Did anyone see just how good Kishane Thompson was in Astana earlier this year? Many might remember the absolute banger he gave at the World Athletics Gold meet in the Kazakh capital on January 25th. He even won the 60m with a blazing time of 6.56 seconds, which was better than his transcontinental rival, Noah Lyles. Many expected him to be even better at the World Indoors. But in an unexpected move, the Jamaican and his coach, Stephen Francis, announced that the 100-meter runner-up would be pulling back from the World Indoors. But those who saw the race in Astana might have a clue. So what happened after that win?

Well, as he crossed the line, Thompson appeared to grimace and took a moment to sit down, leaving everyone wondering if he had picked up an injury. Fast forward to March, and everything seemed to be lining up for Kishane Thompson’s highly anticipated debut at the World Indoor Championships on March 21-23. But then, on March 12, came the gut punch—Jamaican track fans were hit with heartbreaking news.

Thompson was officially out, unlisted from the Road to Nanjing portal by World Athletics. But there’s still good news! On March 13, Stephen Francis finally broke his silence on X, addressing Kishane Thompson’s withdrawal from the World Indoor Championships. The 23-year-old Olympic silver medalist had suffered a minor training setback, prompting a precautionary decision to pull him from the competition.

Francis made it clear that it wasn’t anything serious, just a routine training issue that required a few days of rest. “He suffered a slight medical, usual training issue, and so therefore we decided for such an issue he’s going to require a couple days’ rest,” Francis explained. But that’s not all. Francis also gives further clarification for this.

Francis continues, “But that means that he won’t be in proper shape to compete. So we say, Well, since he can’t be at the best he is now, it makes no sense for him to compete.” While disappointing, the decision ensures Thompson stays in peak condition for the bigger races ahead. However, it also raises concerns about Jamaica’s sprint depth. This is because another athlete, Tia Clayton, has also been ruled out of the World Indoor Championships. But for Thompson, injuries have been part of the career!

Kishane Thompson’s missed opportunities on the global stage

For Kishane Thompson, the road to greatness has felt more like a hurdle race. There has been one setback after another just when it seemed like he was gaining momentum. The Jamaican sprint sensation turned pro in 2019, but for years, injuries kept him from truly making his mark. It wasn’t until 2024 that he finally got his shot on the world’s biggest stage—the Paris Olympics. But getting there wasn’t easy.

In 2022, he barely raced before shutting down his season in May, missing the World Championships in Eugene. A year later, he looked primed for Budapest, winning his heat at the Jamaican trials, only to disappear before the final. Fans were left wondering—was this another case of “what could have been?” Still, Thompson refused to fold. He battled through, competing in Monaco, Xiamen, and Eugene, inching closer to the form everyone knew he had.

Then came 2024, and suddenly, everything clicked. He stormed through the Jamaican Olympic trials in a world-leading 9.77 seconds, followed by a win at the Gyulai István Memorial in Hungary. By the time he lined up for the Olympic 100m final, he wasn’t just a contender—he was a threat. He delivered, claiming silver in Paris, proving to the world (and maybe even himself) that he belonged among the best.

But just as the spotlight found him, injuries struck again. This has cut his season short yet again, keeping him out of multiple Diamond League meets. Yet, through it all, Thompson has remained resilient. “Honestly, I didn’t think about doing something else,” he told Nationwide90 FM. “It was frustrating, yeah, but I couldn’t just stop. I had to keep pushing.”

Now, with the time, he’ll heal. And if history has shown anything, it’s that when Kishane Thompson gets back up, he comes back stronger.