Elaine Thompson-Herah, winner of five Olympic gold medals over the 100m, 200m and 4x100m, will miss the Paris Olympics.
The 31-year-old Jamaican was aiming to defend the Olympic 100m and 200m titles she claimed in both Rio and Tokyo, but will now watch the Games from the sidelines.
Thompson-Herah, who is the only sprinter other than Usain Bolt to win multiple Olympic 100m and 200m gold medals, pulled out of this weekend’s Jamaican trials due to a small tear on her Achilles tendon.
That injury was sustained at the New York Grand Prix on June 9, where Thompson-Herah finished ninth over 100m in 11.48 (-2.1) and was carried off the track after the race.
On her Instagram, the Jamaican stated that before the line she “realised something was wrong” and “I couldn’t apply any pressure to the leg whatsoever”.
I got back home with a strong mindset, to keep pushing and prepare for my national trials. I wanted a shot for my third Olympics but the leg wouldn’t allow me to,” Thompson-Herah added.
It’s a long road but I am willing to start over, keep working, make a full recovery and resume my track career. I am hurt and devastated to be missing the Olympics this year but at the end of the day it’s sport and my health comes first.
“This wasn’t the birthday gift I was hoping for but God, whatever you have in store for me, I will wait and I will still continue to work towards the goals that I haven’t achieved yet. I will definitely be watching from the stands to cheer my country Jamaica on. I will be back!”
