Aussie Olympics legend lifts lid on Shericka Jackson’s withdrawal from Paris Games that has left Jamaica reeling
John Steffensen says he met Shericka Jackson just hours before her shocking withdrawal from Olympics.
And the Australian athletics legend believes the Jamaican did everything she could to get to the start of the 100 and 200 metres in Paris.
Jackson had withdrawn from the 100 meters earlier this week to concentrate on the 200 meters, the event she won at the last two world championships.
But she did not appear at the start on Sunday and it remains to be seen whether she will participate in the 4x100m relay in the coming days.
And Stan Sport athletics expert Steffensenwho won silver in the men’s 4x400m relay in Athens, is convinced that Jackson made the right decision.
“I saw Shericka yesterday, she was… I won’t reveal where she was, but she did everything she could to get to the Olympics,” he told Ny Breaking Australia.
“She’s experienced at this level, along with her coach Steve Francis. You know, she’s been at the top of the world sprint for the last three, four years and they knew it wouldn’t be worth going there if she wasn’t 100 percent.
“As we have seen in the first three or four days of the athletics program, if you don’t come 100 percent, good luck, because the athletes are ready to rock and those who are who haven’t made a name for themselves like Julien Alfred will. We saw that last night.”
John Steffensen has given his verdict on Shericka Jackson’s withdrawal from the 200m
The Australian legend saw Jackson on Saturday and believes she made the right decision
The reason behind Jackson’s withdrawal is not yet clear, but it is another major blow for Jamaica after legendary sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce withdrew from the 100m semi-finals on Saturday night.
Fraser-Pryce, Olympic champion in the 100 meters in 2008 and 2012, has had a season with many injuries, but she weathered her heat wave well on Friday morning.
However, shortly before the start of the semi-final it was confirmed that she would not race.
Jackson and Fraser-Pryce were expected to lead the Jamaican relay team, but their participation in the event is now in doubt.