Reigning Olympic 110m hurdles gold medalist Hansle Parchment has hinted that the upcoming Paris Olympics in 2024 could signal the beginning of the end of his illustrious athletics career. The 33-year-old, who stunned the world with his gold medal victory at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, shared his sentiments with Sportsmax.TV on Wednesday night, expressing uncertainty about committing to another four-year cycle.
"I’m not sure I want to go another four years; that’s a lot of time and a lot of hurdling, and hurdling is a little bit more taxing on the body than normal running, so I will see what the body has to offer. I’m trying to take the best care of myself to make sure that I can put my best foot forward each time," Parchment disclosed.
Despite contemplating the potential conclusion of his competitive journey, Parchment affirmed his commitment to maintaining his current training regimen. Adopting a laid-back Jamaican perspective, he humorously stated, "Well, dem say if it no bruk down, you nuh have to fix it. I intend to do the same things that helped me in previous years, so it’s just a matter of trying to put all of that together and get everything to work how it is supposed to work and giving my best each time I go out."
Reflecting on his performance at the World Championships in Budapest last year, where he secured the silver medal behind American rival Grant Holloway, Parchment admitted he was not at his best. However, he rebounded admirably, achieving a lifetime best of 12.93 weeks later to claim the Diamond League title.
For Parchment, hitting his peak at the right time in Paris is a paramount focus for the upcoming season. While he acknowledged the timing issue in 2023, he remains optimistic about refining his approach.
"Probably slightly. I would have hoped to be a little bit sharper a little earlier, but I am not upset. I am thankful that I could get a PR so long after running 12 several years ago, so hopefully, I get it a little closer this year," he commented.
As he gears up for the 2024 campaign, Parchment plans to open his season next month before embarking on the Diamond League circuit set to commence in the latter part of April.