Track & Field Fans Left ‘Gutted’ as Another Olympic Champion Confirms Heartbreaking World Championships Update

Imagine being at the peak of your career, in the best form of your life, only to have it all derailed by an injury that wipes out an entire year. That’s exactly what Tokyo Olympic 100m hurdles gold medalist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn must be feeling after an Achilles tendon injury ruled her out for the entire 2025 season. Since the track & field star’s Tokyo triumph, Camacho-Quinn has been unstoppable, claiming medals at every major event, from World Championships to the Paris Olympics. And hence, her recent update has left fans disappointed with heavy hearts.

One track and field journalist, James Rhodes, took to their X handle to inform the community that “Jasmine Camacho Quinn will not compete in Tokyo.” And since then, enthusiasts are broken from their very core; the comments show!

Earlier this year, the athlete competed only twice, both at the Grand Slam Track in Kingston in April. She ran the 100m hurdles in 12.70 seconds, finishing third, and clocked 11.73 seconds in the 100m dash, again placing third. While she seemed to be regaining form, this brief glimpse of her comeback was misleading; her injury began worsening immediately after the event.

Taking to her Instagram, she revealed that she suffered the injury before her run, and it had worsened. She added that she was limping across the hotel room, “I’m doing better now & finally able to run pain-free. I’ll be back competing soon.” She had promised a triumphant comeback, but Kingston ended up being her final appearance of the season. The athlete missed the entire Diamond League, sidelined by persistent pain. And months after first opening up about her injury, she revealed the heartbreaking news: This year, she won’t be there at Tokyo.

“Hey, everyone. I wanted to give you all a quick update. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been dealing with a foot injury and trying to find the right balance between training and rest. It’s been tough…. Pushing too much slows the healing, but resting too much affects my race sharpness,” wrote the athlete on her Instagram handle.

She further added, “With the World Championships just a month away, it’s looking less and less likely that I’ll be at my best by Tokyo. The good news is my foot is getting better, and I’m confident I’ll make a full recovery in due time. Right now, my biggest priority is my long-term health and success. I’m going to keep working smart so I can come back healthier. I truly appreciate all the love and support.”

She is one of the few athletes who will be missing the track & field at the World Championships. Apart from her, Gabby Thomas will also miss the event due to an Achilles tendon injury, while Aleia Hobbs, too, withdrew because of an injury. Fred Kerley pulled out after receiving a provisional suspension. Marathoner Betsy Saina stepped away due to pregnancy, and Quincy Hall will also miss out because of an injury. But can you imagine why Quinn’s absence leaves a void?

Well, since her historic gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn has been unstoppable on the track. After her Tokyo triumph, she followed it up with a bronze at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, a silver at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, a gold at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games, and a bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that she has won a medal in every major event she has participated in.

Evidently, her absence has certainly hit the fans…

Fans react as Jasmine Camacho-Quinn pulls out of her World Championship track & field participation

Starting off, one social media user expressed his sorrow, stating that it doesn’t matter whether she competes this year or not, as he believes she will come back stronger than ever next season. “Sad news. She’ll be back next year at the heights of her powers.”

Another fan reminded everyone of her remarkable consistency as a medal-getter since Tokyo 2020, highlighting how heartbreaking her absence will be. “Sigh. The only 100mh athlete who has medalled every time since Tokyo 2020. Gutted.” Even the athlete herself admitted this is one of the most difficult moments of her career.“This has been one of the toughest decisions of my career. I’ve been preparing intensely for the World Championships, but my foot injury has made it impossible to perform at the level I demand of myself,” the Puerto Rican shared with a local news site (Foro Noticioso), reported on September 4.

Meanwhile, a heartbroken fan appeared to have lost hope, simply stating: “I’m not in the mood.” Despite the disappointment, the athlete reassured her supporters that this setback won’t define her future. “I promise this is just a minor setback and the best is yet to come.” Speaking about her absence, her manager, Paul Doyle, stated, “Jasmine is an extraordinary competitor, but if she’s not 100% physically fit, she can’t do justice to herself or her country. Her health and long-term career must come first.”

He further added, “She’s shown incredible determination during this recovery process, but we felt the right thing to do at this point was to step back. We’re confident she’ll return to the track with the same world-class quality that has made her one of the greatest hurdlers in history.”

One fan took to social media to share their sympathy, writing, “Poor Jasmine.” And, to top it off, another heartbroken supporter simply summed up their feelings with, “My girl.”

Jasmine Camacho-Quinn is on a determined quest for recovery, aiming to come back stronger than ever. With the Tokyo World Championships behind her, she is now focused on peaking and shining at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. And with that, we wish her speedy recovery, too!