Track and field season is finally here, and you know what that means—newcomers trying to make a name for themselves and veterans proving they’ve still got it. And what better way to kick things off than with the 2025 Millrose Games? This Saturday, February 8, at The Armory in New York City, some of the biggest names in the sport were set to battle it out. But let’s be real—everyone had their eyes on one race: the men’s 60m. Why? Because it was supposed to be an epic showdown featuring Marcell Jacobs, the 2021 Olympic 100m champion, and Trayvon Bromell, the 2016 world indoor champion. Oh, and let’s not forget Pjai Austin, the guy who just beat them both last weekend at the New Balance Grand Prix. Austin finished third in the 60m event, clocking in at 6.60.

But just when the hype was reaching its peak—boom! Bad news struck like a false start. A few hours before the race, word got out that Marcell Jacobs had scratched due to illness. Fans were left wondering if this was coming, especially since a few track legends had already expressed concerns about Jacobs leading up to the event. Legends who?

Just a day ago, on the YouTube podcast Ready Set Go, Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green were deep in discussion about the upcoming Millrose Games. During the chat, Rodney brought up Marcell Jacobs’ recent performance at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix on February 2. Let’s just say—it wasn’t exactly vintage Jacobs. He finished fourth out of five in the 60-meter final, clocking 6.63 seconds—far from his 2022 personal best of 6.41. Meanwhile, Noah Lyles dominated again, winning his fourth consecutive New Balance Grand Prix title with an impressive 6.52. But the real takeaway? Jacobs didn’t look like himself, and the track and field legend was already raising eyebrows.

Green didn’t hold back, “I know who didn’t look like themselves, and it was, um, the former Olympic champion Jacobs. I’m very concerned with how he ran his race—no disrespect to him, you know what I mean—but I was very concerned.” He pointed out that Jacobs only made the final because another competitor, a Nigerian sprinter, was injured. “That’s the only way he got in. He did not make the final based on time—he wasn’t fast enough.”

And now, with Jacobs scratching from the Millrose Games due to illness, it seems like those concerns weren’t just talk. Marcell Jacobs, however, didn’t shy away from admitting he wanted better results, but after his underwhelming performance in Boston, this 2x Olympic track and field star is taking a step back to reevaluate.

Instead of letting the 6.63-second run at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix define him, Jacobs was determined to make the necessary adjustments before his next race. “Starting over means getting back in the game, testing sensations, and understanding what to work on. Today, I expected something different, but every season has its own path—sometimes you start uphill, other times downhill,” he shared in a post on his X handle.

Despite now training with a new coach, Rana Reider, at the Tumbleweed Track Club, Jacobs is yet to repeat his Tokyo Olympic magic. Even he acknowledged that his Boston time “doesn’t reflect the times I was hitting in training, where I expected to be around 6.50.” However, he remains optimistic: “There are some details to fine-tune, but the path is set. 💪🏽 📌 Next stop: New York. Time to run for the times I know I’m capable of.” Will we see a glimpse of the Jacobs who shocked the world in Tokyo? That remains the big question. Do you remember that unforgettable track and field Olympic performance?

Time to prove to the track and field world that Marcell Jacobs is more than just a one-hit wonder

Marcell Jacobs is the same guy who made history as the first Italian to ever reach an Olympic 100m final. Not only did he make it, but he also won the whole thing! At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he blazed through the heats with a national record of 9.94 seconds, then dropped a European record of 9.84 in the semis. But when it was time for the big moment, Jacobs did what champions do—he delivered. With a 9.80 finish, he grabbed gold, leaving Fred Kerley and Andre De Grasse in his dust.

Italy had its first-ever 100m Olympic champ, and Europe finally had a winner again since Linford Christie back in 1992. But just when the track world was ready to see more of him, Jacobs hit the brakes—citing fatigue and pulling out of his scheduled Diamond League races.

Fast forward to the Millrose Games, and Jacobs was supposed to be back in action, set to take on 2016 world indoor champ Trayvon Bromell. This was his moment to remind everyone why he was an Olympic champion. Sure, he ran a solid 9.85 in Paris last season, but finishing fifth in the Olympic final? That left some questions. Was he still at his peak? Could he silence the doubters? It was time to prove it. But just as the hype was building—bam! Plot twist in the track and field world.