Elaine Thompson-Herah out of Olympics with Achilles injury
Elaine Thompson-Herah, winner of five Olympic gold medals over the 100m, 200m and 4x100m, will miss the Paris Olympics.
The 31-year-old Jamaican was aiming to defend the Olympic 100m and 200m titles she claimed in both Rio and Tokyo, but will now watch the Games from the sidelines.
Thompson-Herah, who is the only sprinter other than Usain Bolt to win multiple Olympic 100m and 200m gold medals, pulled out of this weekend's Jamaican trials due to a small tear on her Achilles tendon.
That injury was sustained at the New York Grand Prix on June 9, where Thompson-Herah finished ninth over 100m in 11.48 (-2.1) and was carried off the track after the race.
On her Instagram, the Jamaican stated that before the line she "realised something was wrong" and "I couldn't apply any pressure to the leg whatsoever".
🚨Breaking: Track & Field Fans & my Jamaican cousins:
Elaine Thompson-Herah had to be carried off of the track at the New York Grand Prix, after injuring her Achilles while running the 100M.
She finished last in 11.48 (-2.1), but immediately removed her shoe & was limping. pic.twitter.com/7GEBVU4SI0
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) June 9, 2024
"I got back home with a strong mindset, to keep pushing and prepare for my national trials. I wanted a shot for my third Olympics but the leg wouldn’t allow me to," Thompson-Herah added.
"It’s a long road but I am willing to start over, keep working, make a full recovery and resume my track career. I am hurt and devastated to be missing the Olympics this year but at the end of the day it’s sport and my health comes first.
"This wasn't the birthday gift I was hoping for but God, whatever you have in store for me, I will wait and I will still continue to work towards the goals that I haven’t achieved yet. I will definitely be watching from the stands to cheer my country Jamaica on. I will be back!"
Jamaica's women have dominated Olympic sprinting in recent times. Since Athens 2004, only Allyson Felix – 200m gold at London 2012 – has denied Jamaica a place on the top of an individual sprints podium.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce secured Olympic 100m golds at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 while Veronica Campbell-Brown won the 200m title at Athens 2004 and then retained it, four years later, in the Chinese capital.
Thompson-Herah and Fraser-Pryce have also shared the Olympic podium on two occasions, claiming 4x100m silver at Rio 2016 and then gold at Tokyo 2020.
With Thompson-Herah now absent from Paris, it means that Jamaican gold medal hopes will now rest with Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson.
The Jamaican Olympic trials will be held between June 27-30 in Kingston.
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