I will be back. pic.twitter.com/uz1uoCcY6l
— Elaine Thompson-Herah (@FastElaine) June 27, 2024
Jamaica has won the last four Olympic gold medals in the women’s 100 meters. If not for Allyson Felix’s gold in 2012, Jamaica would have the last five Olympic golds in the 200 meters, too.
The absence of Thompson-Herah figures to weaken Jamaica’s sprint offering in Paris, which plays into the hands of America. Jamaica still has Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the 37-year-old legend who has three Olympic gold medals, and Shericka Jackson, the dominant 200-meter sprinter. No one would be surprised if a new Jamaican star was born in Paris.
The U.S. is sending Richardson, Melissa Jefferson and Twanisha Terry to Paris in the 100 meters. Tamari Davis joins them on the 4×100 relay, giving the Americans a formidable quartet. Jamaica is the defending Olympic champion in the 4×100 relay.
But even a healthy Jamaica was going to have its hands full with Richardson, who’s been the best in the world this year. Now she has one less Olympic champion to worry about.
The women’s 200-meter portion of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field trials start Thursday. Richardson is running, along with Gabby Thomas, the reigning bronze medalist in the 200, and NCAA champion McKenzie Long.
Required reading
(Photo: David Ramos / Getty Images)
Source link : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5595472/2024/06/26/jamaican-sprinter-elaine-thompson-herah-miss-olympics/
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Publish date : 2024-06-26 22:02:51
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