Kishane Thompson was on the brink of redemption after that agonizingly close finish in Paris, where he missed Olympic gold by just five-thousandths of a second to Noah Lyles. Fans were buzzing with anticipation, eagerly awaiting his return to the track and hoping he’d make a splash at the Diamond Leagues. But now, it seems like his comeback is on hold, as Thompson’s name has been mysteriously absent from both the Silesia and Rome Diamond League events.

The excitement surrounding Thompson’s return was electric. After his blistering 9.79-second run in Paris, which was one of the fastest 100m races in Olympic history, everyone had their eyes glued to him. He’s been the 100m world leader this year, so his absence from the tracks has only fueled speculation.

As fans and analysts alike scrambled to uncover the reasons behind his unexpected absence, whispers of a possible injury began to circulate. The whispers became louder after Thompson subsequently pulled out of the Rome Diamond League, raising even more questions. Could the young sprinter, who was so close to Olympic glory, be facing a significant setback? However, recent speculations reveal the probable reason behind Kishane Thompson not getting back to the tracks after winning silver in the 100-meter in Paris. 

Rumors of a hamstring injury have been growing louder, as his absence from both Lausanne and Silesia and now Rome seems to paint a troubling picture. A post on X by Kemal Oly, WRH. read, “Olympic 100m Silver Medallist, Kishane Thompson will not face the starters in the 100m at this Thursday’s Rome Diamond League.” While another track enthusiast shared on X, “Kishane Thompson might not show up and if he does…it’s not going to be that hard to predict….Fred will get him: and people will jump to oh Kishane had hamstring injury, Coleman is stuck at 60m passed that he’s out of gas, so this is Fred vs omanyala vs Tebogo race”

Moreover, this isn’t the first time that Thompson might be struggling against overcoming setbacks posed by his hamstring. During the Olympics, where Thompson was a fraction of a second away from achieving the ultimate glory, he was almost about to lose his chance to compete because of a similar injury to his hamstring. Thompson’s coach, Stephen Francis, delved into this and stated, “I do not think he was used to that situation, but I believe his problem really occurred after the semis where he got a hamstring problem”.

According to the updates shared by Coaches’ Desk TV, Thompson’s previous injury issues caused discomfort during the warm-up sessions of the Silesia Diamond League. That became the reason behind his withdrawal just hours before the event. Fans have been devastated by the news that Kishane Thompson is missing the events because of this rumored injury. Another concerned fan referred to Kishane as the ‘King’ and commented, “The King still injured… I’m being deprived of greatness and…. 😫”. While another mentioned, “Hamstring injury 🤕”. However, amid this unfortunate situation for Thompson, other sprint stars did not wait to grab the game and the titles.

Kishane Thompson’s absence raises alarming questions as rivals gear up for Rome Diamond League

Previously in the Silesia Diamond League, Kishane Thompson was listed as a competitor for the 100-meter dash alongside Fred Kerley, Ferdinand Omanyala, Marcell Jacobs, and others. However, his sudden withdrawal announcement just a few hours before the meet came as a seismic shock to the track and field community. Clocking a meeting record of 9.87 seconds, Paris Olympics bronze medalist Fred Kerley emerged as the winner. And after securing one win again, back for the next Diamond League meet in Rome.

Letsile Tebogo who has not only secured gold in the 200-meter dash in Paris but also won the 200-meter race in the Lausanne Diamond League, is ready to show his caliber now in the 100-meter discipline. The Botswana sprinter would face Christian Coleman, Ferdinand Omanyala, Ackeem Blake, and Kyree King alongside Fred Kerley. Fans would be waiting to watch how the 200-meter champion faces the sprinting phenoms in the 100-meter in Rome.

A few names who were ready to compete against Kishane Thompson have reappeared again in the list for the Rome Diamond League. Many speculate that for his alleged hamstring injury Fred Kerley, Letsile Tebogo, and Ferdinand Omanyala would have given him a strong competition if he had participated. Thompson’s decision to withdraw from Rome has only fueled the growing concerns about his health.

Fans now are holding their breath, waiting for confirmation on the severity of his condition. However, if the speculated hamstring injury is true, it could turn out to be a devastating blow for the sprinter on the cusp of greatness. Would it mean an extended period away from competition for Kishane Thompson? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Before you leave, check out the latest Think Tank episode on EssentiallySports. Maddisen Skinner’s coach, a renowned name in American volleyball, gives a behind-the-scenes look at his star player.