PARIS, France — Shericka Jackson admitted that the reasons for her withdrawal from the women’s 100m at the 2024 Paris Olympics were multifaceted, even as she refused to provide any details.
Citing recent injury concerns and a strategic focus on the 200m, the two-time World Athletics 200m champion has withdrawn from the 100m event at the upcoming Games. Jackson, who has been chasing the 36-year-old world record in the 200m, emphasized the importance of protecting her body and concentrating on excelling in one event as the competition draws near.
“It’s a combination of things,” Jackson explained at a media event on Wednesday at Puma House. “I got hurt in Hungary, and it’s a good decision to run one event. I think this is just to protect my body. For the last three years, I’ve been competing in both events, and I think this decision is a combination of both, just focusing on one event and what happened in Hungary.”
Shericka Jackson at peace with decision
Jackson’s pursuit of the world record saw her come close at the World Championships in Budapest last year, where she clocked 21.41 seconds, breaking her own championship record of 21.45 seconds set in Oregon the previous year. Her time is the second-fastest ever recorded by a woman over 200m.
Despite her strong form, Jackson has chosen to concentrate solely on the 200m at Paris 2024. “That decision was based on coach and I,” she told the media in Paris. “It’s a combination of a lot of things. And I made that decision not to contest the 100m and focus only on the 200, and I think we’re pretty happy with that. I just [want] to compete at my best, as everybody is here to win.”
Reflecting on her choice, Jackson added, “I’m always at peace. You have to make decisions that are best for your body and your mind and your soul. I think I am okay with the decision that coach and I made.”
Jackson’s participation in the 4x100m relay, an event in which she helped Jamaica secure an Olympic title at Tokyo 2020, remains uncertain. “The focus is on the individual event first and then we speak about the relay after,” she stated.
Pulled up in the last race
In her last race on July 9 at the Gyulai István Memorial in Székesfehérvár, Hungary, Shericka Jackson pulled up nearing the finish of the 200m. Despite this setback, she assured fans that she is in good shape to vie for her first individual Olympic title.
“Honestly, I was only supposed to compete in that event, and as coach stated, we only run a few races in Europe, and I think that was the only race all of us were supposed to run… I’m in pretty good shape,” reassured the five-time Olympic medalist.
Jackson’s primary focus remains on securing the 200m title rather than breaking the world record of 21.34 seconds set by Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988. “Given how I have been progressing this season, I don’t think the world record is on my mind right now,” she concluded.
