Shericka Jackson Withdraws from Olympic 200m

Jamaican sprinter Shericka Jackson has withdrawn from both the women's 100m and 200m events at the Paris 2024 Olympics due to a hamstring injury, which has opened the door for American Gabby Thomas to emerge as the favorite in the 200m. Jackson, the reigning world champion and second-fastest woman in the distance's history, had initially hoped to compete despite her injury but decided against it just before the heats commenced. Her withdrawal follows a series of setbacks for Jamaican sprinters, including compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's exit from the 100m semi-final due to a rule dispute and Elaine Thompson-Herah's earlier withdrawal due to an Achilles issue. Gabby Thomas and Julien Alfred advanced easily through their respective heats, further solidifying their positions as top contenders. Jackson expressed her desire to focus on recovery and compete at her best in the future. The situation has created an unexpected shift in the dynamics of the sprint events at the Olympics.