Elaine Thompson splits with coach less than a year before Olympic Games
Multiple Olympic champion Elaine Thompson has split with her coach, Shanique Osbourne with less than a year to the Paris Olympic Games.
As reported by Radio Jamaica Sports, Thompson’s agent Marvin Anderson could not be reached for comment and her coach, Osbourne declined to field questions when she answered her telephone late Monday night.
She only noted that she was not accepting any media to her training base. The specific reason for the split has not been disclosed, but speculation is that both parties could not agree on remuneration.
Meanwhile, Thompson had been struggling from an Achilles tendon injury, which saw her placing fifth in the 100m final with 11.06 seconds at the Jamaican Championship on July 7.
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1/2- Jamaica's defending double sprint Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah has split with her coach Shanikie Osbourne after close to 4 months of association. Osbourne guided her to a three sub-11 clockings 10.92, 10.84, & a SB 10.79 after she placed 5th at the Jamaican trials. pic.twitter.com/eaFzJVtbWS
— Television Jamaica/Radio Jamaica Newscentre (@TvjNewscentre) November 14, 2023
The Jamaican missed out on an individual slot at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, and did not even compete in the final of the 4x100m relay team.
After the World Championships, Thompson headed to the Diamond League Meeting in Zurich where she clocked 11.00 to finish third. She posted her first sub-11 performance at the Gala dei Castelli where she clocked 10.92 to win the race.
She then clocked 10.84 seconds at the Diamond League Meeting in Brussels on September 8, before ending the season with 10.79 seconds on September 16 at the Prefontaine Classic, the Diamond League Final Meeting.