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Jamaican sprinting legend Omar McLeod contemplates stepping away from hurdles, leaving his future uncertain as the 2024 Olympics approach.
Five months ago, 2016 Olympic champion Omar McLeod made headlines with a revelation that left the track and field world in suspense.
The Jamaican sprinter, who has etched his name in history as the first man to run under 10 seconds in the 100m and under 13 seconds in the 110m hurdles, confessed that he was seriously considering stepping away from the hurdles to focus on the 100m sprint.
Despite his illustrious career and major titles, including the 2016 Olympic gold, McLeod’s love for the hurdles appeared to have waned.
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In an emotional interview McLeod spoke candidly about his mixed feelings and the dilemma he faced after narrowly missing out on securing a spot on Jamaica’s team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Despite clocking a season’s best 13.22 seconds in the final at the Jamaica National Championships, McLeod finished fifth, just 0.04 seconds behind his compatriot Rasheed Broadbell, and was edged out by Orlando Bennett and defending Olympic champion Hansle Parchment.
McLeod’s words reflected the depth of the talent in Jamaica’s sprint hurdles scene and the immense challenge of making the national team.
“I remember the fun I had in that race. The event felt safe – even if that seems a little weird to say for an event with ten hurdles!” he shared with Sportsmax.TV.
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But that passion for hurdles did not always come easily.
In 2018, McLeod had revealed how his journey into the sport began at an early age.
“My passion for hurdles – or at least jumping over things – began early. I recall from the age of nine or ten I used to set buckets up in the road and invite my cousins and my little brother to race over them.”
However, it was in high school that his true love for hurdles blossomed.
“The event was very technical and being an adventurous kid I liked the challenge,” McLeod recalled in an interview with World Athletics.
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As his career progressed, McLeod’s natural talent and dedication to improving took him to the top of the sport.
“As soon as I started the event it seemed a natural fit for me. I instinctively went over the hurdles with my dominant leg - there was just something about the hurdles.”
His rapid progress earned him a spot on the global stage, where he consistently demonstrated his prowess, winning titles and breaking records along the way.
But with his recent comments about considering a shift away from the hurdles, many have wondered what’s next for McLeod in 2025.
"When I race in the hurdles it is such an exuberant feeling. At that moment, nothing else matters – and that’s what I love about the event. I completely switch off and run the race on muscle memory," McLeod had said, explaining his deep connection to the sport.
Yet, after missing out on Paris 2024, he seemed uncertain about his future in hurdles, even though he has maintained that he has no regrets about his career.
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McLeod’s journey over the past few years has been marked by a search for renewal.
“I found a new life. I wanted to give myself a bright new start, and I knew I wanted to be around familiar faces and people that I really adore, and that would make it easier,” he shared about his move to Italy, where he has flourished under Coach Marco Airale’s guidance.
McLeod described his time in Italy as transformative, emphasizing the support of the community, friends, and his new training environment.
His last public interview in July hinted at a crossroads, with no clear declaration about his return to competitive hurdles.
The world eagerly awaits any signs of his decision, as McLeod’s legacy is already firmly cemented in the annals of track and field.
Whether he continues to race or takes his talents to new ventures, one thing remains certain: his impact on the sport will be remembered for years to come.
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