think he has a lot more confidence' - Why Justin Gatlin is excited by

Why Justin Gatlin is excited by Courtney Lindsey ahead of the 2025 World Athletics championships following 2024 exploits.

American sprinting legend Justin Gatlin has voiced his excitement about young sprinter Courtney Lindsey’s potential as the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo draw near.

Speaking on his Ready Set Go podcast, Gatlin, who has closely followed Lindsey’s progress, believes the sprinter has what it takes to make a significant impact on the world stage.

Lindsey, who represented the United States in the 4×100-meter relay heats at the 2024 Paris Olympics, did not make it to the final relay race.

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His individual events also fell short of expectations, as he finished sixth in the 100-meter qualifiers and missed out on a spot in the 200-meter event. Despite these setbacks, Lindsey is already gearing up for a powerful comeback in 2025.

Gatlin is particularly eager to see Lindsey’s development under the coaching team at Star Athletics, believing that the young sprinter will be better adjusted and prepared to excel in the coming season.

“I think the newcomer that is going to be a little more consistent this season that fell out towards the end of last season is Courtney Lindsey,” Gatlin remarked

“He started the season nice. He started off with a 9.71 and then had a pretty good 100. His relay races were very nice, very clean, had a good start and seemed like the kind of person that was primed to make the Olympic team.”

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The 41-year-old sprinting icon was candid about his disappointment when Lindsey missed the Olympic team but remains optimistic for 2025:

“Not making the Olympic team was a shock for me. I think next year, he is going to be more acclimatised to the system there at Star Athletics, and we are going to see a different runner. I think he has a lot more confidence. He sees what the game is, how track and field is set up on a European and international platform, so I think he is going to be more comfortable that way.”

Lindsey launched his career at collegiate level, where he recorded personal bests of 9.89 seconds in the 100 meters and 19.86 seconds in the 200 meters at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships representing Texas Tech University. Although his relay team was disqualified, Lindsey’s individual performances showcased his formidable speed and resilience.

Lindsey continued to impress at the 2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, where he advanced to the semi-finals of the 100 meters and placed third in the 200 meters, clocking 19.85 seconds and beating elite sprinters such as Fred Kerley and Christian Coleman.

His first international experience came at the Monaco Diamond League, where he finished seventh in the 100 meters. Lindsey then narrowly missed qualifying for the 200-meter final at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, falling short by just 0.01 seconds.

In 2024, Lindsey represented the U.S. in the World Athletics Relays in Nassau, Bahamas, demonstrating further growth and potential.

With the countdown to Tokyo 2025 underway, Courtney Lindsey stands poised for a breakthrough. As he strives for redemption and a place among the world’s elite, Gatlin’s faith in his potential only adds to the growing anticipation surrounding this promising sprinter.