What Injury Struck Elaine Thompson-Herah’s Paris Olympics History-Making Bid?

“It’s a long road, but I am willing to start over and keep working to make a full recovery and resume my track career,” said Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah days before the track and field trials in her country. The world will never forget the last time we saw the 5-time Olympic gold medalist suffering from pain after crossing the finish line in New York. Now, the hopes of seeing her repeat Usain Bolt’s 3-time consecutive Olympic medals record seem like a distant dream.

Elaine Thompson-Herah, turning 32 on June 28, is a five-time Olympic gold medalist. She won the 100m and 200m sprints at both the Rio and Tokyo Olympics. Her recent injury, however, has cast a significant shadow over her quest for further Olympic glory in Paris 2024. Fans and the athletic community worldwide are anxiously awaiting updates on her condition and recovery timeline.

In a recent heartbreaking tweet from Track and Field Gazette, they announced the news of Elaine Thompson-Herah’s injury and just how bad it is. They captioned the tweet saying, “The injury she sustained was a small tear to her Achilles tendon. Speedy recovery, Fast Elaine!”

They also shared a previous tweet confirming that Elaine Thompson-Herah is officially out of the Paris Olympics race, “JUST IN: Elaine Thompson-Herah 🇯🇲 will not defend any of her Olympic titles! She has just withdrawn from the Jamaican Olympic Trials due to commence this weekend as a result of injury.” 

Elaine Thompson-Herah, shared her disappointment in a statement on social media stating, “I am hurt and devastated to be missing the Olympics this year but at the end of the day it’s sports and my health comes first.”

Speculation about Elaine Thompson-Herah’s withdrawal started at the USATF NYC Grand Prix. During the 100m race at Icahn Stadium, she limped across the finish line, finishing last with a time of 11.48s. She quickly removed her shoe and was carried off the track. Later, she updated on Instagram, saying, “I felt something uncomfortable as I began to push. I still tried to go but it got worse,” and added, “awaiting professional advice.”

With less than 50 days left for the Olympics at that time, the injury proved to be a major setback for the sprinter’s training regimen as well. Eventually, Andi Sports Management confirmed the worst fears. Despite her challenges, Elaine Thompson-Herah remains hopeful for the future. The 31-year-old Olympian tweeted, “I will be back,” showing her undying spirit and love for the game.

Elaine Thompson-Herah’s struggles with injuries

Elaine Thompson-Herah has had to deal with injuries throughout her career. Her Achilles tendon in particular has been a persistent issue. In the 2017 World Championships, she finished 5th because of an Achilles injury and called it “the biggest disappointment,” of her career. Additionally, at the 2019 Doha World Championships, Thompson-Herah finished fourth in the 100m. She withdrew from the 200m and 4x100m relay because of a shoulder injury.

In 2020, she faced more challenges with a heel injury. This required her to manage pain and adjust her training regimen carefully. After her comeback at the 2021 Tokyo Games and Jamaica’s Velocity Fest events, Thompson-Herah experienced a setback in 2022 with a recurring Achilles tendon injury. She was forced to withdraw from the Birmingham Diamond League. She even had a disappointing finish at the World Athletics Championships that year.

In 2023, the injury sustained, forcing her to have sub-11 finishes at the Budapest World Championship. She ultimately missed out on the 4x100m relay. Despite numerous setbacks, Elaine Thompson-Herah has displayed remarkable resilience. Her triumph underscores her as one of history’s greatest sprinters. We wish her a speedy recovery.