'Cannot do that': Sprint star savaged over 'unforgivable' act
Tamsyn Manou and Bruce McAvaney have torn strips off Shericka Jackson after the Jamaican star eased up in the 200m heats at the Olympics and failed to make the semi-finals.
Jackson provided a major shock at the Tokyo Games on Monday when she failed to advance to the semi-finals in the 200m event.
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The bronze medallist in the 100m last week behind compatriots Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Jackson was tipped to medal again in the 200m.
But the Jamaican produced an extraordinarily lazy effort in Monday's heats, lumbering down the straight and easing up well before the finish line.
The bizarre tactics backfired spectacularly when she failed to qualify for the semis.
"You cannot do that at the Olympic Games," Aussie Olympian Manou said in commentary for Channel 7, calling Jackson "too cocky".
"That is unforgivable. I mean, she's not even trying,
"Look at her at the back of the field. It's good to have confidence in sport but that's just being a little bit too cocky".
McAvaney added: "Four one thousandths of a second would have got her through. I can't believe the unprofessional way she went about that race."
Jackson was also savaged on social media.
Wow. Just…wow. Shericka Jackson doesn’t automatically qualify for the women’s 200m semifinal after placing 4th in 23.26, the same time as Italy’s Dalia Kadari who placed third. #Olympics #Jam pic.twitter.com/sOkmS3iikE
— Ogun Size 🦍 (@IamSeanAB) August 2, 2021
Completely deserved
— Random Guy 495🌹🌻 (@randomguy495) August 2, 2021
Never seen such level of carelessness in professional sports
— Nivlac Rrac (@CalvinC42722136) August 2, 2021
Insane some of these runners in the sprinting heats.
Shericka Jackson (well fancied) barely looks like she's trying, eases up hugely on the line and misses the qualifying.
How on earth do you do that?— Trent Crebbin 🐎 (@TrentC_Racing) August 2, 2021
One of the most foolish heat performances of all time by Shericka Jackson of Jamaica.
The 100m bronze medallist is out after jogging the whole race and easing up too much at the finish, trying to look casual, going from second to fourth in the final yards. Bonkers.#Tokyo2020— Cathal Dennehy (@Cathal_Dennehy) August 2, 2021
“That’s how you qualify, unlike her compatriot Shericka Jackson from the previous heat”
Me dead yffff 💀💀💀— Booker Cee (@Ceennamon_) August 2, 2021
Tension between Jamaican sprint queens at Olympics
Jackson had the third-fastest 200m time this year, but has ruined Jamaica's hopes of completing a clean-sweep of the medals in both the 100m and 200m.
McAvaney noted that Fraser-Pryce also appeared to be conserving energy in her heat, whereas Thompson-Herah gave her all.
"That's because they have different coaches," Manou added.
On Friday night, Manou pointed out the frosty atmosphere between Thompson-Herah and her compatriots after the 100m final.
Jackson and Fraser-Pryce stood away from Thompson-Harah as they awaited the final result to appear on the scoreboard, then offered a cold and quick pat on the back when it was confirmed.
"There wasn't a whole lot of love there was there?" Bruce McAvaney noted in commentary for Channel 7.
Manou revealed there is tension between the Jamaican teammates after Fraser-Pryce recently moved to a different coaching stable.
“I think it’s pretty obvious (there’s tension) when Shally-Ann Fraser-Pryce has left the coach after she’s won a gold medal at the world champs,” Manou explained.
“She wanted to be in a different training group for a reason.”
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