Just three years ago, Elaine Thompson-Herah had the world at her feet, and blazing speed to back it up. Elaine Thompson-Herah ran 10.54 seconds in 2021 and won Olympic golds in both sprints, becoming the fastest woman alive. So when Puma signed her on July 15, 2022, it felt more like a victory lap than a surprise. She was at the top of her game, and Puma was all in.
Elaine Thompson-Herah did not wear Puma’s exclusive new Olympic kit, a slick yellow one-piece bodysuit unveiled ahead of the Paris 2024 Games, because an injury has kept her out of the competition altogether.
The stylish new kit, debuted on social media by Olympic pole vault champion Nina Kennedy, was designed specifically for Puma athletes competing at the Paris Olympics. Featuring a vibrant yellow hue, sleeveless cut, and the iconic Puma logo, the bodysuit immediately caught fans’ attention.
And for Elaine Thompson-Herah, Paris 2024 was never to be.
At the New York Grand Prix in June 2024, her final appearance before the Jamaican Olympic Trials, Thompson-Herah ran a concerning 11.48 seconds, well below her best. Moments later, limping off the track, she learned the diagnosis. a small tear in her Achilles tendon. Not career-ending, but devastating enough to rule her out of the trials.
Thompson-Herah isn’t the only Puma star missing the Paris Games. Fellow Jamaican sprint queen Shericka Jackson, a dominant force in the 200m, also faced heartbreak. A nagging hamstring injury derailed her Olympic campaign, forcing her to withdraw from her signature events despite high expectations.
Still, Jackson has found other ways to make an impact. In March 2025, she lit up the fashion scene at the Fenty x Puma Collection launch in Barbados, hosted by none other than Rihanna. Her presence at such a high-profile event signaled that even off the track, Puma sees her as a key brand ambassador.
While Thompson-Herah and Jackson didn’t don the new Olympic uniforms, Puma hasn’t wavered in its support. Since signing Thompson-Herah in 2022, the brand has stood by her side through triumph and trials, providing her with advanced performance gear like the evoSPEED NITRO spikes.
This ongoing loyalty highlights a deeper relationship than one based solely on medals and headlines. Puma values lasting partnerships with iconic athletes, and Thompson-Herah and Jackson remain key ambassadors representing the brand’s global image.
Though Paris didn’t pan out, Elaine Thompson-Herah remains in the game. At 32, she’s still training, still competing, and still determined to write new chapters in her legendary career. The same goes for Shericka Jackson, who’s expected to bounce back once fully recovered.
