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Alexis Holmes Dominates at U.S. Indoor Championships: Why the Olympic Gold Medalist is Racing Toward a Big 2025
Alexis Holmes lined up at the start of the women’s 400 meters at the U.S. Indoor Championships with one goal: win. She didn’t just win. She dominated. The Olympic gold medalist surged ahead by the 100-meter mark and never looked back, crossing the line in 50.51 seconds, her fastest time this year. It was a statement performance and also proof that Holmes keeps getting better.
While some of her competitors choose to skip the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing next month, Holmes embraces the challenge. She sees it as an opportunity and a stepping stone to something bigger.
“I just want to keep racing,” Holmes said after her victory in New York. “I love to compete.”
The 23-year-old isn’t just talking. She’s acting on it. Less than two weeks after the World Indoors wraps, she plans to race at the Grand Slam Track’s inaugural meet in Kingston. It’s an aggressive schedule, but Holmes doesn’t seem concerned.
“I think it’ll set me up perfectly for the outdoor season,” she said. “We’ve been doing a lot of speed work, and I want to keep that momentum going.”
That outdoor season is where she has unfinished business. Holmes is a relay star. She was part of Team USA’s 4x400m that won the Olympic Gold in Paris. She helped win a world title in Budapest two summers ago. But she has yet to win an individual global medal outdoors. That’s what drives her.
“I go into every meet to win,” Holmes said. “World Indoors is another chance to do that.”
Her decision to keep racing goes against the norm. Many top 400-meter runners are choosing rest over competition. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who could be the event’s biggest star, is sitting out the indoor season entirely. Femke Bol, the reigning world indoor champion, has also opted out. The field in Nanjing is wide open.
Lieke Klaver, who edged her out for silver last year, is in the mix. Norway’s Henriette Jaeger, the 21-year-old who ran 50.44 in Torun, is also. Amber Anning just won the British title with a 50.57 season’s best. But Holmes is right there with them, and unlike most of her rivals, she is a proven racer under pressure.
Her consistency is her strength. She competes more than almost any top American sprinter. She races indoors and outdoors in the U.S. and Europe, pushing her body to run at a high level throughout the year. That work has earned her a reputation as one of the circuit’s most reliable performers. She also keeps getting the call to anchor Team USA’s relays.
“You have to recover well,” she said. “Nutrition, hydration, treatment—all of that matters. I stay on top of the little things.”
Holmes and her coach have focused on the early part of her race this season. Indoors, getting to the break first is key. Outdoors, she usually relies on a strong finish. She knows she needs to be faster in the first 200 meters to become a genuine medal contender in Paris.
That’s why she isn’t shying away from a full racing schedule.
The World Indoors will test her against top international talent, and the Grand Slam meet will add another layer of competition. By the time the outdoor season rolls around, she won’t be easing in; she’ll already be battle-tested.
“This is all building toward outdoor worlds,” she said. “That’s where I want to peak.”
Her confidence has grown with experience. She thrived at the college level and then took the leap to the pro stage. She’s now a regular contender at the biggest meets.
“Running on big stages helps,” she said. “World Championships, the Olympics—it all builds confidence.”
Confidence isn’t an issue. Neither is motivation. Holmes knows what she wants. She’s willing to put in the work to get there.
Winning another national title was step one. Now, she’s aiming for more. If her decision to race through the indoor season pays off, it could set her up for the biggest year of her career.
