Jonnie Peacock Aims to Rediscover 2017 Form After Fifth-Place Finish in Paris

Jonnie Peacock, the two-time Paralympic champion, found himself outside the medal positions in the men's T64 100m final at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, finishing fifth with a time of 10.91 seconds. Despite a strong start out of the blocks, Peacock was overtaken in the latter stages of the race, with Costa Rica’s Sherman Guity taking gold in a Paralympic record time of 10.65 seconds. Italian sprinter Maxcel Amo Manu secured silver, while Germany’s Felix Streng claimed the bronze.

Reflecting on his performance, Peacock acknowledged his frustration, pointing to his former self as the benchmark he needs to reach to compete at the highest level once again. "2017 Jonnie would have wiped the floor with all of them," he told Channel 4 after the race. "I ran 10.64 slowing down [at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London], and that's what a lot of people seem to have forgotten. They count me out because they think these guys are fast, and they are, they are fast. But 2017 Jonnie was very fast, and that's the guy I need to find."

The 31-year-old British sprinter has a storied career, having won T44 gold at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympics, and a bronze in the T64 event at the Tokyo Games. However, in recent years, Peacock has faced challenges with injuries and technical issues, which have impacted his performances. Last year, he finished fifth in the World Championships, further underscoring the difficulties he has encountered in regaining his peak form.

As he looks ahead, Peacock’s focus will be on rediscovering the speed and confidence that defined his 2017 season, when he dominated the track and set a high standard for himself and his competitors. While the Paris result may not have been what he hoped for, Peacock remains determined to return to his best.

In other news from the British team, there was disappointment for David Weir, who failed to qualify for the men’s T54 1500m final after finishing sixth in his heat. However, fellow Briton Nathan Maguire provided a silver lining by securing a spot in Tuesday’s final after placing third in his heat.

For Peacock, the journey to rediscover his best self continues, and with his unwavering determination, it’s clear that he’s not ready to be counted out just yet.