TAYLOR, TX (KXAN) — Fred Curley returned to his hometown of Taylor on Saturday morning wearing a shirt that read, “To all the teachers who told me I wouldn’t make it.”

Kerley made this bold statement, supported by his Taylor community when they honored him with a dedication ceremony by unveiling a mural of him. The image now visible to everyone is taken from a photograph during his 2022 100m run in Eugene, Oregon. This race led him to the world title.

Curley said he was grateful to his city for its honor. However, he chose to wear the same shirt as him because, according to him, there were doubters along the way. Doubters, who, he said, did not understand how special he was and is.

“This is for anyone who doubted me,” Kerley said. “I still doubt my life. I guarantee everyone doubts in life. So, this is to show all my haters that I am here and will continue to succeed, with or without you.”

His honor and unveiling of the mural falls on the first weekend of Black History Month 2023. The mural is on a Ford Ground storage tank, just around the corner from where Kerley grew up, he told reporter Jala Washington.

Curley was an outstanding athlete in high school, playing football and basketball. All of this laid the foundation for what would become his claim to fame, track and field.

Now he is one of the fastest people in the world.

In addition to the 2022 world title, Kerli also won a silver medal in the 100m at the 2022 Tokyo Olympics. Now he is preparing for Paris 2024.

Artist Adam Davenport painted the mural. The City of Taylor stated that he was approached by a group that wanted to honor Curley and his accomplishments.

From there, the city council approved the mural in its place in October 2022. The city also paid for it.

Curly hopes he can inspire others who don’t necessarily feel noticed or supported as they grow up. His message to them is to keep pushing, he told reporter Jala Washington.

His next race, starting his last season, will be in Australia on February 23rd. Taylor city official joked during the opening ceremony that it would be the only continent he has yet to compete on.