via Reuters
Athletics – Diamond League – Lausanne – Lausanne, Switzerland – August 26, 2021 Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce celebrates winning the women’s 100m final as Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah looks dejected after finishing second REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
via Reuters
Athletics – Diamond League – Lausanne – Lausanne, Switzerland – August 26, 2021 Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce celebrates winning the women’s 100m final as Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah looks dejected after finishing second REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
The 2022 World Athletics Championships start July 15 and will feature some tremendous match-ups of track and field athletes around the world. Originally, the championships were scheduled for the 2021 season, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to a postponement. We will see top stars like Elaine Thompson-Herah and Erriyon Knighton on the track.
The final entry lists confirm that more than 1900 athletes from 192 teams will take part in the competition. Among them, 37 are looking to defend their titles from the 2019 edition of the championships.
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The women?s 200m will be a fierce competition
At the 2022 World Championships, the 200m women?s event is attracting a lot of attention. Reigning champion Dina Asher-Smith will be looking to retain her title, competing against current world-lead Shericka Jackson.?
via Reuters
Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Athletics – Women’s 100m – Medal Ceremony – Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan ? August 1, 2021. Gold medallist, Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica wearing a protective face mask on the podium poses with silver medallist, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica wearing a protective face mask and bronze medallist Shericka Jackson of Jamaica wearing a protective face mask REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Also featured in the race is the second-fastest ever in the discipline Elaine-Thompson Herah. Unfortunately, Gabby Thomas will?miss out on the championships because of a hamstring injury. And Sha’Carri Richardson failed to qualify for the event. Besides, other notable athletes in the event include the Olympic silver medalist, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce,?and Abby Steiner, who holds the second-best time this season.
With three of Jamaica?s top sprinters competing in the discipline, fans are hoping to see a Jamaican sweep at the event with all podium places filled by the team. However, the fierce competition isn?t the only reason this event is attracting eyeballs.
Jamaican fans enraged for Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah
For promotion, the World Athletics Twitter account came out with posters featuring the top contenders for every event. The women?s 200m race highlights Shericka Jackson, Abby Steiner, and Elaine Thomson-Herah, edited in that order.
But comparing personal best times, Thompson-Herah (21.53), or Shericka Jackson (21.55), were edged out to provide center stage for Abby Steiner (21.77). The fans of the two Jamaican athletes felt incredibly offended by this decision.
https://twitter.com/FeministaJones/status/1545975841733083137?s=20&t=6nYVFYzBXdNSuN9j1oatPA
why tf she in the middle when elaine is right there 🙂🙂 and sherika has the wl time atm🙂🙂 https://t.co/qhy1D9NrSn
— milla b❦ (@milla_bx) July 9, 2022
Putting a woman who never been to the Olympics center stage over two of the fastest women of our generation. Actually, take her out. https://t.co/yNmy5bCEv1
— 「Obi-Pong Kenobi」 (@duanepongo) July 9, 2022
Many defended that it was an ?aesthetic decision? more than anything else. But the fans weren?t having it.
why are people defending this as design choice? you ever see them rearrange the podium based on design? https://t.co/eFiM2ZRzXr
— Ms. Crawford (@iso_godot) July 9, 2022
Look at the Personal Best times at the bottom, and then go back and look at the order of how the athletes are arranged on the flyer… then tell me why Jamaicans don’t have every reason to act up for this. 😑 https://t.co/vWaYoB34Im
— Tenille Clarke (@tenilleclarke1) July 9, 2022
It’s the constant disrespect of our athletes. Thank God their performances speak for them and they don’t need validation from a placement on a poster. https://t.co/NTNAiKZ0Gq
— BURNA GIRL 🦍 (@OWASINDA) July 9, 2022
https://twitter.com/a_j_francis/status/1545857410929147910?s=20&t=6nYVFYzBXdNSuN9j1oatPA
Who should be in the middle?
The American so she can be sandwiched between the two Jamaican?
Or the first woman in the world to win the 100m & 200m in consecutive Olympics? https://t.co/G1dEst8op7
— 🧐 (@Roastyamm) July 8, 2022
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The fans didn?t appreciate the way the poster represented Jamaican athletes. Even Michael Johnson got involved, trying to appease the crowd.
Great promo @WorldAthletics I would do it slightly different.
Shericka – Fastest this year. 21.55
Abby – New kid. US Champ. 21.77
Elaine – 2x Olympic Champ. 21.53Get hung up on who’s in the middle if you want. I’m gonna give benefit of doubt to graphic design. https://t.co/sIXp9TM4fJ
— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) July 8, 2022
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What do you make of the fans reacting to this matter? Let us know in the comments below.
