Kishane Thompson watched a disappointing relay as the Dominican Republic outpaced them in a terrible baton exchange.
The Jamaican star Kishane Thompson, Jamaica`s anchor leg and silver medalist in 100 meters, chased an impossible gap after a disastrous final hand-off slowed his start.
Despite his efforts, Thompson crossed the line fourth, leaving Jamaica out of contention for the finals.
The Jamaican team, featuring Ackeem Blake, Jelani Walker, Jelani Gordon and Thompson, clocked at 38.45 seconds, just 0.06 seconds shy of qualifying.
The team experienced baton errors between Walker and Gordon and then between Gordon and Thompson. These errors proved costly against strong performances from Canada, France and China, who advanced to the finals.
Jamaica marked a second consecutive failure in the men`s relay after finishing fourth overall in Tokyo 2020. The once-dominant team, especially during Usain Bolt`s era, is now struggling to maintain its supremacy since Bolt’s retirement in 2017.
Thompson, known for his explosive finishes and rising prominence, after clocking a personal best of 9.77 seconds earlier in the season, entered the Olympics as one of Jamaica`s hopes.
However, his brilliance could not compensate for the team’s collective mistakes in execution.
The men`s loss highlighted broader struggles facing Jamaican athletes at these games. Injuries sidelined key female athletes like Shelly-Ann Fraser and Shericka Jackson, while other events saw unexpected defeat.
For example, for the first time since 1976, no Jamaican woman reached the podium in either 100 or 200 meters. A stark contrast to their dominance in previous Olympics.
Jamica now raises questions about its ability to reclaim its sprinting dominance. The baton mishaps serve as a painful reminder that even the fastest runners cannot overcome poor teamwork, a situation that might shape their future on the global stage. Who knows? Fans are eagerly waiting for their next move.
