In the most recent episode of the Sim Soul Sessions podcast, five-time Olympic medalist and two-time 200 meter World Champion Shericka Jackson opened up about the difficulties she faced as a child.
Currently, Jackson is one of the most decorated Jamaican sprinters in history. She’s moved through the ranks through the years and proved time and time again that she’s the best of her generation.
But behind all her achievements, there’s a girl who’s had a challenging upbringing.
Shericka Jackson’s childhood
On December 4, Jackson appeared on the Sim Soul Sessions podcast. And in a calm yet vulnerable state, Jackson told the host, Simone Clark, that she has always had this “high wall’ up because of her past.
Jackson has a history of moving around a lot, and as a nomad, she hasn’t been able to develop the skills to build long-term relationships. Jackson said that she never felt like she had enough time to be a kid and that moving around made her feel older than a kid, which she believes is one of the reasons why she is so aggressive today.
World Champion Shericka’s Jackson’s full conversation with SIM soul sessions. Must listen👂🏽 pic.twitter.com/LHmOnCKvLy
— Track Spice 🌶️ (@trackspice) December 5, 2023
According to a 2010 study in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, children who moved around a lot as children had lower life satisfaction and psychological well-being and fewer quality social relationships overall.
Of course, it’s not universal, and some kids do well despite moving around a lot as they grow up. But for the more introverted kids, it can be harder to overcome their difficulties, and they may even carry the pain of their past into adulthood, as Shericka Jackson did.
The ranking
Fortunately, Jackson has the mind of a fighter and didn’t let it get the best of her. Instead, she redirected her aggressiveness into her competitions and let it become a part of them. She also says that she’s in a much better space now that she’s a grown-up.
Next to Marita Koch, Jackson places second in the list of ‘Greatest Women Combo Sprinters of all time’, dominating all three disciplines in 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter events.
Cover Photo: IG