The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 27, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
HomeSportsAthleticsFred Kerley
Sports • Athletics

Fred Kerley

Fred Kerley is an American track and field sprinter born on May 7, 1995.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Fred Kerley is an American track and field sprinter born on May 7, 1995. He has competed in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 400 metres, and has won Olympic and World Athletics medals in sprinting events. Kerley is known for elite performances across multiple sprint distances, a combination achieved by only a very small number of men.

Early life and background

Fredrick Lee Kerley was born on May 7, 1995, and is an American sprinter from the United States. He became known for competing successfully across multiple sprint distances rather than focusing on a single event.

International career

Kerley won Olympic silver in the men’s 100 m at Tokyo 2020 and Olympic bronze in the same event at Paris 2024. He became world champion in the men’s 100 m at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene. He has also earned additional World Championships medals in relay and individual events.

Sprint profile

Kerley is notable for elite performances in the 100 m, 200 m and 400 m, with personal bests of 9.76 seconds for 100 m, 19.76 for 200 m and 43.64 for 400 m. World Athletics describes him as one of a small group of men to have run sub-10 seconds for 100 m, sub-20 seconds for 200 m, and sub-44 seconds for 400 m.

Doping and disciplinary issues

In 2026, the Athletics Integrity Unit imposed a two-year suspension for whereabouts failures, following three missed whereabouts filings or tests during 2024. Reports also state that results from part of that period were annulled.

Key facts

  • Fred Kerley is an American sprinter who competes in the 100 m, 200 m and 400 m events.
  • He won Olympic silver in the 100 m at Tokyo 2020 and bronze at Paris 2024.
  • Kerley became world champion in the 100 m at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.
  • His personal bests are 9.76 s (100 m), 19.76 s (200 m) and 43.64 s (400 m).
  • In 2026, the Athletics Integrity Unit suspended him for two years due to whereabouts failures.
🍁
Canadian context

Fred Kerley has no strong direct Canada-specific connection in the provided sources, but he is a major international sprinting figure often relevant to Canadian athletics audiences through global championships and Olympic competition.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Fred Kerley?
Fred Kerley is an American track and field sprinter best known for competing in the 100 m, 200 m and 400 m events.
What are Fred Kerley’s biggest achievements?
His biggest achievements include Olympic silver in the 100 m in 2020, Olympic bronze in the 100 m in 2024, and the 2022 world title in the 100 m.
What events does Fred Kerley run?
He has competed in the 100 m, 200 m and 400 m, and has also appeared in relay events.
What are Fred Kerley’s personal bests?
World Athletics lists his personal bests as 9.76 seconds in the 100 m, 19.76 in the 200 m and 43.64 in the 400 m.
Has Fred Kerley faced disciplinary action?
Yes. In 2026, the Athletics Integrity Unit issued him a two-year suspension for whereabouts failures.
Why is Fred Kerley notable in sprinting?
He is notable for elite times across three sprint distances, a combination achieved by only a very small number of men.

References

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Kerley
    Supports: Basic identity, nationality, birth date, and Olympic medal summary.
  2. World Athleticshttps://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/fred-kerley-14504382
    Supports: Athlete profile, events, nationality, birth date, medals, and sprint personal bests.
  3. Olympics.comhttps://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/fred-kerley
    Supports: Olympic results, career background, and major championships summary.
  4. World Athleticshttps://worldathletics.org/news/series/stars-of-sprint-fred-kerley
    Supports: Personal bests, historical sprint distinctions, and major honours.
  5. Team USAhttps://www.teamusa.com/profiles/fred-kerley-1092039
    Supports: Sport, specialty, and general profile description.
  6. The Athletic / New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7096233/2026/03/07/fred-kerley-banned-athletics-whereabouts-failure/
    Supports: 2026 suspension details and timing.