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Alaysha Johnson was not considered a favourite to make the Olympic team heading to the US trials but she proved most people wrong.
American hurdler Alaysha Johnson was an underdog heading into the US Olympic trials and not at any moment were there thoughts that she would make the Olympic team, but she did.
At the trials, she finished a comfortable second-place behind Masai Russell to secure her ticket to the Paris Olympic Games and it was an emotional moment for her.
After the race, Alaysha Johnson disclosed that there were moments she wanted to give up following the negative thoughts and sayings from people but she had to keep moving forward with the hope that one day, she would prove them wrong and she sure did.
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17:39 - 15.08.2024
'I cried all day'- American hurdler struggles to process dismal performance at Paris Olympic Games
The 28-year-old, heading to her first day of practice after the Olympics seatback, has explained how she is finding it difficult to bounce back after failing to achieve her dreams at the Olympic Games.
Qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games was not only for her individually but also for all those people who grew up being told negative things and being downplayed.
Johnson disclosed that having to prove haters wrong was great but also making sure she inspired a lot of young people was a plus.
“It was all God, I already knew, I already knew before the season started what was coming for me. I literally knew, it was the easiest thing to do because everybody at the time said that I wasn’t good enough and they said that I didn’t deserve,” she said in an interview after the race.
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14:21 - 05.12.2024
'I was so shaken' - Shericka Jackson opens up on 'mental breakdown' following Tokyo 2020 Olympic 200m disaster
Jackson was bashed after 'arrogantly' jogging during the 200m heats at the Tokyo Olympics, which led to her elimination, something she now says left her mentally broken.
“I did this my way, my team’s way and just the way that it was meant to be. This is for the hood babies, for the people who are poor that come from nothing.
“This is for everybody that looks like me, that was ever doubted and I did this with a black designer on my chest. This is what I stand for and I’m making a way for everybody in my position.”
At the Paris Olympic Games, Johnson went all the way to the final but a mistake at the start of the race affected her performance and she was forced to finish seventh.
This was just the beginning for her and going forward, the American talent will be out to show the world what she is all about.
After the Olympics, she raced in a couple of Diamond League Meetings including Lausanne, Silesia and Rome. She capped off her season with a second-place finish behind Jasmine Camacho-Quinn at Alexis Ohanian’s women-only event, Athlos.
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