Paris Olympics 2024: World Champion Shericka Jackson Withdraws From 200-Meters In Paris

During the 200-meter dash qualifying rounds this morning, world champion Shericka Jackson withdrew from the race. Jackson and her team have yet to release a statement about her reasoning for pulling out of the event.

Jackson is the second-fastest woman of all time in the 200-meter dash, with only Florence Griffith Joyner ahead of her. Her personal best is 21.41 seconds, which she set last year when she won the world championships.

Several days ago, Jackson also withdrew from the 100-meter dash. In interviews earlier this week, she expressed that she had no major injuries but withdrew to protect her body.

In Hungary last month, Jackson pulled up before the finish line, suggesting an injury. In a statement after the meet, she said that she didn’t acquire a major injury and that it was just a cramp.

Considering her deep list of accolades, Jackson’s absence from the race will be missed. Fans were excited for the showdown between her, Olympic bronze medalist Gabby Thomas, and freshly crowned Olympic champion Julien Alfred.

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Amid Jackson’s withdrawal, questions surround the fate of the Jamaica women’s 4×100-meter relay. Last year, with Jackson as the anchor, they placed second behind Team USA at the world championships.

Eight-time Olympic medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce adds to the concern as well. She was second leg on the relay last year but she also withdrew from the 100-meter dash yesterday.

Most notably, Elaine Thompson-Herah, a staple on Jamaica’s 4×100-meter relay for years alongside Fraser-Pryce and Jackson, did not race at the Jamaica Olympic trials due to an injury she acquired during the NYC Grand Prix. Thompson-Herah is also the second-fastest woman in history in the 100-meter dash at 10.54 seconds.

Despite the possibility of not having Jamaica’s most legendary sprinters on the relay, Jamaica may still have a chance to podium with their available squad. Fans can expect athletes such as Sashalee Forbes and Tia Clayton on the relay.

Forbes was a part of their 2016 Olympic relay team and last year’s team that won silver at the world championships. Clayton is only 19-years old and made her first Olympic final yesterday, placing seventh.

Team Jamaica also flew in Kemba Nelson in preparation for the relay. Nelson was the first leg on the relay at the 2022 world championships when they earned silver.

Jamaica women’s sports sprinters earned 15 of the 24 Olympic medals in the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash from 2008 to 2021. This will be the first Olympics since 1988 in which a Jamaican woman will not earn an individual medal in a short sprint event.