Being at the top of the game means the pressure’s always on. After all, you’re expected to be flawless and win every bout. But when you’ve been through the highs and lows like Shericka Jackson has, it’s not about always crossing the line first. What matters is if you’re healthy enough to keep pushing, and that’s exactly where Jackson is right now. Well, after a rocky start to 2024, with injuries forcing her to pull out of both the 100m and 200m events, fans were ecstatic to see Jackson back in action. But when she lined up for the Xiamen Diamond League, things didn’t quite go as planned.

Jackson, who’d been hoping to break Florence Griffith Joyner’s 200m world record, had a rough race. She struggled right out of the blocks but somehow managed to finish second behind Anaiva Battle (who set a meet record with a blazing 22.41 seconds). Meanwhile, Jackson clocked in at just 22.79 seconds. A far cry from the record she had in mind. Despite this, she managed to keep Jenna Prandini at number three with a time of 22.97.

But here’s the thing about Jackson: she didn’t let the result get her down. After the race, Shericka Jackson wasn’t letting the disappointment of not winning cloud her mindset. Instead, she kept it real with Citius mag on YouTube, saying, “I’m healthy, so I’m good.” This way of thinking separates her from the rest. “Honestly, my coach and I would have to sit down and analyze the race. That’s not for me to do. As I said, I’m healthy, so I’m good.“

The competition today serves as one event among many, despite her desire to remain healthy enough to pursue all her objectives. During the interview, Jackson also stated that her main objective was to return to track racing: “How good does it feel to get back to track racing after such a long way out of racing? I actually feel good. I just wanted to finish healthy, and I finished healthy, so I’m okay.”

Shericka Jackson has only begun to establish herself after such an outstanding start toward her bright future. She knows how to bounce back. Remember last year?

Shericka Jackson bounces back stronger than ever

Now we all know that sprinters can sometimes get in a slump. But we also know just how unstoppable Shericka gets in the 200m once she gets her groove. With a personal best of 21.41 seconds, she’s just 0.07 seconds away from breaking the world record held by Florence Griffith-Joyner. And trust me, when Jackson steps on that track, it’s like she’s in a league of her own.

At the 2023 World Championships, she defended her 200m title with ease. Her speed is almost otherworldly, and the way she moves on the track? But hold up—things got tough for Jackson as the Paris 2024 Olympics approached. The leading contender in the 100m and 200m events had to withdraw from both competitions because of her difficult decision.

She wanted to compete solely in the 200m event after suffering a calf cramp at the Hungarian Grand Prix event. Before starting the 200m heat competition in Paris, Jackson withdrew because her injuries persisted. The decision met tough resistance from her fans because she had dominated the track with performances before, including a 10.84-second 100m and a 21.71-second 200m run earlier in the year.

Jackson dedicated herself to healing from her injuries while understanding she would emerge from recovery with reinforced strength. The absence of Shericka Jackson from the 200m competition marked an exceptional circumstance where Jamaica did not secure any medals in these events, even though three of its leading athletes sat out.

During the Olympic games, both Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah also encountered injuries alongside Shericka Jackson. During this unusual Olympic athletics competition, Jamaican female sprinters failed to bring home medals, but we understood that Jackson chose to protect her career longevity. And guess what?

She’s already back in action. Jackson returned to the Diamond League competition with full strength during the year 2025.  The powerhouse athlete will return to the top eventually since she aims to compete in the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and further competitions. Shericka Jackson’s professional path has only begun its ascent, yet people need to keep watching her.