World 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson has decided to withdraw from the 200m event at the Diamond League Final in Brussels, following an underwhelming performance in the 100m race.
The final is scheduled for Saturday, but Richardson, who was anticipated to be a key competitor in the 200m, will not participate. Dutch athlete Tasa Jiya has been announced as her replacement.
Richardson’s decision to pull out comes just a day after she finished eighth in the 100m event, a surprising result for the reigning world champion. Her time of 11.23 seconds was notably behind the winner, Julien Alfred of St. Lucia, who completed the race in 10.88 seconds.
Richardson’s performance on Friday was marred by a sluggish start and an inability to recover, leading her to slow down and ultimately disappoint her fans.
The withdrawal from the 200m race is particularly notable as Richardson had been expected to make amends for her 100m setback. Theories about her withdrawal are speculative, but it adds to a season of highs and lows for the American sprinter.
She entered the season as a favorite for Olympic gold but was recently bested by Alfred. Although Richardson had a strong showing in Zurich a week prior, where she exacted some revenge on Alfred, the anticipated rematch in Brussels will now not take place.
With Richardson out, the 200m event will now feature several prominent athletes. British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith and veteran Ivorian Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith are among the main contenders.
The race will also include American sprinters Brittany Brown, Tamara Clark, and Anavia Battle, as well as Ivorian Maboundou Kone and British competitors Daryll Neita and Amy Hunt.
