Elaine Thompson-Herah Withdraws from National Trials

Elaine Thompson-Herah, the two-time defending Olympic champion in both the 100 and 200 meters, has withdrawn from the Jamaican Olympic Trials, and will therefore miss the Paris 2024 Olympics. The announcement came via her Instagram account, where she cited an Achilles injury sustained earlier this month at the New York Grand Prix as the reason for her withdrawal.

Thompson-Herah, who turns 32 on June 28, had already decided not to defend her 200m title after missing the deadline to compete at the Jamaican Athletics Championships, scheduled from June 27-30, as she was only entered for the 100m event. Her season-opening race at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene last month saw her finish last, clocking 11.30 seconds.

Despite the setback, Thompson-Herah remains optimistic, stating in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “I will be back.”

Thompson-Herah is one of the most decorated sprinters in Olympic history, with five Olympic gold medals. She achieved the rare Olympic sprint double by winning both the 100m and 200m events at the Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo Games. Her personal best in the 100m is 10.54 seconds, making her the second-fastest woman in history, while her 200m personal record of 21.53 seconds is the third fastest ever.

The absence of Thompson-Herah from the Paris Olympics means that for the first time since 2016 there will be a new Olympic champion in both the 100m and 200m women’s sprint. Jamaica has dominated the women’s 100 meters at the Olympics, winning the last four gold medals. In the 200 meters, if not for Allyson Felix’s victory in 2012, Jamaica would hold the last five Olympic golds.

As the Jamaican team prepares for the trials, the void left by Thompson-Herah will undoubtedly be felt. However, her withdrawal opens up opportunities for emerging sprinters to step into the spotlight and make their mark on the world stage.