The three-time world champion believes 2025 will be a turning point for Kishane Thompson, urging him to overcome injuries, and embrace high-profile races.
Donovan Bailey has explained the reason behind Kishane Thompson’s slow 2024 season and why the 2025 season promises to be a turning point for the Olympic 100m silver medallist.
Kishane Thompson had been under the radar in the past seasons, mainly due to injuries but was introduced to the world in 2024. That was the first time he made the Jamaican national team and got a chance to represent the Caribbean nation on the global stage.
Kishane made his Diamond League debut in 2023 and in the final at the Prefontaine Classic, he finished an impressive fourth, setting the stage for a memorable 2024 season where without a doubt, he delivered.
Kishane Thompson has revealed the impact both Stephen ‘Frano’ Francis and his brother Paul Francis have had on his growth as a sprinter since joining MVP Track Club in 2019.
However, Donovan Bailey, a retired Jamaican-Canadian sprinter believed Kishane has more in the tank and he just has to get his act right to beat the likes of Noah Lyles.
At the Olympic Games, the Jamaican youngster was also a favourite to win the men’s 100m title but inexperience cost him.
After the Olympics, he pulled out of all his races due to an injury and Donovan Bailey has argued that it’s high time his team pulls up their socks when it comes to his health.
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Kishane Thompson at the Paris Olympic Games
The two-time Olympic champion revealed that for Kishane to get into the tune of a great sprinting, he has to race more often and not just any races but high-profile events.
“I’m probably not worried about Kishane, frankly, Noah Lyles is the Olympic champion and that’s an honour that will last forever. The expectation was that Kishane was going to win but after a couple of a thousand of seconds, he did not,” Donovan Bailey said on his podcast.
“But from that final, we saw that Kishane lacked experience when executing and injuries have also derailed his career but what I want to see from Kishane is just maybe getting back on the circuit and getting used to race russ. Getting there and executing and getting to every person that is competing now.
“For him to make it, he has to relax and let the race come to him especially when he is decelerating so hopefully, I’ll see that and I hope all his injuries post Olympics are headed. I hope his team will get him into shape and help him get into races. I have huge expectations of him in 2025.”
Kishane Thompson will open his 2025 season at the Astana Indoor Meet in Kazakhstan on January 25, the first 60m race of his career. The race will also be the first World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meet of the season.
He remains a beacon of hope in the Jamaican sprinting scene and as he starts his season in a unique way, this might probably be the year Jamaica goes back to the top since Usain Bolt’s retirement.
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Letsile Tebogo reflected on his career’s turning point, winning his first global gold in Nairobi.
