It has been reported that Tokyo 100m bronze medalist, Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson will not race the 100 meters in Paris.
Ludlow Watts, Athletics Manager for Team Jamaica, told Radio Jamaica News that Jackson has, “given up her place in the 100 meters,” and that Shashalee Forbes would be taking her place in the event for Jamaica. Forbes was the fourth place finisher at the Jamaican Trials last month. Joining Forbes for Team Jamaica will be Tia Clayton and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
Jackson had previously intended to attempt the double in Paris, however now it appears she will only compete in the 200m. Per ESPN, “Jackson did not go into details when she confirmed Wednesday that she would focus only on the 200, which is typically her better event. She clocked her season’s best of 10.84 seconds to win the 100 at the Jamaican trials but pulled up with a calf cramp in her final outing before the Games in Hungary on July 9.”
Sha’Carri Richardson, who holds the world lead of 10.71 seconds, is coming in to the event with the hot hand. She hopes to bring Olympic gold back to the USA, a feat which was last achieved at the Atlanta 1996 Games by Gail Devers.
Jamaican sprinters have won the last four Olympic golds, which Fraser-Pryce in 2008 and 2012, followed by Elaine Thompson-Herah in 2016 and 2020.
The Athletics portion of the Olympic Games in Paris will begin on Thursday, August 1, with preliminary rounds of the women’s 100 meters to take place on Friday, August 2.
