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When Elaine Thompson-Herah, a five-time Olympic champion called out Jamaica for failing to look after its athletes.
Jamaican sprint sensation Elaine Thompson-Herah, one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history, has spoken out about the lack of support for athletes in her home country.
Despite her stellar achievements, including five Olympic gold medals, the 31-year-old believes Jamaica falls short in taking care of its track and field stars, particularly when compared to other nations.
Thompson-Herah burst onto the global stage by clinching double gold in the 100m and 200m at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She repeated the feat in Tokyo five years later, adding another gold as part of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team.
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17:15 - 31.12.2024
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However, injuries have plagued her career in recent years. An Achilles tendon injury sustained at the New York City Grand Prix in June 2024 forced her to withdraw from the Paris Olympics, where she had hoped to defend her 100m title.
Despite these challenges, Thompson-Herah remains one of the few sprinters, alongside Usain Bolt, to win multiple Olympic titles in both the 100m and 200m.
In a candid interview on Asafa Powell’s YouTube channel The Powells back in 2022, Thompson-Herah criticized Jamaica for failing to provide consistent support to its athletes, both during their peak and in times of struggle.
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“A lot of countries only have two to five athletes, and they take care of them whether they are performing or not. We have the best, but we do not get anything from it apart from the endorsements we get from the shoe companies or the local corporate sponsors,” she lamented.
Thompson-Herah pointed to her reliance on sponsors like FLO, NCB, and Puma for financial stability. Without these partnerships, she questioned how she would manage basic expenses, saying, “What would I have? How would I survive? How would I pay bills?”
The sprint icon highlighted countries like Bahrain as examples of nations that prioritize their athletes’ welfare, regardless of performance. These countries provide stipends, gear, and other forms of support that motivate their athletes to excel.
“I see a lot of persons who, when they return to their countries, how they get stipends, gear, clothes, and more, but we do not get anything,” she said.
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Thompson-Herah emphasized that providing consistent support could encourage athletes to work harder and remain passionate about their craft, even if they lack lucrative contracts.
As one of Jamaica’s most successful athletes, Thompson-Herah’s criticism shines a light on the need for systemic change in how the country treats its sporting stars. Her message serves as a rallying cry for better structures to ensure athletes are supported both on and off the track, especially as they navigate challenges like injuries and career transitions.
For Jamaica, a nation celebrated for its dominance in sprinting, listening to voices like Thompson-Herah’s could be the key to sustaining its legacy and nurturing the next generation of champions.
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