Olympic 100m hurdler gold medallist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn is doubtful for the World Championships in Tokyo as she continues to recover from an Achilles tendon injury that has kept her off track for most of the year.
The Puerto Rican superstar, who made history for her nation at Tokyo 2020, held in 2021, has competed sparingly this year, giving in to the pain and discomfort that forced her to even skip the Diamond League.
She only got to race twice in Kingston, which was the first stop of the Grand Slam Track in April.
“Over the past few weeks, I’ve been dealing with a foot injury and trying to find the right balance between training and rest. It’s been tough…. Pushing too much slows the healing but resting too much affects my race sharpness,” said the 28-year-old in an Instagram post.
Camacho-Quinn feels the recent spate of injuries may not allow her to challenge for the world title she craves after bronze and silver in Eugene and Budapest respectively.
“With the World Championships just a month away, it’s looking less and less likely that I’ll be at my best by Tokyo. The good news is, my foot is getting better, and I’m confident I’ll make a full recovery in due time.
“Right now, my biggest priority is my long-term health and success. I’m going to keep working smart so I can come back healthier.”
In addition, her manager Paul Doyle expressed doubts about the sprinter’s readiness to return to the city where she became the second-ever Puerto Rican to claim Olympic gold: “It’s been a difficult process, as pushing herself too hard could aggravate the injury, but reducing intensity too much affects her competition readiness. While her injury continues to improve, and she’s confident she’ll make a full recovery, her long-term health and career remain the priority. Jasmine is focused on fully healing so she can return to the track healthier and ready for future success.”