After Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson withdraws from 200m at Paris Olympics seconds before the race

Shericka Jackson withdrew from the women's 200m Round 1 of the Paris Olympics moments before the commencement of the race. The Jamaican athlete was set to compete in the 100m and the 200m at the Paris Olympics but has now withdrawn from both races.

Jackson had arrived at the warm-up track for the race, however, she opted out of the race moments before the start. She was slated to run in the heat no 3 of the women's 200m round 1. Daryll Neita was one of her top competitors in Heat 3. The official results mention Shericka Jackson as DNS (did not start).

With some great performances this year, the Jamaican athlete was considered one of the top prospects for the podium at the Paris Olympics. After the reigning double Olympic Champion Elaine Thompson-Herah withdrew from the Olympic trials, Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce were the country's biggest hopes for Olympic glory in Paris. Niesha Burgher, who clocked 22.54s, and Lanae-Tava Thomas, who clocked 22.70 to gain automatic qualification for the semi-finals of the women's 200m, are keeping the country's hope for a medal in the event alive.

The Jamaican athlete is yet to release an official statement about her last-minute withdrawal from the women's 200m at the Paris Olympics.

Some of the top performers in the women's 200m round 1 at the Paris Olympics were Gabby Thomas (22.20s), Favor Offili ( 22.24s), Dina Asher-Smith (22.28s), Brittany Brown (22.38s), Daryll Neita (22.39s), and 100m gold medalist Julien Alfred (22.41s).

Shericka Jackson on withdrawing from the 100m at the Paris Olympics

Shericka Jackson at the World Athletics Championships. Budapest 2023. - Source: Getty

Shericka Jackson's withdrawal in the women's 100m came off as a shocker to fans as they were expecting a great contest between Sha'Carri Richardson, Julien Alfred, and the two Jamaican athletes for the Olympic title.

She revealed that the decision was a culmination of both focusing on one event as well as taking care of her body after facing a cramp during the Hungarian Grand Prix.

“The decision is just to protect my body. As I’ve said for the last three years, I’ve been competing in both events. It’s a combination of both just focusing on one event and what happened in Hungary,” she said.

Moreover, she spoke about the possibility of creating a world record at the Olympics in the 200m and said:

“With all honesty, I don’t think there’s a world record coming.”

Team Jamaica is yet to release an official update on the participating athletes in the women's 4x100m relay scheduled on August 8, 202,4 at 5:10 am ET.