Why Did Shericka Jackson Pull Out of Paris Olympics? What We Know So Far

Jamaica’s dominance in the 100m and 200m sprints seems to be fading at the Paris Olympics. First, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has had to pull out of the 100m event, in the wake of a hamstring injury. Now, Shericka Jackson, the queen of Jamaican sprinting, has also withdrawn from the Olympics 200m due to the injury she suffered at the Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix on 9th July.

Adding to this, Shericka Jackson initially revealed that she would compete solely in the 200m, skipping the 100m. She explained, “Sometimes you have to make tough decisions that are best for your body. And I think, over the years, I’ve competed in two events and everything. This year, I am god’s work and I’m just focusing on one event.”

Jackson, the only woman close to Flo-Jo’s long-standing 21.34-second record with a personal best of 21.41, was poised to set the track alight. However, her withdrawal in 200m is not the only event she’s had to bow out of.

Shericka Jackson, the two-time world champion in the 200m, had originally withdrawn from the 100m earlier in the week. On July 9th, Jackson faced a hamstring injury that affected her performance. She had to slow down during the stretch of the 200m race and ended up in 8th place. This setback made her reconsider her goals for the 2024 Paris Olympics, resulting in her choice of not participating in either event.

However, on July 30th, Jackson’s coach, Stephen Francis, told the Jamaica Observer that Jackson “appears OK to me,” and claimed that “she is one hundred percent fit.”

But later, Jackson described that her decision to pull out came from both herself and Francis. She explained, “This decision is to protect my body.” She further added, “As I said for the last three years I’ve been competing in both events, and I think this decision is due to a combination of both just focusing on one event and the injury backlash from Hungary.”

With Jackson withdrawing from both the 100m and 200m, the big question now arises: who will carry Jamaica’s hopes in Paris?

After Shericka Jackson’s exit, who can be Jamaica’s pride?

This season Jackson had been running a bit off her game, clocking times about a second slower than her world championship performance as her season best is 22.29s in 200m. However, with Jackson out of the 200m picture, Jamaica’s hopes now rest on Niesha Burgher with a personal best of 22.39 which is also her season best in 200m. Also, Lanae-Tava Thomas is the hope as her personal best is  22.63, and her season best is 22.34.

But the absence of Jackson also leaves the field wide open. Saint Lucia’s 100m gold medalist Julien Alfred and the USA’s Gabby Thomas are now in the spotlight, while Team GB’s hopes hinge on Daryl Neita, Dina Asher-Smith, and Bianca Williams can also be winners. While among them all Gabby Thomas is racked at the number 4 position in world records as her personal best is  21.60s in 200m. But when it comes to the 100m who can win it?

Shashalee Forbes, with one Olympic silver medal to her name, will fill in Jackson’s shoes for Jamaica in 100m with a personal best of 10.96s in 100m and season best 11.03s. This change in the lineup also means Team USA’s Sha’Carri Richardson is now the frontrunner, with her 10.71 being the fastest time in the world this year with a personal best of 10.65s.

Richardson, the reigning 100m world champion, is going for her first Olympic gold medal after sitting out of the Tokyo games. With Jackson out of the race, Richardson is well-positioned to seize her moment in Paris. What are your thoughts on this?