“Her Season Over”: Sha’Carri Richardson’s Jamaican Rival Elaine Thompson-Herah’s Injury Leaves Track & Field Community Devastated

It hasn’t been the best of starts to the Olympic season for Elaine Thompson-Herah. The Jamaican going for a three peat in Paris had a forgettable first race and now there is real danger she may miss out on the Games altogether. With less than 50 days left for 2024 Olympics, Thompson-Herah suffered an injury at the New York City Grand Prix. After the race, she did provided an update, leaving the fans with fingers crossed.

As the images of Herah-Thompson being carried from the track, surfaced on the social media, fans voiced their concerns. But the injury comes as a significant blow, as she has been gearing up to defend her title at the upcoming

Elaine Thompson-Herah shares update on her injury at the New York Grand Prix

Thompson-Herah was competing in the 100m at Icahn Stadium at the USATF and after sprinting ahead, she began to lose her lead. The five-time Olympic gold medalist began limping toward the finishing line and came last with 11.48 seconds. She immediately removed her right shoe and sat down on the track, before being carried off.

Early reports indicated that she may have hurt her Achilles tendon. However, the defending Olympic champion in both 100m and 200m, posted an updated on Instagram. It turns out she may not have been at 100% when the race started.

In an Instagram, she wrote, “I felt something uncomfortable as I began to push I still tried to go but it got worse. So I am awaiting professional advice moving forward, thanks for your continuous support.” This update came an hour after the race.

Thompson-Herah, became the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic sprint doubles when she retained her titles in Tokyo. She hopes to become only the second person to win three straight Olympic gold medals at both 100 and 200, after the legend Usain Bolt. However, her start to the season has been far from ideal.

Last month at the 2024 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, her rival Sha’Carri Richardson claimed victory in the 100m with a swift time of 10.83 seconds, defeating a field that included notable competitors such as Julien Alfred, Dina Asher-Smith, and Elaine Thompson-Herah. The Jamaican, who parted ways with her coach late last year, finished in 9th place, clocking in at 11.3 seconds, in her season debut.

She would have been hoping for a turnaround at the USATF in New York City, but is now left sweating over her fitness. Having won five gold medals at the last two Olympics, she is targeting a historic triple-double in Paris.

This news will also be concerning for fans who are hoping to see Thompson-Herah compete against Sha’Carri Richardson at the Paris Olympics. The two have formed quite the rivalry over the years and have been involved in a battle of one-upmanship.

Following the release of the video from the track on X, where Thompson-Herah was being carried, fans quickly expressed their concerns for the sprinter’s future

“This might be the last we see Elaine,” fans fear the worst after Thompson-Herah’s injury

Elaine Thompson-Herah’s recent injury sparked a wave of concern among her fans. One worried spectator took to social media to express their apprehensions about her future on track. They shared, “From what I’ve been seeing with the young college sprinters from Jamaica, this might have been the last time we see Elaine Thompson-Herah on the track. Get well soon.”

The user hinted at a pattern for Jamaican sprinters and while that might hold some truth, Thompson-Herah has had her own struggles with injuries, particularly her history with the Achilles.

She struggled on and off the Achilles tendon injury after the Rio Olympics. The Olympian managed fifth in the 100m at the 2017 World Championships and the following season yielded more sub-par performances. In fact, Thompson-Herah experiencing trouble with her Achilles just before the Olympics is also nothing new.

Two weeks before the Jamaican Olympic trials in 2020, her Achilles was hurting, putting the defense of her title in doubt. However, she managed to recover and make history at Tokyo.

But the current predicament also looks grim as another fan commented on the severity of the situation, noting, “Elaine Thompson-Herah having to be carried off, sigh. Her Jamaica trials and Paris Olympics participation are in real doubt now.” This statement highlighted the potential long-term impact of her injury on her career and upcoming competitions.

Amidst expressions of support, not all feedback was sympathetic. One blunt message declared, “Elaine Thompson-Herah is officially washed,” reflecting a more critical and less hopeful perspective on her current state. As mentioned, Thompson-Herah has struggled with injuries, for the best part of the eight years or so. Her performance at the Prefontaine Classic, where she finished ninth, could highlight her dwindling prowess.

Another fan succinctly summed up the prevailing mood with a stark observation: “Her season over.” This brief comment captured the immediate concern of many that her competitive year might be cut short due to her injury.

Depending on the severity of reported Achilles injury, her participation at the Games is in severe doubt. Such injuries could take anywhere between 4-5 weeks to 6 months to heal. However, she will hope it is nothing too serious and she can take up the defense of her Olympic titles.

She recovered just in time for Tokyo Olympics trials and qualified after finishing third. But once the Games got underway, it was all about her extending her dominance on the track.

Elaine Thompson-Herah would be hoping for a similar turn of events this around, as she hopes to make history in Paris.