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The Ivorian sprinter went into the Paris Olympics with hopes of ending her medal drought but her dreams were dashed in the most painful fashion on Saturday.
Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith came into the Paris 2024 Olympics looking to end her medal drought after coming close but missing out at previous Games.
She managed fourth place in both 100m and 200m at the Rio 2016 Olympics before fourth in 100m and fifth in 200m at the Tokyo Games and at 35, the Paris Games offered her the best possible chance to win a medal.
She started well in the 100m in Paris when she clocked the fastest time in the heats at 10.87 on Friday and qualified for the semi-final before later making it to the final.
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13:35 - 04.08.2024
Paris 2024: Julien Alfred, McKenzie Long, Brittany Brown storm into 200m semifinals as Ta Lou Smith bows out
Julien Alfred, McKenzie Long, and Brittany Brown advance to the 200m semifinals, while Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith withdraws due to injury.
However, as Julien Alfred was celebrating Olympics gold, Ta Lou-Smith was in pain and tears after finishing last, having suffered an injury during the race.
Ta Lou-Smith came into the Olympics on the back of some mixed results and had also complained of a problem with her leg.
“My leg has been giving me trouble these last two weeks so I am happy to be racing. This is my first 200 and I need to get ready for the Olympic trials,” she said in May after finishing second in 200m at the Oslo Diamond League.
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13:03 - 04.08.2024
Gabby Thomas cruises into semi-final to set up showdown with Julien Alfred for Olympics 200m gold medal
American Gabby Thomas had no equals in her heat as she easily made it into the semi-final with eyes on a first Olympics gold.
“It is only May so we have to manage ourselves. I will wait and see what my coach says about any more racing before the trials.”
While she shook off the injury and featured at a number events, including Stockholm and Monaco Diamond Leagues, as well as the African Championships, the injury setback returned at the worst possible time.
The injury did not just end her 100m hopes but meant she could not take part in the 200m heats on Sunday, dashing her Olympics medal hopes in painful fashion.
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11:40 - 04.08.2024
Julien Alfred: Who is little-known star that stunned Sha’Carri Richardson to win Olympics gold?
Following her comprehensive defeat of American Sha’Carri Richardson in the 100m at the Paris Olympics, here is everything you need to know about Julien Alfred.
Ta Lou-Smith will be 39 when the next Olympics take place in Los Angles, USA and there is a feeling that Paris was perhaps the best possible chance to write her name in the history books.
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