Elaine Thompson-Herah, the fastest woman alive in the 100 meters and the second fastest in the 200 meters, has announced that she will not be competing in the Paris Olympics in 2024. This decision means she will not be defending her 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay Olympic titles. The track legend had initially opted to focus on the 100 meters in the upcoming Jamaican trials from June 27 to 30, which serve as the national selection event for the Olympics. However, she has now withdrawn from representing Jamaica in Paris altogether.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, shared just two days ahead of her birthday on June 28, Thompson-Herah revealed her difficult decision. The post featured a four-image carousel with a hopeful message. The first image read, “I will be back.” The second image depicted a message from God saying, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” The third image showed the phenomenal athlete running, followed by a final image that proclaimed, “God is not done with you.”
Elaine Thompson-Herah shared that it was difficult for her to announce her withdrawal from the Paris Olympics. During the New York Grand Prix, she felt something was wrong during the race but still pushed through. Just a few steps before the finish line, she realized she couldn’t apply any pressure to her leg and had to be carried off the track. She said, “I went quickly to get some medical check up and to found out that I have a small tear on my Achilles tendon.” Despite this, she returned home determined to prepare for the national trials and aim for her third Olympics. However, her injured leg didn’t allow her to continue.
