Elaine Thompson-Herah issues strong message about her comeback after withdrawing from the Jamaican Olympic Trials

Elaine Thompson-Herah won't be defending her 100m and 200m titles at the Paris Olympics, but the 31-year-old already has her eyes set on a comeback. On Wednesday, June 26, it was announced that the sprinter would forgo the Jamaican Olympic Trials due to injury and fans will have to wait a while to see her back in action again.

Thompson-Herah’s shot at a title defense in Paris seemed shaky from the beginning of the year, with her late start to the season raising some concern. After a forgettable 2023, the Jamaican made her debut for 2024 in May at the Prefontaine Classic, where she finished last with a time of 11.30.

She then went on to race at the USATF New York City Grand Prix, where another last-place finish awaited her. At the Icahn Stadium, the 31-year-old clocked a 11.48, and immediately removed her shoes at the finish line, limping off the track before her team carried her out.

Now, in a statement released by her management team, it has been announced that Elaine Thompson-Herah will not be competing at the Jamaican Olympic Trials. This news comes a week after it was revealed that the sprinter was foregoing the 200m distance at the Trials.

However, Thompson-Herah has already issued a simple and strong statement about her return to the track, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to write,

“I will be back.”

While the Jamaican’s return to the track will be widely anticipated, she has missed out on a chance to script history at the 2024 Games. Eight years ago, at the Rio Olympics, she became the first woman after Florence Griffith-Joyner to win the 100m and 200m crowns at a single edition of the Games. 2016 also saw her claim a silver in the 4x100m relay.

Four years later, after battling injury issues in the 2017 and 2019 seasons, the 31-year-old was back on top of the podium in the 100m and 200m races at Tokyo. She also upgraded her relay silver to a gold, making her a five-time Olympic champion.

Had she been successful in her title defense at the Paris Olympics, she would have become only the second person after compatriot Usian Bolt to achieve the ‘sprint double’ at three consecutive Games.

What injury caused Elaine Thompson-Herah to skip the 2024 Jamaican Olympic Trials?

Elaine Thompson-Herah’s reason for missing the Jamaican Olympic Trials is likely her recurring Achilles tendon issues. The fastest woman alive originally dealt with the injury after her heroics at the 2016 Games, resulting in impressive performances from her at the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships.

However, the Jamaican recovered in time for the Tokyo Olympics, only to be sidelined by the same achilles issues once again a couple of years later. In 2023, Thompson-Herah missed out on making it to the national team headed to the Budapest World Athletics Championships individually, qualifying only for the relay.

While she seemed to be inching her way back to her original form by the end of the year, 2024 has dealt the Olympic Champion another blow. Fans will now have to wait to see when Elaine Thompson-Herah gets back to her winning ways.