The Sprint to Glory: Fred Kerley’s Bronze in Paris

Fredrick Lee Kerley is an American track and field sprinter. He was the Olympic silver medalist in the 100m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the bronze medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the same event. Kerley has earned an additional six medals at the World Championships, most notably 100m gold in 2022. He has also medaled in the 400m, 4x100m relay, and 4x400m relay, and won eleven Diamond League races, including two Diamond League finals—the 400m in 2018 and the 100m in 2021. His personal best time of 43.64 seconds makes him the eighth fastest man in history over 400m. During the pandemic, Kerley chose to focus on the 100m during the Olympic cycle to improve his basic speed for future attempts at a sub-43 400m. This decision paid off as he won the silver medal in the 100m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with a 9.84 performance. His personal best time of 9.76 seconds makes him the sixth fastest man in history over the 100m, behind Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell, and Justin Gatlin, and joint with Christian Coleman and Trayvon Bromell. Kerley is one of only three men, along with Michael Norman and Wayde van Niekerk, to go sub-10 seconds in the 100m, sub-20 seconds in the 200m, and sub-44 seconds in the 400m. 

The color palette, dominated by shades of purple and red, symbolizes the intensity and passion of the competition. The textured background adds a sense of movement and dynamism, mirroring the explosive nature of the 100m sprint. Each element in this artwork was chosen to highlight not just the race, but the story behind it—Kerley’s relentless pursuit of excellence, overcoming injuries, and constantly pushing the limits of what is possible. 

In creating this piece, I wanted to capture the essence of Fred Kerley’s Olympic journey—a journey that embodies the spirit of an athlete who never gives up, who fights for every inch, and who ultimately finds glory on the world’s biggest stage. This artwork celebrates not just a medal, but a story of perseverance, strength, and the indomitable will to succeed. My intention was to capture not just the moment of victory but the entire journey that led to it. Fred Kerley's story is one of resilience, hard work, and an unyielding commitment to excellence. This artwork celebrates not only his bronze medal but also his extraordinary path to becoming one of the world's premier sprinters. Through this visual representation, I hope to convey the emotions, the challenges, and the triumph that define Fred Kerley's Olympic journey.