Jamaican sprinter Shericka Jackson has announced that she will not compete in the 100 meters event at the forthcoming Olympic Games, set to commence this Friday. This decision comes as a result of an injury she sustained during a preparatory race earlier this month. Jackson, recognized as one of the world’s top sprinters, will still participate in her favored 200 meters event, where she is one of the few women to have run the distance in under 21.5 seconds. Her withdrawal from the 100 meters dims the excitement surrounding the Olympic sprint, in which she was considered a top contender behind reigning world champion Sha’Carri Richardson.
The 30-year-old sprinter experienced a painful conclusion to a race in Hungary three weeks ago, where she was leading but suddenly came to a halt before crossing the finish line. “It was a combination of things,” Jackson commented. “I got injured, and my coach and I felt it was a good decision to compete in only one discipline.”
Jackson has previously secured national titles in both distances this year and was expected to be part of the strong Jamaican sprint team. Her decision means she will now be sidelined alongside two-time defending Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah. However, 37-year-old Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who is participating in her fifth and final Olympics, remains in competition and has previously won gold in the 100 meters in 2008 and 2012.
Stephen Francis, Jackson’s coach, stated earlier this week that Jackson “looks okay,” but she explained that the decision to withdraw came from both her assessment and her coach’s recommendation. “Sometimes you have to go through a tough phase to reach your goals,” she noted.
Last year in Tokyo, Jackson won bronze in the 100 meters and took silver behind Fraser-Pryce at the 2022 World Championships. She has claimed victory in the last two World Championships in the 200 meters, with her most recent win marked by a time of 21.41 seconds, just 0.07 seconds shy of Florence Griffith-Joyner’s world record from 1988.
Jackson expressed that she is ready for the 200 meters, which kicks off with qualifications on Sunday. “I have always felt comfortable. I feel healthy, and I’m doing well,” she stated.
The first round of the women’s 100 meters at the Paris Olympics is scheduled for Friday at the Stade de France, with the semifinals and finals set for Saturday. The opening round for the 200 meters will take place on Sunday, followed by semifinals on Monday and the final on Tuesday.