Shericka Jackson took a seventh-month break following her Paris Olympics setback, where injury prevented her from fulfiling a lifelong dream.
Jamaican sprint queen Shericka Jackson has explained how she was able to overcome the heartbreak of being forced to pull out of the Paris Olympic games due to injury.
On Saturday (26 April), Jackson officially marked her return to track and field at the Diamond League meet in Xiamen, People's Republic of China, where she finished second in the women’s 200m.
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The 30-year-old clocked 22.79 seconds from lane 6 at the Egret Stadium, competing for the first time since July 2024.
Jackson started strongly, matching early pace-setter Mujinga Kambundji around the curve. As the Swiss sprinter faded, it was American Anavia Battle who surged ahead on the home straight, pulling away with around 80 meters to go to set a new meeting record of 22.41 seconds.
Jackson, however, showed resilience to hold on to second place, finishing ahead of U.S. athlete Jenna Prandini.
Before her comeback race, Jackson shared in a press conference how she mentally and physically navigated the disappointment of missing the Olympics.
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How family, friends and coaches helped Shericka rise
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"I needed to take a break. Last year was really, really tough — both mentally and physically. Thankfully, I had my coaches, family, and close friends supporting me," Jackson said.
She revealed that during the Olympic Games, she and her coach sat down to make the tough decision to withdraw and focus on her health.
"Coach and I actually sat down and had a conversation during the Olympics, and we decided that going home was the best thing for me at that moment."
Since then, Jackson explained, her team has been working on fine-tuning every aspect of her recovery to ensure a strong and healthy return to competition.
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"We’ve been working on the fine details of getting me healthy. I took the necessary time to heal, and now, I’m excited to be back."
With the World Championships scheduled for September, Jackson stressed that she is in no rush to hit top form immediately, instead taking a gradual and careful approach.
"It’s been since June that I last competed seriously in the 200 meters, so right now, I just want to take my time and ease back into it. I’m not rushing anything.
“The championships are in September, so I still have plenty of time to fine-tune everything. This was my first race since June, and honestly, I’m just excited to be out here again."
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Reflecting on her first race back, Jackson admitted it felt strange but ultimately reassuring.
"It definitely felt a little weird. In a way, it felt like I was learning how to run all over again. That 300 was really, really tough, but it also gave me a sense of calm.
“It helped me understand where I’m at and how it feels to push beyond 200 meters. I was excited but also nervous — but I got the job done, so I’m feeling good."
After a challenging year, Shericka Jackson’s comeback performance in Xiamen offers a promising glimpse into what could be a thrilling buildup to the 2025 World Championships.