Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson took gold in scintillating fashion at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.
Watch: The moment Shericka Jackson became the fastest woman in the world
Jackson’s rise to the top of the podium came off the back of a disappointing run at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“I knew I just had to run as fast as my legs would carry me and really pray and hope it would be enough to get on the podium I am so happy to made the podium in an era where everyone is running so fast,” she told BBC Sport.
Here is the blistering race that catapulted Jamaica’s Jackson to legendary status as the fastest woman in the world this year.
Five things to know about Jackson
We did a bit of digging to get a better sense of Jackson’s background. Here are five things you must know:
She is a specialist in these races
Jackson not only has the legs of a dashing sprinter, but the endurance to keep at it for longer distances than 200m. In fact, Jackson started her career as a 400m sprinter and won bronze at three World Championships.
Jackson has since been competing in 100m and 200m races, thanks to the guidance of her coach, Stephen Francis.
This is her gold medal tally
With the exception of the 2022 World Athletics Championships, Jackson has at least 23 gold medals obtained in a number of high-level competitions since 2008.
She was birthed in the same city as these icons
Jackson is a native of St Ann, the largest parish in Jamaica, born on 16 July 1994. The sprinter shares a birthplace with:
- Floyd Lloyd;
- Burning Spear;
- Shabba Ranks;
- Bob Marley; and
- Marcus Mosiah Garvey.
Jackson is a brand partner of this brand
The Jamaican sprinter has been a loyal representative of Puma since 2017.
This is the high school she went to
Jackson attended Vere Technical High, an institution renowned for grooming high-level athletes.