The Jamaicans were hoping for a double gold from Shericka Jackson at the Paris Olympics, but instead, they got double heartbreak. After the bombshell news on July 31 that she’d be skipping the 100- meters, Jackson shocked fans again on August 4 with another withdrawal—this time from the 200 meters. The culprit? A pesky leg injury she picked up in a tune-up race last month.

Now, just two days after the women’s 200-meter final in Paris, Shericka Jackson has finally broken her silence. Television Jamaica/Radio Jamaica shared her heartfelt message on X, where she laid bare her feelings about the withdrawals. She shared, “Should I accept the good and not the bad? My 2024 Olympic dream has been shattered. In my 10 years as a senior athlete, I have enjoyed the highest highs and some of the lowest lows. From winning World Championship and Olympic Gold Medals, to not performing at my very best. Having won the sprint double at the 2024 Jamaican Olympic Trials, I was hopeful that I would earn three more Olympic medals for Jamaica Land I Love.” However, injury interfered with this dream!

She expressed mixed feelings about the feedback she’s received, noting it has been both “encouraging and discouraging.” In her message, she also extended heartfelt thanks to her sponsors—Puma, Scotiabank, Wata, and Omega—as well as her coach, the MVP Track & Field Club team, her family, friends, and fans around the world. Her focus now is on a complete recovery.With Jackson being the fifth fastest woman ever in the 100m and the second fastest in the 200m, her absence is a significant blow. And though fans hope to see her soon, she shared, “My primary focus now is a complete recovery.”

Injury woes aren’t exactly new for five-time Olympic medalist Shericka Jackson. At the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 9, just a month ago, Jackson eased up before the finish line of the 200m while leading, clearly in pain as she left the track. ESPN later reported a minor Achilles tendon tear. But this heartbreak was just the tip of the iceberg for Jamaican fans!

Iconic streaks crumbled for Jamaica’s track queens as Shericka Jackson and the crew battled a slew of injuries!

Shericka Jackson’s announcement came right after the women’s 4x100m relay, which fans had hoped would be her final chance to race at the Paris Olympics. In the relay, the U.S. team took gold with a blazing 41.78, while Jamaica finished fifth with a time of 42.29. For the first time in 16 years, Jamaica was swept off the podium in the women’s 4x100m relay. But that’s not all! For the first time in 48 years in the 200m and 36 years in the 100m, no Jamaican name appeared on the Olympic podium.

The top contenders from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics—Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Shericka Jackson—were all plagued by injuries, making this a particularly tough year for Jamaican fans! All three sprinters from Jamaica’s 100-meter sweep in Tokyo were missing in action in Paris. Elaine Thompson-Herah, the double champion from Tokyo, had to call it a season early due to an Achilles tendon injury.

Then, just minutes before the 100-meter semifinals, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce had to pull out with an undisclosed injury, expressing her disappointment on social media. Her withdrawal was overshadowed by controversy when she was barred from entering the stadium for warm-ups because she was. The confusion arose because officials had changed the rules about athlete access, requiring those arriving by private car to use a different entry point than usual.

The Jamaican sprint legend’s withdrawal came as a shock when the scoreboard flashed her absence just before she was set to race against Sha’Carri Richardson and Julien Alfred. Without the Jamaican sprint queens, the Paris 2024 women’s 100-meter final saw Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia, Sha’Carri Richardson of the U.S., and Melissa Jefferson of the U.S. make waves.

In the 200-meter final, Gabby Thomas (U.S.), Julien Alfred (Saint Lucia), and Brittany Brown (U.S.) stole the show. With all this drama, Shericka Jackson’s injury and her heartfelt message about her Olympic dreams being shattered are hitting hard. What do you think of her withdrawal and the impact on Jamaican sprinting? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!