Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, two-time Olympic champion in the 100 meters, was dramatically eliminated in the semi-finals on Saturday.
The Jamaican sprinter, who won the 100 metres at the Beijing and London Olympics, left an empty track next to American sensation Sha’Carri Richardson.
Her absence was announced just minutes before Richardson secured her spot in the final ahead of Serena Williams and Snoop Dogg.
Fraser-Pryce was aiming for a fifth consecutive 100m medal at the Olympics, having already finished on the podium in Beijing, London, Rio and Tokyo.
But her hopes of another gold medal faded when she withdrew from the competition under mysterious circumstances.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce made a dramatic withdrawal from the 100m semi-finals in Paris on Saturday
American sprint sensation Sha’Carri Richardson secured her first place in the Olympic final
It was later claimed that Fraser-Pryce, who turns 38 later this year, had withdrawn due to a hamstring injury.
According to reports, the sprinter developed the problem during her warm-up for Saturday’s semi-final.
There were no problems for Richardson, who qualified for the Olympic final for the first time after finishing second to Julien Alfred of St. Lucia.
For the first time since London 2012, three American women will go for gold in the 100m final, with Melissa Jefferson and TeeTee Terry joining Richardson.
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