Polish sprinter Ewa Swoboda fell heartbreakingly short of qualifying for the 100-meter final by just 0.01 seconds. Swoboda, who had shown exceptional promise during the heats with a time of 10.99 seconds, could only manage 11.08 seconds in the semifinals, placing her ninth overall.
The semifinals were intensely competitive, with Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia leading the way with an impressive 10.84 seconds. Swoboda’s commendable performance left her just behind the eighth-place finisher, Twanisha Terry of the USA, who secured her spot in the final with a time of 11.07 seconds.
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Swoboda’s semifinal journey was driven by hope and determination, staying focused despite physical challenges, including her menstrual cycle. Competing against top athletes like Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith, Dina Asher-Smith, and Melissa Jefferson, she outpaced Asher-Smith but finished fourth behind Ta Lou-Smith and Mujinga Kambundji.
Anticipation grew as Swoboda awaited the remaining heat results. In the second heat, Julien Alfred dominated, followed by Sha’carri Richardson and Gina Bass Bittaye, with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Price notably absent. Bass Bittaye’s time of 11.10 seconds briefly kept Swoboda’s hopes alive, but the decisive third heat saw Tia Clayton and Daryll Neita lead, with Twanisha Terry’s 11.07 seconds narrowly edging Swoboda out of the final.