Jamaican Track Fans Slam the World Athletics Championships for Disrespecting Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shericka Jackson for US Star Abby Steiner: “Never Seen Our Athletes Get Disrespected This Much”

Published 07/10/2022, 10:00 AM EDT

The 2022 World Athletics Championships start July 15 and will feature some tremendous match-ups of track and field athletes around the world. Originally, the championships were scheduled for the 2021 season, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to a postponement. We will see top stars like Elaine Thompson-Herah and Erriyon Knighton on the track.

The final entry lists confirm that more than 1900 athletes from 192 teams will take part in the competition. Among them, 37 are looking to defend their titles from the 2019 edition of the championships.

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The women’s 200m will be a fierce competition

At the 2022 World Championships, the 200m women’s event is attracting a lot of attention. Reigning champion Dina Asher-Smith will be looking to retain her title, competing against current world-lead Shericka Jackson.

Also featured in the race is the second-fastest ever in the discipline Elaine-Thompson Herah. Unfortunately, Gabby Thomas will miss out on the championships because of a hamstring injury. And Sha’Carri Richardson failed to qualify for the event. Besides, other notable athletes in the event include the Olympic silver medalist, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Abby Steiner, who holds the second-best time this season.

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With three of Jamaica’s top sprinters competing in the discipline, fans are hoping to see a Jamaican sweep at the event with all podium places filled by the team. However, the fierce competition isn’t the only reason this event is attracting eyeballs.

Jamaican fans enraged for Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah

For promotion, the World Athletics Twitter account came out with posters featuring the top contenders for every event. The women’s 200m race highlights Shericka Jackson, Abby Steiner, and Elaine Thomson-Herah, edited in that order.

But comparing personal best times, Thompson-Herah (21.53), or Shericka Jackson (21.55), were edged out to provide center stage for Abby Steiner (21.77). The fans of the two Jamaican athletes felt incredibly offended by this decision.

Slowest woman is in the middle
*stares directly into the camera* https://t.co/AJ9Y3o6Wwm
— #SankofaSummerSchool (@FeministaJones) July 10, 2022

why tf she in the middle when elaine is right there 🙂🙂 and sherika has the wl time atm🙂🙂 https://t.co/qhy1D9NrSn
— milla b❦ (@milla_bx) July 9, 2022

Putting a woman who never been to the Olympics center stage over two of the fastest women of our generation. Actually, take her out. https://t.co/yNmy5bCEv1
— Obi-Pong Kenobi (@duanepongo) July 9, 2022

Many defended that it was an “aesthetic decision” more than anything else. But the fans weren’t having it.

why are people defending this as design choice? you ever see them rearrange the podium based on design? https://t.co/eFiM2ZRzXr
— Ms. Crawford (@iso_godot) July 9, 2022

Look at the Personal Best times at the bottom, and then go back and look at the order of how the athletes are arranged on the flyer… then tell me why Jamaicans don’t have every reason to act up for this. 😑 https://t.co/vWaYoB34Im
— Tenille. (@tenilleclarke1) July 9, 2022

It’s the constant disrespect of our athletes. Thank God their performances speak for them and they don’t need validation from a placement on a poster. https://t.co/NTNAiKZ0Gq
— BURNA GIRL (@OWASINDA) July 9, 2022

Yohan aside, I’ve never seen our athletes get disrespected this much in my life https://t.co/QNFWg6V6E8
— Francis (@a_j_francis) July 9, 2022

Who should be in the middle?
The American so she can be sandwiched between the two Jamaican?
Or the first woman in the world to win the 100m & 200m in consecutive Olympics? https://t.co/G1dEst8op7
— 🧐 (@Roastyamm) July 8, 2022

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The fans didn’t appreciate the way the poster represented Jamaican athletes. Even Michael Johnson got involved, trying to appease the crowd.

Great promo @WorldAthletics I would do it slightly different.
Shericka – Fastest this year. 21.55
Abby – New kid. US Champ. 21.77
Elaine – 2x Olympic Champ. 21.53
Get hung up on who’s in the middle if you want. I’m gonna give benefit of doubt to graphic design. https://t.co/sIXp9TM4fJ
— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) July 8, 2022

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What do you make of the fans reacting to this matter? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Mansi Jain is a US Sports author for EssentiallySports. She has a Bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Mass Communication from the University of Delhi and has also previously interned for HT Media. She is always one mention of Yuzuru Hanyu away from delivering an hour-long speech about the athlete's legacy.

Edited by:

Vibhanshu Kumar

Jamaican Track Fans Slam the World Athletics Championships for Disrespecting Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shericka Jackson for US Star Abby Steiner: “Never Seen Our Athletes Get Disrespected This Much”

The women’s 200m will be a fierce competition

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Jamaican fans enraged for Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah