Home/Track & Field

The 5th fastest woman and two-time World Champion, Shericka Jackson, is known for her stunning speed and 100 and 200-meter performances. Noted for her explosive starts and strong finishes, Jackson has become a central figure in worldwide track and field. Her scope extends beyond sprints, her proficiency in the 400 meters also well known.

Shericka Jackson embodies the spirit of Jamaican sprinting excellence, known for her consistency and determination. Off the track, she is admired for her sportsmanship and dedication to inspiring spectators and rising athletes. However, her childhood was challenging, making her “very aggressive” on the field. In an interview with Olympics.com, she admitted, “I never grew up with a lot of love, so therefore I don’t know how to show love,” which led her to build a wall around herself from a young age.

Shericka Jackson’s profile: height, age, weight

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Born in Saint Ann, Jamaica, on July 16, 1994, Shericka Jackson has become a celebrated figure in the track and field world. Standing 1.73 meters tall (5 feet 8 inches) and weighing 61 kilograms (134 pounds), she is known for her remarkable speed and versatility. This height, combined with her strong build and athleticism, is a key factor in how well she sprints. It allows for powerful strides and efficient running form, particularly beneficial in her dominant 200-meter and 400-meter specialities.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Jackson’s journey into athletics is deeply grounded in her Jamaican background, a country donned in the colors of sprints. Her love and respect for her home country is quite evident as she once said with pride to Olympics.com, “It’s just good to be Jamaican”. In fact, she always looks up to Jamaican GOATs in track and field like Usain Bolt and Elaine Thompson-Herah. When it comes to achieving milestones, this 30-year-old ‘Sprinting star’ has a habit of writing down her goals, as she said to Olympics.com in 2023, “Last year, I set my goal for 21.45, and I did achieve that”, which showcased her determination to achieve goals. This habit also helps her stay in good shape as she focuses on bagging gold in major events in her career.

Comparison between Shericka Jackson and her competitors

Shericka Jackson fits right into the typical age range of the elite sprinters. This group stays between 22 and 30 years old, and Jackson’s relative age is 30 now. Being five years older than most other women sprinters affords her an invaluable wealth of practical experience and insight into the demands placed by competitive sprinting. It enables Jackson to keep up with top-level performance. Standing 1.73 meters (5 feet 8 inches), Jackson is one of the taller women sprinters.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Her height offers a natural advantage to her because of the longer strides, lending her a faster pace and greater power in sprinting. However, she is quite well aware of all the other sprinters in her team as well, as she told Olympics.com, “I think the girls are dominating and showing that they are really fast, and they are doing ever so well”. It showcases her sportsmanship and appreciation for other athletes.

Weighing 61 kilograms (134 lbs.), Jackson has a physique that is right for what she does. Her weight is within the normal range of 50-65 kilograms (110-143 lbs) for female Olympic sprinters. Her slim, muscular build is vital for fast starts, rapid acceleration out of the blocks and holding on to speed after the bend. Undoubtedly, Shericka Jackson has the ideal weight-height combination for an Olympic sprinter. Her athletic ability and devotion to the sport make her a star performer and an inspiration to aspiring sportsmen worldwide.