Chari Hawkins had a promising start in the women’s heptathlon at the 2024 Paris Olympics, especially after an impressive performance in the 100-meter hurdles, where she earned 1100 points.
Unfortunately, her momentum was cut short during the high jump event. Hawkins was unable to clear the height of 1.71 meters, which led to a score of zero points in that event.
As a result, she was eliminated from the heptathlon competition at the Paris Games, marking a disappointing end to her Olympic campaign.
After Chari Hawkins struggled in the high jump event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, her teammates, Anna Hall and Taliyah Brooks, successfully cleared the height of 1.71 meters on their first attempts, allowing them to advance to the next rounds of the women’s heptathlon.
When the results were displayed on the screen, Hawkins was in disbelief, realizing that she had not qualified due to her failure to clear the height.
Overwhelmed by the situation, Hawkins broke down in tears, visibly devastated by the outcome. It was a heartbreaking moment in her Olympic journey.
“Oh my gosh. I don’t even know what to do. I’m like literally so shocked right now. No,” she said.
Some fans also expressed their displeasure about the fact that the 33-year-old was being filmed in such a vulnerable state, with one fan writing,
“I get that the camera men want to capture major moments at the Olympics but there’s something so sinister about keeping the camera on Chari Hawkins as she found out that news the ENTIRE TIME,” a fan wrote.
Chari Hawkins reflected on the emotional journey that led her to compete and qualify for her first Olympic Games in Paris.
After narrowly missing out on making the U.S. Olympic team in previous attempts, Hawkins admitted that she had once given up on the dream of becoming an Olympian.
The disappointment of coming so close, yet falling short, had taken a toll on her.
However, she eventually found the resilience to push forward, and qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics was a significant achievement in her career, even though her journey at the Games didn’t end as she had hoped.
“There was a point in 2021 where I wasn’t sure if I was going to go for it again. There was this part of me that was like, ‘Dang, even if I make more Team USA teams, I’m not going to be able to say that I was an Olympian. It was so heartbreaking for me,” she said.
She talked about the change of perspective after finishing second in the U.S. Olympic track and field trials for the Paris Olympics and said:
“I don’t know if I will ever really settle into the fact that it ended up happening.
To really look back at that heartbreak and that pain and to see it come full circle and me being able to finally say that I’m an Olympian — it’s really cool, really humbling and super, super emotional. It’s awesome.”
Chari Hawkins further emphasized that qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics was the culmination of years of dedication and hard work as an athlete.
She expressed pride in the journey, acknowledging the countless hours of training, perseverance through setbacks, and the mental and physical challenges she had overcome.
For Hawkins, earning her spot in the Olympics was not just about the competition itself but also a testament to the resilience and commitment she had shown throughout her career.
Despite the disappointment in Paris, qualifying for the Games was a significant and meaningful milestone in her athletic journey.
