The 2024 Bermuda Grand Prix is quite possibly the biggest event this weekend. Track and field stars from all over the world will congregate at the Flora Duffy South Field Stadium on April 28 with hopes of testing out the waters before the Paris Olympics. However, for Jamaican legend Elaine Thomson-Herah it seems like her outdoor season isn’t starting just yet.

The five-time Olympic gold medalist was one of the most anticipated names from the Bermuda Grand Prix lineup. But fans breathe a collective sigh of disappointment as in a shocking turn of events, the 100m national record holder has been revealed to be probably skipping this weekend’s tournament. A social media post by Owen M has brought the latest development to the fore.

“Elaine Thompson-Herah who was originally announced as one of the headliners for the Bermuda Grand Prix this weekend, is NOT on the entry lists that were posted overnight.“, reads the caption of the post. If the news is indeed true, the 2023 world champion Tamari Davis will probably be the new favorite in the 100m with the world’s fastest woman out of the competition.

On top of that, Thompson-Herah opting out will also probably create some tension for Sha’Carri Richardson’s Paris hopes. The American is scheduled to participate in the Diamond League meet in Suzhou, China on April 28, but her attention would certainly have been halfway across the world to see how Elaine would perform in Bermuda. However, with that chance now gone, Richardson can also probably focus solely on her own race as she begins her arduous journey to the top in the French capital in July.

Elaine Thompson-Herah isn’t the only Jamaican missing out on the action

Jamaica’s sprinting stars are yet to put their competition on notice. Earlier this month, the 2020 Olympics bronze medalist Shericka Jackson also pulled out of the Miramar Invitational. There too, fans missed out on the chance to see the fierce rivalry between Richardson and Jackson set the tracks on fire, as both the American and the Jamaican were absent from the event. Their long rivalry has been at the center of things in the global track and field community, which now seems like will find its combination in the Paris Olympics.

While Jamaica’s stars are yet to kick off their outdoor season, the upcoming Bermuda Grand Prix will have plenty to offer for the sprinting connoisseurs. Both the women’s 100m and 200m events are stacked to the brim with talented names who can put their international competition on high alert. Stars like Ashanti Moore, Noah Lyles, Abby Steiner, and Alana Reid will undoubtedly be among those to watch out for.