It has been 278 days since Kishane Thompson was last seen crouching down at the starting blocks. That was last year when the Paris Olympics witnessed a thrilling photo finish in the 100m race. Noah Lyles had won the gold, and Thompson, who fell five thousandths of a second short, settled for a silver. Jump cut to May 3, before which we saw him pick up a hamstring injury on the way, the Jamaican was heavily favored to win. But the Shanghai Diamond League, too, was a humbling experience. Thompson still couldn’t snag a gold in an eerily similar manner, only this time, Lyles wasn’t around.

Yes, Kishane’s finishing time [9.99] was way poorer than his 100m spring in Paris [9.789 seconds], but once again he lost his gold medal by just a split second—Lane-5 starter that had blistering reaction time of 0.156 seconds, Akani Simbine’s 9.98 seconds to Thompson’s 9.99. In what was his first race of the outdoor season, Thompson wasn’t one to dwell too much on the defeat, and had a very measured response: “I came to win at the beginning of the season, and I am happy with the result. I have not been racing since Paris last year, and I need the competition for positioning for the season… I would not say too much at this moment for the target — too early for the season — but after the race, I can easily tell what I need to further work on.” However, the drama didn’t go unnoticed.

Although it may have been too early in the season to judge Thompson’s potential, especially with the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo looming just a few months away, who has the patience? Enter Coach David E. Robinson, one who never spares an opportunity to bash the Jamaican: “He is a thing. He is a situation. Every time he runs, it’s a situation. Like the idea of him running is a situation. Because he might not actually run,” were his initial reactions. This soon became an apple of discord within the community, and just a week on, Robinson tried his hand at fronting some damage control.

He emphasized that Kishane Thompson is “one of the most exciting athletes in all of sprinting“—a fact, not just an opinion—and praised his Olympic silver and world-leading 100-meter performance. “Whenever he competes, I will pay attention,” Rob stated, explaining that he simply shared his thoughts after watching Thompson’s first race of the season in the Diamond League in Shanghai. Coach Rob acknowledged the strong reactions from his viewers and decided to address the feedback with more thoughtfulness.

Coach Rob, in response to critics who suggested Thompson’s “plan” should be factored into the analysis. Coach clarified his stance. “Every single one who hopes to be there at Worlds and win a medal—they all have a plan with their coaches,” he said. He pushed back on the idea that Kishane Thompson’s plan was somehow more significant than others, calling it disrespectful to the athletes working just as hard.

“Maybe you’re saying his plan and his coaching staff are better. Maybe they are, maybe they aren’t. We’ll find that out in time,” Coach Rob added. He pointed out that the reality is every sprinter has the same 365 days to prepare, with the only difference being their context—how they make the best of the time and conditions they have. “There is no sprinter in the world who goes into a 100-meter race and says, ‘My plan is not to win.’”

Rob wrapped up by emphasizing the importance of context in sports, reiterating that while everyone may have different strategies, the goal is always the same—to perform at their best and compete for the win. “Your legs may be loaded—based on your training mechanisms,” he explained.

“But remember, everybody else has the same 12 months, wherever you are in the world. The calendars for the meets don’t change. The only thing that changes is your context.” But the big question remains: why isn’t Kishane Thompson performing at his best in 2025? Well, there are a few reasons for that.

Fast but fragile Kishane Thompson’s fight against injury

Kishane Thompson’s journey in sprinting? It’s been nothing short of thrilling! In 2024, he blasted to a personal best of 9.77 seconds, making it clear he’s one of the fastest men in the game. Then, at the Paris Olympics, he came heartbreakingly close to snagging gold in the men’s 100m final, finishing just a hair behind Noah Lyles, who clocked 9.784 seconds. That close call!!!!

However, Thompson’s journey has been marred by recurring injuries that have hindered his ability to maintain consistent form. In early 2025, he withdrew from the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing due to a “slight injury” sustained during training, specifically to his shin. Coach Stephen Francis confirmed that Thompson was “unfit” to compete and would require a few days of rest to recover.

This setback followed a promising start to the season, where Thompson clocked a personal best of 6.48 seconds in the 60m at the Central Hurdles, Relays, and Field Events Meet in Kingston. Despite the injury, Thompson remains optimistic about his recovery and future performances. Kishane Thompson has openly acknowledged the challenges posed by his injury-prone nature, expressing frustration over the setbacks that have prevented him from completing a full season unaffected.

He admitted, “Sad truth is that I am injury-prone, and I hate to admit it,” highlighting the mental and physical toll these injuries have taken on him. Despite these challenges, Thompson’s resilience and determination continue to drive him forward, and fans remain hopeful for his return to peak form shortly.