The five-time Olympic champion pulls out of Jamaican Olympic trials due to an injury sustained at the New York Grand Prix

Elaine Thompson-Herah, winner of five Olympic gold medals over the 100m, 200m and 4x100m, will miss the Paris Olympics.

The 31-year-old Jamaican was aiming to defend the Olympic 100m and 200m titles she claimed in both Rio and Tokyo, but will now watch the Games from the sidelines.

Thompson-Herah, who is the only sprinter other than Usain Bolt to win multiple Olympic 100m and 200m gold medals, pulled out of this weekends Jamaican trials due to a small tear on her Achilles tendon.

That injury was sustained at the New York Grand Prix on June 9, where Thompson-Herah finished ninth over 100m in 11.48 (-2.1) and was carried off the track after the race.

On her Instagram, the Jamaican stated that before the line she realised something was wrong and I couldnt apply any pressure to the leg whatsoever.

Breaking: Track & Field Fans & my Jamaican cousins:

Elaine Thompson-Herah had to be carried off of the track at the New York Grand Prix, after injuring her Achilles while running the 100M.

She finished last in 11.48 (-2.1), but immediately removed her shoe & was limping. pic.twitter.com/7GEBVU4SI0

Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) June 9, 2024

I got back home with a strong mindset, to keep pushing and prepare for my national trials. I wanted a shot for my third Olympics but the leg wouldnt allow me to, Thompson-Herah added.

Its a long road but I am willing to start over, keep working, make a full recovery and resume my track career. I am hurt and devastated to be missing the Olympics this year but at the end of the day its sport and my health comes first.

This wasnt the birthday gift I was hoping for but God, whatever you have in store for me, I will wait and I will still continue to work towards the goals that I havent achieved yet. I will definitely be watching from the stands to cheer my country Jamaica on. I will be back!

Jamaicas women have dominated Olympic sprinting in recent times. Since Athens 2004, only Allyson Felix 200m gold at London 2012 has denied Jamaica a place on the top of an individual sprints podium.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce secured Olympic 100m golds at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 while Veronica Campbell-Brown won the 200m title at Athens 2004 and then retained it, four years later, in the Chinese capital.

Thompson-Herah and Fraser-Pryce have also shared the Olympic podium on two occasions, claiming 4x100m silver at Rio 2016 and then gold at Tokyo 2020.

With Thompson-Herah now absent from Paris, it means that Jamaican gold medal hopes will now rest with Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson.

The Jamaican Olympic trials will be held between June 27-30 in Kingston.