Shericka Jackson is getting all the heat from the track and field fans once again. The Jamaican was right on track to climb back up the ranks to the top again. However, things have been on a downward spiral since the start of 2024. After all, she was one of the biggest favorites to claim Olympic gold at Paris. But what followed instead was a shocking withdrawal from both the 100m and 200m events. Both were due to injury. But as her return loomed, fans were ecstatic about the return of the speedster. But things didn’t end the way the Jamaican might’ve wanted. So, what happened?
Well, ahead of the Xiamen Diamond League, Jackson expressed her wish to break Florence Griffith Joyner’s 200m record of 21.34s. However, while she was the hot favorite to win the Xiamen Diamond League, the reality panned out to be pretty much different. Struggling to get off the blocks, Jackson delivered a poor show to finish as runner-up to Anaiva Battle. But more importantly, it was how she lost that heightened the concerns further.
While Anaiva Battle dropped a blitzkrieg timing of 22.41 s, Jackson lagged significantly behind. Struggling throughout the race, Jackson could only muster a time of 22.79 s. Such a showing did not, at all, help her case of looking to make a comeback. What’s even worse is that she could not even get close to her new target of making the 200m world record.
Anavia Battle dominates #XiamenDL 200m to upset Shericka Jackson in a 22.41 meet record! pic.twitter.com/oPCmek4sJX
— Travis Miller (@travismillerx13) April 26, 2025
Interestingly, a deeper look into Shericka Jackson’s season-opening timings since 2021 might make the nerves slow down a bit. After all, the trend suggests that Jackson has never been a sharp starter. For example, her timings since 2021 are as follows: 22.62s, 22.55s, 22.25s, 22.82s, and 22.79s. Sadly, despite all the data, the fans are not at all convinced about the future of the Jamaican star. Most of them took to social media to get their frustrations voiced.
Fans bash Shericka Jackson over poor season opener
As soon as the results were out, fans flocked to the comments section to express their points of view. One fan brutally summed up the sentiment, declaring, “Jackson is WASHED!” The blunt verdict reflects frustration over Shericka Jackson’s sluggish 22.79s season opener, especially after all the hype around chasing Florence Griffith Joyner’s record. The fan’s harsh word choice implies a belief that Jackson’s prime might have already passed.
Another user chimed in, “Shericka is never coming back; that girl sure knows how to choke.” Here, the focus is on Jackson’s inability to perform under pressure, especially when expectations were sky-high at Xiamen. Her disappointing loss to Anaiva Battle reinforced the narrative of Jackson faltering in crucial moments. But the commenter was also quick to acknowledge that Shericka also had fewer races under her belt.
They also mentioned that the timing and rhythm played a role. The fan noted, “I think UPSET is a little strong. Season opener and Battle has been running. But yes, Jackson is not in form for sure.” Echoing a deeper criticism, another commenter slammed, “Jackson? washed. She shouldn’t have been running all out 24/7 tryna get flojos record.”
This fan emphasized that Shericka’s relentless pursuit of the world record might have backfired, hinting that pushing her limits year-round possibly led to burnout or injury, impacting her 2024 form. A more emotional take surfaced as one X user lamented, “Man, it’s hard to see Shericka hit the low; she feels like she doesn’t has it anymore.” Such a reaction from the fan shows heartbreak more than anger, highlighting how watching a once-dominant athlete struggle so visibly, especially falling to 22.79 s, feels like witnessing the twilight of a star.
The harshest reaction came from a fan who urged, “It’s hard to see one of the best suffer like this; at this point, just retire to save face.” Reflecting pure despair, this comment suggests continuing to compete while underperforming. Especially when expectations were so grand, it might do more harm than good to Jackson’s legacy. Thus, with things looking a little concerning for Shericka Jackson, it now remains to be seen how things pan out in the coming days.
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