Defending Olympic double champion Elaine Thompson-Herah today (June 26) announced the conclusion to her 2024 track season, as an Achilles injury rules her out of this weekend’s Jamaica National Championships.

A disappointed Thompson-Herah, in a statement on Instagram, said her withdrawal was a difficult but necessary decision.

The fastest woman alive explained that after injuring herself at the New York Grand Prix back on June 9, where she had to be lifted off the track, she returned to Jamaica motivated to push herself to get back to top fitness in time for the national senior trials.

Thompson-Herah lamented that missing out on making the team to represent Jamaica at the Paris Olympic Games was not the birthday present the soon-to-be 32-year-old had in mind but she would trust her body and her faith.

FULL STATEMENT:

“It’s never fun sharing news like this

But at the New York Grand Prix I felt something in the race and still insist to push, couple steps to the line I realize something is really wrong. I sat on the ground because I couldn’t apply any pressure to the leg whatsoever as I was carried off the track. I went quickly to get some medical check up and to found out that I have a small tear on my Achilles tendon. Funny enough I got back home with a strong mindset to keep pushing and prepare for my national trails another shot of my third Olympics but the leg wouldn’t allow me to.

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

Not 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 my goals that I haven’t achieved yet. I will be definitely watching hopefully from the stands and cheer my country Jamaica on.
I WILL BE BACK.
FASTELAINE“