"We were talking about her maybe beating Flo Jo’s record"; "Real tears"- Fans react to Elaine Thompson-Herah withdrawing from Jamaican Olympic Trials

Elaine Thompson-Herah will not be competing in the upcoming Paris Olympics after withdrawing from the Jamaican Olympic trials due to injury. The 31-year-old won three gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics.

Elaine Thompson-Herah is the fastest woman alive in the 100m, boasting a time of 10.54s, which she recorded at the 2021 Prefontaine Classic. The Jamaican became the first-ever female to win the sprint double (100m and 200m) at two consecutive Olympiads.

After an injury-marred season in 2023, Thompson-Herah entered 2024 with the hope of getting into the Paris rosters. At the 2024 NYC Grand Prix, Elaine Thompson-Herah sustained an injury midway through her race, removed her right shoe, and sat down on the track.

Though she flew to Germany to seek help from orthopedist Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt, the impact of her Grand Prix injury lingered. The Achilles tendon tear has visibly ended her Olympic dreams. She will not participate in any event at the 2024 Jamaican Olympic Trials, which came as a blow to track fans.

An X page announced the news, writing:

"JUST IN: Elaine Thompson-Herah will not defend any of her Olympic titles!"

The track fans expressed sorrow upon hearing the heartbreaking news.

One fan wished to watch Elaine Thompson-Herah go for Flo-Jo's 100m world record.

"This is sad man. 2 years ago we were talking about her maybe beating FloJo’s record"

Another fan said:

"Real tears"

Another fan mourned the possible end of a chapter in track and field.

"Between injuries and retirements, we are truly seeing the end of a chapter in Track and Field."

Here are some of the other reactions:

"Nuff love and healing to the champion," a fan commented.

"I hate to hear that but i knew it could happened!" a fan tweeted.

"Hope she can recover fully and comeback stronger," tweeted a fan.

Elaine Thompson-Herah wishes to resume her track career after recovery

Athletics - Commonwealth Games Day 5

The five-time Olympic champion ended her bid to defend her 100m and 200m Olympic titles in Paris. But she announced her comeback as soon as she recovers from the Achilles tendon injury.

Taking to her Instagram post, Thompson-Herah penned a note about how her leg wouldn't allow her to be on the Olympic run. However, she will resume her track career soon.

"It’s a long road but I am willing to start over and keep working and to make full recovery and resume my track career. I am hurt and devastated to be missing the Olympic this year but at the end of the day it’s sports and my health comes first."

The 31-year-old was the first woman to go the 40km/h barrier at the 2021 Prefontaine Classic, her record-setting event.