TORUŃ, POLAND, March 20 — The new World Indoor men’s 60-meter gold medalist is a 21-year-old, ‘25 Bowerman Award winner in his first full year as a pro, who not only overcame potential first-time Team USA meet jitters, but a bizarre incident the day before. A drug testing shot missed a vein and that caused enormous swelling in his left arm.
The new bronze medalist is a 30-year-old, battling Father Time, striving to regain the form that won him WIC gold 10 years ago in Portland, when he was younger than the gold medalist is now.
Together, Jordan Anthony and Trayvon Bromell achieved something for Team USA that the squad missed at the 2025 WIC in this event: Podium spots. A year ago, the U.S. went home empty handed in the 60 for the first time since 2008.
But in Friday’s finale, the duo gave U.S. sprinting its own shot in the arm. Anthony blasted to a swift, smooth 6.41 victory, a world-leader that made him No. 4 all-time. Bromell matched his 6.42 lifetime PR in the semis, then dashed 6.45 in the final — missing silver by 0.001 to Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson. The U.S. vet made the podium, nonetheless, ahead of defending champ Jeremiah Azu of Great Britain.
“It’s great to add on to the older generation,” said Anthony, “As I was saying, shout out to them. I feel like they created a path for people like me, the younger generation, the new era, and all I’m doing is staying on the path.
“But [I’m also] creating my own way with the path,” he added, “putting my own nicks and nacks to it as well. It’s crazy. I’m 21 years old, it’s my first time out the country. I’m a world indoor champion; I’m just blessed, highly favored.”
Meanwhile, Bromell was grateful and buoyed with confirmation that there’s still more in the well. “It is a blessing to come back after so many injuries and win another World Indoor medal after 10 years,” he said. “There has been some great running here and I was happy I was able to come back after the morning and have two more good races. My start in the final was a bit lousy compared to the semis, but that is part of the game. You have to be focused on executing each phase of the race.”
It’s not surprising what Bromell sees in the new champ. “Looking at Jordan, I see a mirror image of myself from 10 years ago. I also won the world title as a young, unpolished athlete. You do not see too many talents like him. It is athletes like him that keep me motivated and on top of my game. I know he has a great team and I expect he’ll have a great career ahead of him.”
Anthony, who said any nervousness he had disappeared the day they arrived, admitted Bromell’s semi performance got him going. “Trayvon lit it on fire. He ran 6.42, and I was like, ‘OK, he set a good tone. Now I gotta follow the tone.’
“Then we get to the final and I’m like, ‘One of us gotta win, and sorry, but it gotta be me.’ I need to get this W, because he won 10 years ago. But yeah, him and Christian [Coleman], really set the path for people like me, shorter stature sprinters.
“The final was a great race, but I still have a lot left in the tank,” he added. “Most importantly, I did my debut right and I am bringing the gold medal back to the USA. I used to play college football, and I performed in front of a lot more people, but coming out here today made me a bit more excited. This felt easy for me. This proves to me I picked the right sport.”
Bromell appreciates both Anthony’s similarities to his own younger self, as well as the differences. “You know, he’s got a football mentality,” he said, “so he’s always gonna come with that edgy mentality, right? And me, I’m more of just like a silent killer.
“I don’t really do too much talking. But it’s all hunger, you know? It’s all hard-hat mentality and I love it. I love the competition. I love being able to run against the young guys ’cause I was once that young guy. It’s just fun to go out there and compete with everybody.”
Anthony has also been learning from training partner Noah Lyles — whom he and Bromell beat at the U.S. champs to make it to Poland, but who no doubt will be chomping at the bit to match up with them outdoors.
Lyles — who carried the silver-medal half of a 1-2 finish with Coleman in the 60 two years ago — has “taught me to just be yourself,” Anthony said. “The internet’s going to criticize you, no matter if you win, you lose, you draw… just be yourself. If you beat me, you just beat me that day. But guess what? You gotta validate yourself when we step on the line again. Whatever you did previously doesn’t matter. So overall, I’m ready and just excited to be a part of the pro circuit and showcase my talent.” □
