- Aussie Michelle Jenneke has competed at her last Olympics
- Hurdler confirmed she battled a serious hamstring injury in Paris
- 'Jiggling' Jenneke became an internet sensation in 2012
Aussie track star Michelle Jenneke has confirmed Paris will be her final Olympic Games as she made an emotional statement after running her final race with a ruptured hamstring tendon.
Jenneke, 31, also won plenty of admirers at the Stade de France when she was seen comforting Slovakia's Viktoria Forster after competing in the women's 100m hurdles repechage round in a moment many viewers would have missed.
Taking to Instagram, Jenneke confirmed her days as an professional athlete are drawing to a close.
'Not the Olympics I had dreamed it would be,' Jenneke posted.
'I felt ready to run the race of my life, but unfortunately I fully ruptured one of my hamstring tendons in my heat which caused me to hit a hurdle and take a pretty big fall.
'I was lucky to escape the fall without hurting myself further and I’m immensely proud that I showed up [today] against the odds to finish off my Olympic campaign.
'It was all about not giving up and leaving no stone unturned. I gave it my all and honoured I now get to call myself a two-time Olympian.'
Jenneke also competed at the 2016 Games in Rio, but didn't progress beyond the heats in the hurdles.
One last jiggle: Aussie track star Michelle Jenneke (pictured doing her trademark dance before her repechage race on Thursday) has confirmed she has competed at her final Olympics
Jenneke, 31, won plenty of fans at the Stade de France when she was seen comforting Slovakia's Viktoria Forster despite the heartbreak of crashing out of her last Games
Fans were also quick to pay tribute to Jenneke's career on social media.
'You were an inspiration, a role model, and someone Australia should be proud of when it comes to representing [the nation] on the world stage,' said one supporter on Instagram.
Another posted: 'You always competed with a smile on your face and your positive vibes [will] prevail....that alone is worthwhile and people will remember you for that.'
A third weighed in with on X: 'You have made a nation proud! Thank you for all your sacrifices.'
Jenneke became a worldwide sensation for her dance moves behind the starting blocks while competing at the World Junior Championships in Barcelona back in 2012.
A narrative later emerged Jenneke wasn't taking the sport seriously due to her commercial pursuits and growing popularity away from the track due to her model looks.
Australia's athletic coach for the Rio Games, Craig Hilliard, wasn't impressed with Jenneke's condition in Brazil.
'It's something that I need to discuss with her and go through with her, with her program. She certainly didn't arrive here in the shape she should have arrived in,' he said at the time.
The Aussie didn't reveal she ruptured her hamstring tendon in her fall (pictured) until after she had bravely contested her last race despite the pain
'It's simple — if you are going to be half-baked at doing something, why are we investing in you (through funding)? I can't justify that.'
Jenneke responded by stating the criticism was unwarranted - but conceded she didn't race well in Rio after an injury flared up.
She went onto state she started doing her pre-race dance at the Australian All Schools championships of 2009 - and ran a personal best.
'It's just something that relaxes me and gets me into the feel of it. I feel like I always race my best and perform my best when I'm relaxed and enjoying myself,' she said.
'I get myself into the flow of how I run best, it's paramount.'
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