, “So going back a bit in your career, you know, when you were pretty out in college, you actually had an NFL offer”. Holloway immediately replied, “Ooh, no, no, no, no, not NFL offer. I wish, I wish”, expressing how much he adores the sport. However, his words also unveiled that his journey was shaped by an introspective understanding of himself as an athlete.

Holloway candidly admits that his preference for individual achievement made him unsuited for a team sport like football. Shreya asked Holloway, “So you had an option to choose a career towards the NFL or hurdles. So why hurdles?” Without taking a pause, Holloway stated the truth unapologetically. “Well, I’m not the best team player. I’m very, I’m very selfish. I need to have mine”, shared the 26-year-old. This also makes him set a lofty goal, had he taken up football.

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Grant shared that even if he had secured a team win, he would be dissatisfied if he didn’t personally excel in his field. Holloway added, “So in NFL, I would have played wide receiver. I wanted to go to University of Georgia, ended up decommitting, going to University of Florida to run track. But I am a very selfish player. So we could win the football game, but if I didn’t have 10 catches for 110 yards, no pun intended, I would be very upset.”

But who knew that this unconventional step taken by Holloway way back in 2017 would gift the nation a treasure of the tracks? Holloway established his decision by becoming a dominant force in 110m hurdles. He has not lost a single race since September last year. Fast forward to the 2024 Paris Olympics, and Holloway’s choice seems more than vindicated.

The star hurdler captured his first Olympic gold in the 110-meter hurdles, clocking in at an impressive 12.99 seconds while his own teammate, Daniel Roberts secured his silver medal. The bronze medal was grabbed by the Jamaican hurdler, Rasheed Broadbell. Holloway’s gold is the first for the U.S. in this event since 2012, when world record holder Aries Merritt’s gold in the London Olympics. Interestingly, it is not only the glory; it seems that Holloway equally enjoys the pressure of taking the onus of the outcome on himself.

Grant Holloway wants to be the “CEO” of his own game

In choosing a track, Grant Holloway embraced the challenge of holding himself solely accountable for his performance. He knew that in the NFL, as a wide receiver, his success would be contingent on the team’s dynamics. And that might have been something that didn’t align with his drive for personal excellence. He further shared his thoughts with us, which highlighted the sense of responsibility that Holloway possesses and that he never wanted to be responsible for the failure of his team.

Grant told EssentiallySports, “You know, we could beat the team, we could blow the team out, but I always want to make sure, you know, I get mine. Because that’s, that’s just how someone’s future is, you know, set up. So for me, it’s like, if I do hurdles, there’s no pointing fingers, you know, I can only look at myself.” However, Holloway also acknowledged that now he requires his own team to function better.

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But there’s one thing that provides him with a sense of solace: the fact that he remains the driving force in that. “Obviously growing up, getting ready for everything, I figured out that I need a team to help me out. So I’m able to point fingers at the team, but at the end of the day, I’m the CEO. And, you know, everything kind of reverts back to me,” added Holloway.

Every bit that Grant Holloway shared with us regarding his choosing track over football during the conversation reflects how knowing oneself is of utmost importance to shine in life. Choosing a path that aligns with one’s own choices and worth is what defines an athlete whose individual brilliance often becomes the ultimate measure of success. And, with the stairs of success that Holloway has climbed, it is pretty evident that he answered his true calling back in 2016 and that he made the right choice.