"Elaine Thompson-Herah's body is done"- Ato Boldon claims Jamaica's double Olympic champion career is ‘over’

Elaine Thompson-Herah has been struggling with injuries over the last couple of seasons, and after an Achilles injury in June, the Jamaican announced that she was withdrawing from the Paris Olympics 2024. While she is the double Olympic champion in the 100m and 200m events, former sprinter Ato Boldon claimed that her career was over because of constant injuries.

Thompson-Herah delayed her 2024 season opener multiple times before racing for the first time at the Prefontaine Classic in May. She finished 9th with a time of 11.30s, and in her next race at the New York Grand Prix 2024, the 32-year-old was even slower.

Two weeks after the competition, the Olympic champion shared that she had suffered an Achilles injury and was withdrawing from the Paris Olympics 2024. Thompson-Herah won the women's 100m and 200m titles at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, but with her withdrawal, she now won't be able to match Usain Bolt's triple-double feat at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Recently, former Olympic and world medalist Boldon claimed the Achilles injury marked the end of the Jamaican’s illustrious career. The 50-year-old was asked to shed some light on Thompson-Herah's career following the Tokyo Olympics which included changing three coaches, the last one because of pay issues. She also left Nike before signing with Puma in 2022. Boldon said:

“I think she may have overestimated her value when she won the second double. It happens. It happens a lot in this sport. You have athlete X who thinks 'Oh I did blah blah and nobody's ever done that'.” (0:22)

He added:

“I think there were some mistakes made with Elaine. But I think more than anything else, her body physically is done." (1:05)

Boldon added that while he appreciated the greatness of Elaine Thompson-Herah, he didn't think the Jamaican could come back after the injury that she suffered at the NYC Grand Prix.

"I look at Elaine and think that she has done things that nobody else has done. She is in a club of one with her double-double in the last two Olympic Games. But I don't think she's coming back. I don't,” Boldon stated.

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Elaine Thompson-Herah’s coaching changes over the years

Athletics - Commonwealth Games: Elaine Thompson-Herah (Source: Getty)

Elaine Thompson-Herah started her career under one of Jamaica's greatest coaches, Stephen Francis. She won both of her 100m and 200m doubles under his tutelage before parting ways in 2021.

The 32-year-old was then coached by her husband Derron before moving to Shanike Osbourne. However, they split in late 2023 after not reaching an agreement over the pay. Thompson-Herah then joined Reynaldo Walcott and is currently with him. Walcott also coaches Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.