Victims of Criticism as Lindsey Vonn, Marcell Jacobs Spill Details on Moments That Destroyed Career

The sporting world is a place where several stars rise each day, but it isn’t one devoid of struggles and heartbreaking moments as well. However, the athletes are often thrown under the bus when they fail to meet the expectations of the fans and have to face condemnation from them. Lindsey Vonn, a legend in alpine skiing, had gone through the same phase in life once when she could not live up to expectations in terms of performance.

But she later clapped back at her critics after winning her third medal at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and became an inspiration to many athletes who go through the same circumstances in their careers. In a similar vein, the reigning 100-meter and 4×100-meter Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs also talked about being a victim of censure, which was not constructive for him at all, and said that it almost dilapidated his career.

Marcell Jacobs under the microscope of scrutiny

As per the reports from The Guardian, he became an overnight sensation after clinching the 100-meter Olympic title in 2021, and to add more to it, Jacobs also assisted Team Italy to win their 4×100-meter crown. However, his track and field stardom was taken aback after he withdrew his name from the 2022 World Championships due to an injury, and the following year, he failed to make it to the finals of the 200-meter category.

All these setbacks gave his fault-finders a chance to point their fingers at him. “People’s criticism really hit me hard; it came from everywhere—from Italy and abroad. As if I wasn’t competing because I was afraid. I’ve never been afraid of anything in my life,” he said in his statement.

He also added that he was not participating in the competitions because he was unable to compete at the time and was disappointed after not getting the desired results even after putting in all that he had. He also added the two years after his Olympics triumph were really hard on him and he wanted something to inspire him. Additionally, Marcell Jacobs elaborated on the factors that contributed to his career’s downturn, shedding light on the underlying issues.

Navigating the rough waters of a champion’s career

The two-time world champion revealed that it was an injury that led to his downfall in the past two years. He also affirmed that his back was giving him a hard time during the latter period and that there was a “sciatic nerve that was tricky to diagnose.” All of these hiccups in his professional athletic career also made him realize that it requires some adjustments to be made. Following this, he moved to Jacksonville, Florida, to train under Rana Reider to start a new chapter in his life.

He will also be associating with champions like Trayvon Bromell in his new training camp to fuel his preparation ahead of the major competitions in 2024. Having said that, Marcell Jacobs is a superstar of track and field in his own right, and he must be eyeing the upcoming opportunities to reply to his censurers in his own style.

Read More: “Nobody Would Recognise Me”: Marcell Jacobs Unveils Unheard Side of Olympic Champion’s Life