“Out of abundance of caution”- Elaine Thompson-Herah pulls out of Birmingham Diamond League

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Olympic double gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah has officially dropped out of Saturday’s 100m meeting with Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith in the Diamond Birmingham League. This would have been her debut run at this event. Organizers said that the 29-year-old withdrew from the event due to an ‘abundance of caution after she experienced some discomfort’.

Thompson-Herah was due to race the 100m against a field that includes Olympic bronze medalist Shericka Jackson of Jamaica, world silver medalist Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain and Americans Gabby Thomas who was the Olympic 200m bronze medalist and Cambrea Sturgis, who ranked third in the world this year. Thompson-Herah retained her Olympic 100 and 200m titles in Tokyo last year as well as being part of Jamaica’s winning 4 x 100m relay in the Japanese capital.

Also Read: “I really want to break the World Record”- Elaine Thompson-Herah speaks about the World Athletics Championships

Thompson-Herah looks forward to resuming her competition schedule

The 29-year-old, who ran 10.93 seconds over the 100m in Ponce, Puerto Rico last week and is also the second fastest woman in history, had been listed for the blue riband event in the British city. “The decision not to travel to Birmingham was taken out of abundance of caution after she experienced some discomfort in training,” the event organizers said in a statement on Thursday.

Also Read: “They’re both capable”: Ato Boldon places bet on Elaine Thompson-Herah, Fraser-Pryce to break 100m World record

“Thompson-Herah looks forward to resuming her competition schedule in short order”. Last year she joined fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt as the only sprinters to sweep the 100m and 200m at the Olympics. She ran the second fastest times in history in the 100m and 200m, falling behind only legendary runner Florence Griffith-Joyner’s world records from 1988.

Thompson-Herah could however get another crack at the fats time and possibly beat Florence’s record at the World Championships in July at Oregon. Speaking about her hopes at the World Championships, she said, “I really want to break the world record. I think once I have that line-up and that good weather it is possible. This year I’ll be 30-years old and to see myself as that 30-year-old breaking Flo Jo’s record would be something very spectacular”.

Also Read: Elaine Thompson-Herah Runs Second Fastest 100m in History; Claims Dominant Victory as Jamaica Sweep Podium at Diamond League