Shericka Jackson’s return to the Diamond League took a painful turn in Lausanne. The Jamaican sprint star appeared to suffer a hamstring injury in the women’s 200m, pulling up just as the race entered its decisive phase.

Jackson had looked composed through the opening stages, staying alongside American Kayla White as the field came around the bend. But as the runners approached the straight, something suddenly changed.

The Jamaican began to slow before eventually pulling up and stopping altogether. She could only watch as the rest of the field raced toward the finish…

White seized the opportunity and produced a breakthrough moment of her own. The American crossed the line in 22.18 seconds, securing the first Diamond League victory of her career.

Behind her, Amy Hunt and Favour Ofili battled all the way to the line. The British sprinter, fresh from her four-gold-medal haul at the European Championships in Birmingham, took second in 22.32, with Nigeria’s Ofili also clocking 22.32 in a tight finish.

For Jackson, however, the result mattered far less than the sight of her pulling up.

The five-time Olympic medallist entered the Lausanne meeting carrying a remarkable résumé. She won Olympic gold with Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team at Tokyo 2020 and also claimed individual bronze in the 100m at those Games.

Jackson later established herself as one of the greatest 200m runners in history, becoming the second-fastest woman ever over the distance. Her explosive performances have made her one of Jamaica’s biggest sprinting stars.

That is what made Friday’s moment particularly concerning…

Jackson had been expected to be one of the headline names in a competitive Lausanne field. Instead, she was escorted off the track by medical staff after this injury.

There was no immediate confirmation of the severity of the apparent injury following the race, leaving questions over what comes next for the Jamaican.

If we take a look back, the Jamaican had already endured an injury-hit 2024 season that kept her out of the Paris Olympics. She returned to the global stage in 2025, securing bronze at the World Championships, after coming agonizingly close to Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 21.34-second world record in the 200m three years earlier.

Now, just as she continues to rebuild her momentum, another injury scare has brought fresh uncertainty.

Shericka Jackson is having a tough time on and off the track

For Shericka Jackson, returning to competition was supposed to be about finding her rhythm again. Instead, the Jamaican came into Lausanne carrying a much heavier burden… the loss of her longtime coach and mentor, Stephen Francis.

The renowned track and field coach died on July 4, 2026, at the age of 64, just one day after his birthday. He ad been part of Jackson’s life since she was 19. As co-founder of the MVP Track & Field Club, he played a major role in Jamaica’s sprinting success, working with stars such as Jackson, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah.

For Jackson, however, his importance went far beyond medals and championships. He had been a constant presence through some of the most important years of her career. Speaking to Citius Mag ahead of the Lausanne Diamond League, she admitted that accepting his absence has been extremely difficult.

“It’s been a rough couple of weeks,” Jackson said, reflecting on the years she had spent knowing Francis. “I knew him when I was 19, and now I’m 32. So, for that part of my life to feel like it’s gone, well, it’s gone forever.”

That grief has followed Jackson back onto the track. She acknowledged that she has struggled to manage her emotions and has not always felt mentally ready to train. Rather than forcing herself through those moments, she has sometimes chosen to step away.

Jackson even admitted she does not know whether she is in the same shape she was during her strongest period earlier in the season. Yet she continues to show up, taking things one day at a time.

She also revealed that her relationship with athletics has become complicated. The sport that once brought her immense joy has also delivered painful moments, leaving her searching for that feeling again.

Now, it’ll be interesting to see how quickly Shericka Jackson comes back from this recent setback.