Jamaican sprint star Shericka Jackson has withdrawn from the women’s 100 meters at the Paris 2024 Olympics, opting to focus solely on the 200-meter event. The decision was revealed by the athlete on Wednesday, and it marks a significant shift in the highly anticipated sprint competition.
“It was a combination of things,” Jackson said. “I got hurt, and me and my coach felt like it was a good decision to only run one event.”
Jackson, a bronze medalist in the 100 meters at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and silver medalist at the 2023 World Championships, will be replaced by Shashalee Forbes, who finished fourth at the Jamaican trials, World-Track understands. This unexpected move reshapes the field for one of the Games’ most prestigious events.
Read more: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson Headline Jamaica Paris 2024 Olympic Team
The 30-year-old sprinter cited her current status as the primary reason for concentrating on the 200 meters, an event in which she holds two world championship titles.
Her decision to withdraw from the 100 meters comes despite a season-best time of 10.84 seconds, which secured her the Jamaican championship in the event last month.
“It was a combination of so much stuff that I personally don’t want to talk about,” she said. “Sometimes you have to go through a rocky road to get where you’re trying to go. And my rocky road has happened to me.”
The track and field events at the Paris 2024 Olympics are set to begin on August 1, with the women’s 100-meter competition being one of the most eagerly awaited.
Jackson’s absence will undoubtedly alter the dynamics of the race, potentially opening up opportunities for other contenders.
While Jackson’s focus narrows to the 200 meters, questions remain about her potential participation in Jamaica’s relay teams.
