SHERONE SIMPSON: AN EXAMPLE OF TRUE GRIT

Six years ago Sherone Simpson made the world sit up and take notice when she ran the fastest time in the world in both the 100 metres (10.82) and 200 metres (22.00 twice). During that year – 2006 – Simpson, who took home a gold medal as a member of Jamaica’s sprint relay team at the Olymic Games in Athens two years earlier, added to her collection upsetting favourite Veronica Campbell Brown to win gold over the 200 metres at the Commonwealth Games in Australia that year. A second gold came as a member of that sprint relay team as Jamaica dominated those Games like never before.

But just as quickly as success would come for the sprinter from Devon in Manchester, injury had her limping towards 2007. Troubled by knee pain, Simpson opted for knee surgery at the end of the 2006 season and missed the boat to Osaka in Japan. She managed to recover enough to eke out a place in the Olympic team to Beijing in 2008 and came away from those Games with a silver medal in the 100 metres. The great irony is that she almost never made it to Beijing as her knee had started to become a bother again and she seriously considered returning home from camp in Europe because as she puts it “I was in so much pain.”

Simpson’s world champs jinx continued in 2009 when she failed to make the team to Berlin and struggled though most of 2010, even though she seemed to be on the way back from her second knee surgery after the Olympic Games. In 2011, she declared herself fit but then proceeded to struggle throughout the season, running, by her standards, ordinary times. Though consistently in the low 11s, she did not seem capable of returning to the form of 2006 when she was on top of the world. She made the team to Daegu but failed to make the 100 metre team and only just making the 200 metre team. As it turns out she finished last in the finals at worlds but came away with a silver medal in the sprint relay.

Something happened though last season that could make Simpson see better results for her hard work in 2012. Through her struggles she discovered that her two knee surgeries had caused her to lose strength in her left quadricep muscle. What resulted is that in races her left leg would start to trail her right leg, affecting her cadence and ultimately her speed and speed endurance. She worked hard in the off season to get the strength of that quad on par with that of her right.

2012 has started out with a bang. 51.42 over the 400 metres at the Grace Jackson Invitational is an indicator that the speedy little woman from Manchester may be on her way back. It’s her second fastest time in the 400 metres and may very well mean that she is getting back to the place where sub-11 times are the norm for her. If that happens then London 2012 could see the return of this hardworking but often frustrated Jamaican star.

Perhaps 2012 will be her 2006, when she will once again be queen of the sprints.

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15 Responses to “SHERONE SIMPSON: AN EXAMPLE OF TRUE GRIT”

proudschoolmate says:

February 2, 2012 at 9:50 am

I think she is highly under rated! It is not an easy task to recover from knee surgery and get back to being competitive.
She has true mettle, spirit & grit. I wish I could tell her that she has true fans who are rooting for her to get one of the big ones; 100m or 200m individual gold at Olympics and/or WC in 2012/2013.
Keep on keeping on my Manchester sister!
George Gray says:

February 2, 2012 at 5:56 pm

Nice comments, but may I add a few corrections.The women’s 4×100 team in Athens won Gold, The team was disqualified in Beijing.
Totally love Sherone’s attitude, and I would like her to seriously consider the 400m, and perhaps a change of enviroment, I think we would see marvelous improvement.

Best of luck Sherone!
Ann says:

February 3, 2012 at 11:07 am

I wish Sherone well. We really need her to be in top form so that we could take gold in the relay and the top positions in the 100 and 200.
Oswald Hutchinson says:

February 4, 2012 at 11:43 pm

I have been in high admiration of this athlete since she was 19 when she started at UTECH. I am disappointed that injuries have robbed her of so much of her career but in a widened perspective, she’s a genuine example of the fabled Amazon warrior. My compliments to your revealing insights in this editorial article.
All the best this year Sherone.
Kay says:

February 7, 2012 at 8:17 am

One important addition is that Sherone has her head well screwed on her body as she completed her course of study @ UTech successfully. She’s a shining example to her fellow athletes.

On another note, one should seriously analyze the approach of coach Stephen Francis though as many of his athletes seem to get injuries that hamper their abilities to excel.
Kay says:

February 7, 2012 at 8:18 am

We wish her and all the other athletes good health and much success this our golden anniversary.
Dianne says:

February 7, 2012 at 10:33 pm

Cheering for you Sherone! You are a great athlete and you will get your just reward. Keep being the humble, genuine person that you are and may heaven smile on you. God Bless
Nicoy Robinson says:

February 8, 2012 at 9:45 am

I hope and pray fo her that she will be able to deliver this year, bearing the fact that the other sprinters with exception to veronica compbell Brown has not being running up to scratch for the past years.
Don b says:

February 9, 2012 at 10:21 am

Sherone keep up the good work. I sincerely hope that you will be successful this year. To recover from so many knee injuries and to keep at it I do lift my hat off to you. God will allow you to reap your success. All the best for this year.
crane operator says:

February 17, 2012 at 9:23 am

such an inspiration – keep up the good work!
Mr.Game says:

February 21, 2012 at 10:16 pm

Sherone continue to work hard. There is no female sprinter on the circuit right now that is unbeatable. Just continue working on your craft and believe in yourself.
junior campbell says:

February 23, 2012 at 1:02 am

Go sherone i am a major fan i wish u all the best of all the jamaican sprinters u r my favourite easily ur so articulate may god be with u in all ur races
marcia says:

February 24, 2012 at 10:02 pm

…and so very beautiful too. Sherone, u win that gold come Olympics 2012 and you would immediately become the star you were born to b. you are personable, articulate and can b featured on the cover of any beauty/fashion magazine. put the work in, do whatever it takes to get completely fit = mentally and physically – and everything will fall into place. good luck Sherone, and may God continue to bless you with speed and health.
marjorie barnett says:

March 6, 2012 at 11:22 pm

Sherone there is some advise I would want to share with you I am a great fan of yours I see one thing that may be against you when running you are running too straight up that was also merlene ottey style it gives your compition an edge over you work on running in a more forward position it will make a difference I used to run track not as a professional but was very good god be with you
yvonne Gray says:

May 12, 2012 at 9:26 am

Sherone you are a wonderful person and a gifted athlete. Continue working on your craft and pray about your lingering injury. Daniel God surely will deliver.

We love you and stand by you, only your best is good enough, you are in my prayers.