According to Radio Jamaica News, five-time Olympic champion, the fastest woman alive in the 100 m, and the second fastest alive in the 200 m, Elaine Thompson has parted ways from her most recent coach, Shanikie Osbourne. With Paris Olympics being just a few months away, many are concerned. At the end of her 2023 track season, Elaine's comeback had her looking confident and ready to create an uproar at the next Olympics. Now this current disturbance might cause some hurdles in her road to Paris.
According to Radio Jamaica News, Sources within the inner circle, choosing to remain unidentified, indicate that Coach Osbourne has been conspicuously absent from Thompson-Herah's training sessions for approximately a week. While the exact reasons for the split remain undisclosed, whispers in the athletic community suggest potential disagreements over remuneration.
Coach Osbourne played a pivotal role in Thompson-Herah's late-season comeback. Overcoming challenges from an Achilles tendon injury, Thompson-Herah initially secured fifth place in the 100m final with a time of 11.06 seconds at the National Championship on July 7, earning her a spot on the relay squad. Elaine herself was happy about this and represented well.
Under Coach Osbourne's guidance, Thompson-Herah experienced a remarkable resurgence. She sprinted an impressive 9.93 seconds during the sprint relay semi-finals at the World Championship in Budapest, sparking a series of outstanding performances. To witness this was phenomenal.
Her season best dipped to 11 seconds flat on August 31 in Zürich, followed by a swift 10.92 seconds in Bellinzona, Switzerland, on September 4. The pinnacle came at the Brussels Diamond League meet on September 8, where she clocked an impressive 10.84 seconds. Thompson-Herah concluded her season on a high note, setting a remarkable time of 10.79 seconds on September 16 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. Her 2023 season ended on a high. Many were happy Elaine was returning to her former glory and look forward to her surpassing such in a few months.
As the journey towards the Paris Olympics takes an unexpected turn for the sprint sensation, the Jamaican sports community watches with anticipation for what lies ahead. We wish Elaine Thompson all the best.
