Paris Olympics: Why Did Shericka Jackson Pull Out of the Olympics Race?

Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson has withdrawn from the 200-meter race at the Paris Summer Olympics, meaning she will not compete for an individual medal.

This decision follows her earlier withdrawal from the 100-meter event, where she had initially hoped to focus on the 200 meters.

Jackson, the reigning 200m world champion, had been a favorite to win the race. She had assured the public after pulling out of the 100m where she won a bronze medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics that she was still in “good shape” and was aiming to perform at her best in the 200m.

However, she was dealing with hamstring issues leading up to the Olympics. “It’s a combination of a lot of stuff,” Jackson told Olympics.com after withdrawing from the 100m. “I just want to compete at my best, as everybody is here to win.”

The exact reason for Jackson’s withdrawal from the 200m race remains unclear, and it is uncertain if her hamstring issue played a role. Jackson, 30, remains eligible to compete in the women’s 4×100 relay scheduled for Thursday, August 8 alongside fellow Jamaican track star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Fraser-Pryce, a two-time Olympic 100m gold medalist, also withdrew from the individual 100m just before the semi-final race on Saturday.

The gold in that event went to St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred—a historic win for her country.