Will Sha’Carri Richardson and Team USA Be Able to Break the 12-Year Curse Following Elaine Thompson-Herah’s Exit From the Paris Olympics?

With just 29 days left until the Paris Olympics, top track and field contenders around the world are being named for an exciting showdown. But there’s a twist for the queens of the sport: the fastest woman alive, Elaine Thompson-Herah, won’t be vying for her third consecutive round of Olympic gold.

The 31-year-old, a six-time Olympic medalist, announced on June 27th that she’s sidelined due to an Achilles tendon tear, which means she won’t be defending her titles in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. This news has left the track and field community heartbroken for the Jamaican star. Yet, amidst the disappointment, there’s a glimmer of opportunity for her American rivals, like Sha’Carri Richardson and other Team USA stars, who now have a shot at breaking a 12-year curse in the women’s 200m at the Olympics.

Elaine Thompson-Herah’s exit could end a 12-year drought for USA

Since the 2012 London Olympics, when Allyson Felix last snagged gold in the women’s 200m, American athletes have been gunning to reclaim that top spot. In 2016 at Rio de Janeiro, Elaine Thompson-Herah swept the gold in both the 100m and 200m, and she repeated that feat at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. She’s been the queen of the “sprint double” in Rio and Tokyo, but sadly, a “sprint triple” won’t be on the cards for her in Paris 2024 due to her injury.

This could mark a shift away from Jamaican dominance and potentially bring gold back to America after 12 years since Allyson Felix’s victory. With some strong contenders eyeing the 200-meter gold, let’s see which Team USA athletes are primed to bring home the gold from Paris.

Team USA dominates the women’s 200-meter standings ahead of the Paris Olympics

As of 2024, according to World Athletics, almost all the top spots in the women’s 200-meter standings belong to USA athletes—nine out of ten, to be exact. Leading the charge is McKenzie Long, who clocked an impressive 21.83 seconds at Hayward Field in Eugene on June 8, 2024. McKenzie has swept three NCAA titles in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m events with impressive times of 10.82w, 21.83, and 42.34 this year, showing her absolute mettle in the 200m category.

Following closely behind is Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who clocked 22.07 seconds at the 2024 LA Grand Prix on May 18. Sydney, however, has decided to focus on the 400m hurdles at the USATF Olympic Trials, opening the door for Gabby Thomas and JaMeesia Ford, both hitting 22.08 seconds. Gabby, who clinched bronze in the 200m and silver in the 4 × 100m relay at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, achieved her remarkable feat on March 30, 2024, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.

Fans are eagerly anticipating how her speed at the Olympic trials this week could secure her ticket to Paris. Notably, the top ten list for 2024 lacks any Jamaican women so far, with Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred ranking fourth at 22.16 seconds. Meanwhile, Sha’Carri Richardson, despite not making significant strides in the 200m this year, remains a formidable contender following her bronze win in Budapest 2023. Ahead of the Paris Olympics, it’s clear that Team USA is dominating the 200m in 2024 so far. With Elaine Thompson-Herah sidelined, could this be the year the 12-year gold drought ends? Who’s your pick to take the crown? Drop your thoughts in the comments!