John Steffensen says he met Shericka Jackson just hours before her shock withdrawal from the Olympics.
And the Australian athletics legend believes the Jamaican gave everything she had to make it to the start line of the 100m and 200m events in Paris.
Jackson had retired from the 100 meters earlier this week in a bid to focus on the 200 meters, the event he has won at each of the last two world championships.
But she failed to make it to the start line on Sunday, and it now remains to be seen whether she will compete in the 4x100m relay in the coming days.
And Stan Sport ambassador Steffensen, who won silver in the men’s 4x400m relay in Athens, believes Jackson made the right decision.
“I saw Shericka yesterday, she was… I won’t reveal where she was, but she did everything she could to get to the Olympics,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Between her and her coach, Steve Francis, they have experience at this level. You know, she’s been at the top of the world sprint for the last three or four years and they knew it wouldn’t be worth it for her to go out on the track without being 100 per cent.
“As we have seen in the first three or four days of the athletics programme, if you are not 100 per cent, good luck, because the athletes are ready to give their all and those who have not made a name for themselves, like Julien Alfred, will do so. We saw that last night.”
John Steffensen has given his verdict on Shericka Jackson’s withdrawal from the 200m
The Australian legend saw Jackson on Saturday and believes he made the right decision
The reason for Jackson’s withdrawal remains unclear, but it represents another major blow for Jamaica after legendary sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce withdrew from the 100m semi-finals on Saturday night.
Fraser-Pryce, the 2008 and 2012 Olympic 100m champion, has had an injury-plagued season but comfortably cruised through her heat on Friday morning.
However, moments before the semi-finals began it was confirmed that he would not be competing.
Jackson and Fraser-Pryce were expected to lead Jamaica’s relay team but are now considered doubtful for the event.
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