Justin Gatlin on Shericka Jackson’s Olympics Hopes: “She gonna be ready to run… But!”
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In a video released on Saturday, former American sprinter Justin Gatlin and others talked about the Shericka Jackson situation and speculated about the possibilities for her at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Notably, all guests on the podcast Justin Gatlin, Rodney Green and Tidal League agree that Shericka’s pull-up during her last race looks ‘more than just a cramp’. After pulling up during the 200m race in Hungry earlier this month, Shericka Jackson is yet to comment directly on the matter weeks later.
However, following the injury, her physiotherapist, Troy Evans commented on the matter, saying, “cramp in the hamstring, she will be working on.”
In the new podcast, Justin Gatlin recalled having a similar situation, he said, “I dealt with that in 2016… it was more than just a cramp”. For him, it was a “hamstring injury”. Similar to Jackson, he had the scare a few weeks before a major event.
“If it’s more than just a cramp, the therapy is going to be a daily routine, she is not going to lose fitness because she is already in incredible shape, so if anything it’s gonna rest the rest of her body, then she gets out there, she gonna be ready to run once again,” Gatlin said.
However, he noted that “If she’s going for tall-orders, if she going out to trying to get Olympic gold, which she is or even try to break or threaten the world record again… she needs that hamstring to be 100%”.
Jamaica’s 4×100 Women’s team strength was also debated on the Ready Set Go podcast with the fact that Elaine Thompson-Herah is out of the Paris Olympics, along with Jackson competing in the 100 and 200m which may take a toll on her body. It was also put forward that Shericka might not be mentally ready to perform at her best so soon after her apparent injury.
The name Shericka Jackson is currently the number one trending topic on X in Jamaica. Concerns grew on the platform following Gabby Thomas’ impressive 200m run on Saturday at the London Diamond League, winning with a time of 21.82, Julian Alfred also clocked an impressive time of 21.86 NR PB.
One X user wrote, “Shericka will need to pull a 2015 Usain to win that 200m imo. Hasn’t run a single impressive 200m all year while Gabbie all season. It will be a legacy-defining win if Shericka pulls it off and i will be here for it.”
Another said, “Shericka Jackson at 95% should beat these ladies in Paris … Maybe even at 90% No disrespect, but Jacko is constantly on my mind.”
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