Revealed: Why Kishane Thompson opted out of showdown against Fred Kerley, Ferdinand Omanyala in Silesia

Kishane Thompson in on course for Paris 2024 glory.

Revealed: Why Kishane Thompson opted out of showdown against Fred Kerley, Ferdinand Omanyala in Silesia

Mark Kinyanjui 20:45 - 26.08.2024

Thompson, who won silver at the Paris Olympic games, did not take part in the Silesia Diamond League, in which he was scheduled to take part in

Jamaica’s sprinting sensation Kishane Thompson was notably absent from the starting blocks at the Wanda Diamond League in Silesia, Poland, on Sunday, a race that was set to be his first appearance since narrowly missing out on gold in the 100m Olympic final to American Noah Lyles on August 4.

In Thompson’s absence, U.S. Olympic bronze medalist Fred Kerley seized the opportunity to win the race, clocking an impressive 9.87 seconds, setting a new meet record. Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala finished second with a time of 9.99 seconds.

Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake, who reached the semifinals at the Paris Olympics, secured third place with a personal best time of 9.89 seconds. Italy’s Lamont Marcell Jacobs, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion, came in fourth, crossing the line in 9.93 seconds.

 Rohan Powell, another Jamaican sprinter from the MVP Track and Field Club, finished seventh with a time of 10.18 seconds.

Reliable sources have indicated that Thompson decided to withdraw from the Silesia event as a precaution due to ongoing concerns with his hamstring. 

This problematic hamstring almost prevented him from competing in the Olympic 100m final in Paris. According to Coaches’ Desk TV, Thompson felt discomfort during his warm-up in Silesia, prompting his team to make the difficult decision to pull him from the race.

 Given that the event was more of a "money race" rather than one that contributed to his points tally, they opted not to risk aggravating the injury further.

His coach, Stephen Francis, had previously revealed the extent of the challenge they faced in getting Thompson ready for the Olympic final. “I do not think he was used to that situation, but I believe his problem really occurred after the semis where he got a hamstring problem,” Francis explained. 

The injury posed a significant challenge for Thompson and his team, requiring extensive efforts to ensure he could compete in the final.

"From our perspective, we had to spend our entire time trying to get him to run or participate based on how he said he was feeling. It was uncertain.

"Shawnterry (Manboard) had to use all kinds of techniques and so on not only to get him to be okay but to believe he was okay," Francis added.

Thompson’s cautious approach to managing his hamstring will be crucial as he continues his season, with the hope that he can return to full strength and resume competing at the highest level. 

His team’s decision to prioritize his long-term health over immediate competition highlights the delicate balance between performance and athlete welfare in the high-stakes world of elite sprinting.

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