Young girls look up to Jamaican sprinting icon Shericka Jackson. “Never give up,” she said while accepting a national honour at the National Honours and Awards Ceremony at King’s House in 2022 for her achievements in track and field. She backed her words when she broke her own 200m Championship record and clocked 21.41 seconds at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

Then, she stood atop the podium at the 2023 Diamond League final in Eugene. She clocked in at 10.70 seconds to stun Sha’Carri Richardson, who came fourth in 100m. As the Jamaican is all girded up to clinch another glory in the French capital next year, she visited a special place from her childhood in search of succor for the upcoming season.

Shericka Jackson finds new track and field motivation

Following her victory in Eugene, Shericka Jackson brought glory home to Jamaica. As she came back home, she took a moment to visit her alma mater, Vere Technical High School in Hayes, Jamaica, to reconnect with her roots and also spend time with the budding talents. Shericka Jackson was received with a warm welcome from the students, who were excited to meet their hero.

However, two young girls stood out. They wrote two very sentimental letters. Jackson uploaded a slew of pictures from the school visit on Instagram, mentioning the letters in the caption, saying, “they both gave me 2 letter and I took them and smile, I was super busy at the time to read them. I read them when I got home and got so emotional because I could feel every word they wrote”.

The reigning 200-meter world champion was taken aback by the genuine love of the girls. She uploaded the letters on Instagram, where the first one from Roneisha addressed her as “the most beautiful girl/woman in the world.”

The little fan also apologized if she made Jackson feel uneasy with her out-pour of adoration. However, to Shericka Jackson, it was nothing less than pure bliss to know how she had made an impact on their lives. This visit has proved fruitful ahead of the 2024 season, where Shericka Jackson will face an uphill battle.

Shericka Jackson’s ambitious goal for next year

After securing her undisputed dominance in the 200-meter events with two back-to-back gold medals, the Jamaican track and field legend wants to assert her claim on the 400-meter crown.

After winning the Pre-Classics, Shericka Jackson said, “Today was amazing, a great end to the season. It just gives me stuff to work on, prepare for the Olympics next year”. The 2024 season will be a career-defining moment for Jackson, who will try to win her second gold medal.

Read More: Despite Jamaican Rivalry, Sha’Carri Richardson’s Gesture Towards Shericka Jackson Shows a Different Picture

In 2023, she tested the waters at the Miramar Invitational Meet. She came third at 51.64 seconds. She has previously won medals in 400m at the Olympics and World Championships. But she switched to short sprints two years ago. Now, she wants to commit herself fully to the 400 meters while improving her time in the 200 meters. Even the Jamaican MVP Track and Field Club confirmed that Shericka Jackson would branch out to the 400-meter races in 2024.

With the 2024 Paris Olympics looming in the distance, the possibilities are endless. What do you think?

Watch this story: From Tyson Gay to Usain Bolt-Top 5 Richest Track and Field Athletes out there