TOKYO, July 31, 2021 – Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica produced a lifetime best and record time of 10.61 that made her the second fastest woman in history to retain her Olympic title on Saturday at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
Thompson-Herah fought off fierce competition from compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in what was a keenly contested women’s 100m final where six of the eight competitors finished under 11 seconds.
Two-time Olympic gold medallist and reigning world champion Fraser-Pryce settled for silver in a time of 10.74s after she could no longer keep up with Thompson-Herah’s ferocious speed, while Shericka Jackson, the 2016 Olympic 400m bronze medallist took the bronze in a time of 10.76s to complete a Jamaican podium sweep, the country’s first of the event since 2008.
Thompson-Herah’s Olympic record is just 0.12 seconds short of the world record set by American Florence Griffith-Joyner 33 years ago. The 29-year-old started celebrating with her left hand outstretched before she crossed the line and afterwards she laid on the track in jubilation.
“I knew I had it in me (Olympic record) but obviously I’ve had my ups and downs with injuries,” Thompson-Herah said. “I’ve been keeping faith all this time. It is amazing.
“I think I could’ve gone faster if I wasn’t pointing and celebrating early. I wanted to show that there is more in store, so hopefully one day I can unleash that.”
Fraser-Pryce, who qualified fastest for the final, started the race strongly and found herself ahead of the field but Thompson-Herah would catch up. The duo raced neck and neck before the latter surged ahead with about 40 metres remaining and let out a scream as she crossed the finish line.
“God is amazing,” Thompson-Herah said to the press at the mixed zone. Two months ago I didn’t think I would be here today, but I held my composure and continued to work hard. I believed in myself, I believed in God. And I must say I have a strong team.
“I didn’t expect to run this fast even though I felt great through the runs but behind this 10.6 there’s a lot of nerves and I said ‘you can do this, you’ve been here before, just execute’.
“This is really special, like super special and I have to share it with my brother Omar McLeod because he is not here today. This one is for hima and for my husband.”
A niggling Achilles injury almost cost Thompson-Herah an Olympic spot at the Jamaica National Championships, but she managed third place in both the 100m and 200m. Fraser-Pryce dominated both events to qualify to her fourth Olympics while Jackson came second.
Fraser-Pryce, who won a bronze medal in Rio five years ago after back-to-back victories in Beijing 2008 and London 2012 was looking to become the first woman to ever win three Olympic 100m gold medals in Tokyo.
The 34-year-old was the second-fastest woman in history with a time of 10.63s before Thompson-Herah chopped off two seconds on Saturday night.
Following the birth of her son, Zyon, “Mommy Rocket” returned to the top of women’s sprinting in 2019, recording three of the five fastest times of the year, including the world-leading 10.71s with which she claimed her fourth world title in one of the most highly anticipated events of the World Championships in Doha. She was the heavy favourite for gold in Tokyo but it was not to be.
“It definitely wasn’t the race that I wanted in terms of the technical part of it. I don’t ever find excuse for anything as an athlete you just have to show up and perform regardless of what happens… I’m happy to be able to come out here to represent and compete for the championship. You know, that’s always a plus when you come and you give it everything you have,” she said.
Jamaica also swept the women’s 100m medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Fraser-Pryce said it’s incredible that they were able to repeat that feat in Tokyo. And while she believes Jamaicans are celebrating their achievement at home, she hoping they are not defying curfew orders. “I’m hoping that they are celebrating with a lot of positive energy, celebrating each and every one of the athletes.”
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