Jamaica’s 100m Bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics, Shericka Jackson, will not compete in the 100m race at the Paris Olympics, as confirmed by Team Jamaica officials.
While no specific reason was given for her withdrawal, it was noted that Jackson will now be focusing on the 200m, her specialty. Shericka, who is Jamaica’s fastest 100m runner this year with a time of 10.84 seconds at the Jamaican Olympic Trials, has chosen to skip the race in Paris. She will be replaced by Shashalee Forbes, who will compete for Jamaica in the 100m alongside Tia Clayton and eight-time Olympic medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Forbes finished fourth at the Jamaican Trials with a season’s best of 11.03 seconds.
Jackson will compete in the 200m, where she is the reigning world champion and holds the second-fastest time ever recorded at 21.41 seconds.
Jackson was considered a strong contender for the gold medal in the 100m, and her absence will significantly impact the competition. This provides a major advantage to American Sha’Carri Richardson, St. Lucian Julien Alfred, and Fraser-Pryce, all of whom are set to run.
Richardson, competing in her first Olympic event, will now face the challenge without one of her top rivals, positioning her as an even stronger favorite for the gold. The women’s 100m heats start on August 2.
