Elaine Thompson-Herah’s management has confirmed the separation of the athlete and her coach Shanikie Osbourne after a breakdown in negotiations over compensation. The double-double Olympic champion’s management, Andi Sports Management, made the confirmation in a statement released late Wednesday that also revealed that the search for a new coach is currently underway.

Thompson-Herah, who won the 100m/200m double at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the Tokyo Olympics, struggled in 2023 failing to earn an individual spot on Jamaica’s team to the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August.

During the championships she brought Osbourne onto her coaching staff and the impact was almost immediate with the 30-year-sprinter who ran 11.06 at the Jamaica national championships, running times of 11.00, 10.92, 10.84 and 10.79 to end the season on a high.

It is against that background that when the situation became public earlier this week, it came as a surprise to many. However, there was no official confirmation. That came on Wednesday.

“Five-time Olympic Games Gold Medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah and her temporary coach has parted ways,” the statement began. “The professional separation came about due to a breakdown in negotiations on a compensation package for the services that would be provided by Coach Osbourne.”

According to the athlete’s management, the package proposed by Osbourne was “by any measure of what is the norm for such services, was extremely excessive and without any flexibility to negotiate by the other party.

“Collectively, we had no choice but to seek the services of another coach.”

Thompson-Herah’s management acknowledged the progress made with Osbourne and thanked her for her contribution.

“Mrs. Elaine Thompson-Herah benefitted from the services of Coach Osbourne, especially towards the end of the 2023 athletic season and for that Mrs. Thompson-Herah is grateful and would like to express her thanks for her impact in a very short space of time,” the statement read.

“With the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, fast approaching, Mrs. Thompson-Herah is fully focused on her preparations for the season and the defense of her Olympic titles. In this regard, we have undertaken a process to procure the services of a coach who would be able to ensure the high standards of Mrs. Thompson-Herah are exceeded and her goals for the 2024 outdoor athletic season are met.

“Once our search is complete and a final decision is made we will once again use this medium to officially notify the fans, followers, supporters and the general public. Rest assured that the best interest of Mrs. Elaine Thompson-Herah supersedes all other concerns and all decisions will be made to fortify her legacy as one of the World’s premier female athletes.”