Double sprint champion Thompson-Herah to miss Paris Games

Elaine Thompson-Herah, a double Olympic sprint winner, withdrew from the Jamaican trials citing an Achilles issue.

He won't be able to defend her 100- and 200-meter crowns in August at the Paris Games due to this ailment.

One of the best sprinters of all time, the Jamaican will turn 32 on Friday. She was the first female to win a back-to-back Olympic sprint double in Tokyo in 2022.

Thompson-Herah suffered the injury at the 100 metres at the New York Grand Prix earlier this month, finishing in 11.48 seconds. She last competed in the 200 metres in April 2023.

The Jamaican posted on Instagram, saying, "It's never fun sharing news like this, but at the New York Grand Prix, I felt something in the race and still insist to push, couple steps to the line I realise something is really wrong."

"As I was dragged off the course, I was unable to put any pressure on my leg, so I sat on the ground. I made a hasty trip to the doctor, where I was informed that I had a tiny tear in my Achilles tendon.

"My leg wouldn't let me prepare for my national trials, but I returned home with a strong mentality to keep pushing."

An Achilles ailment also plagued Thompson-Herah following her incredible sprint double at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and she missed out on medals at the 2017 and 2019 world championships.
The three-times Diamond League winner stormed back with her second double at her second Games in Tokyo, also claiming a relay gold to take her tally to five.
Thompson-Herah declared that she was not giving up on her sprint career and that she will be supporting her countrymen in Paris, ideally on the spot.

It will take time, but she wrote, "I am willing to start over, keep working, make a full recovery, and resume my track career."

"Although I'm sad and upset about missing the Olympics this year, sports come first, and my health comes first." I'll be back.

Since Thompson-Herah was unable to make the June 27–30 deadline to compete in the Jamaican Athletics Championships, she had already made the decision not to defend her 200-meter championship.

The Stade de France will host the athletics events during the Paris Olympics from August 1 to August 11.