Gabby Thomas Slams Lausanne Diamond League as She Pulls Out of Showdown with Shericka Jackson and Julien Alfred

Olympics 200m champion Gabby Thomas has hit out at Lausanne Diamond League organizers for confirming her participation in this year’s Diamond League race without her consent.

Thomas was among a star-studded 200m cast announced on Tuesday for the Lausanne Diamond League with the others being reigning world champion Shericka Jackson, Olympics 100m champion and 200m silver medalist Julien Alfred as well as former world champion Dina Asher-Smith.

However, just as fans were looking forward to the epic battle, Thomas distanced herself from the event, saying she is focusing on her recovery from an Achilles injury to be ready and healthy for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo in September instead.

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“This is news to me! Maybe I’ll change my training plan and go race,” Thomas posted on X in reference to the Lausanne Diamond League women’s 200m list announced earlier in the day that had her name.

“They asked me to come, but I haven’t confirmed (in fact I said no). I just don’t like news coming out without my confirmation because if I “pull out” it looks bad on me. So now I feel like I have to go,” she further said as per Sportstar.

Thomas, who announced on Sunday that she is nursing the Achilles injury, was a surprise inclusion in the August 20 Lausanne race as she had already confirmed that she is focusing on her full recovery in time for the World Championships.

The American had run through the pain at the US Championships to finish third in the 200m final and seal her ticket to Tokyo, having pulled out of the 100m semi-final over fears of aggravating the injury before running her specialty.