Shericka Jackson’s Surprising Withdrawal from Women’s 200m: The Inside Story

It’s yet another blow for the Jamaican women, a perennial Olympic powerhouse that has captured 15 of the 24 Olympic medals in the 100 and 200 since 2008.

SAINT-DENIS, France — Jamaican sprinter Shericka Jackson pulled out of the women’s 200 meters Sunday and will not race for an individual medal at the Paris Games.

Jackson, the defending world champion who is the second-fastest woman of all-time in the 200, had previously withdrawn from the 100 meters, partly due to a leg injury sustained in a tune-up race last month. The exact reason for her recent withdrawal remains unclear.

Her exit has elevated American Gabby Thomas to the position of favorite for the 200 meters. Thomas sailed through her qualifying heat, as did Julien Alfred, fresh from her victory over Sha’Carri Richardson in the 100 meters.

The absence of Jackson and other top Jamaican sprinters is significant. The nation, which has dominated Olympic sprinting events in recent years, is now without Elaine Thompson-Herah. Thompson-Herah, winner of the 100 and 200 meters in the last Olympics, ended her season early due to an Achilles injury.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, another key Jamaican sprinter, also pulled out of the 100 meters semifinals with an undisclosed injury, expressing her disappointment on social media.

Jackson clocked 21.41 seconds to win last year’s world championships, narrowly missing Florence Griffith Joyner’s long-standing world record. However, her performance has been inconsistent this season.

On July 9 in Hungary, she pulled up before the finish of a 200-meter race, casting doubts on her readiness for the Olympics.