Elaine Thompson was crowned Olympic 100m champion following a scintillating 10.71 seconds run which also ended compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s bid for a third-consecutive title here inside the Olympic Stadium last night.
Fraser-Pryce, who won back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2012, claimed bronze in a season’s best 10.86 seconds despite a niggling toe injury all season. American Tori Bowie separated the Jamaicans and took silver in 10.83 seconds.
Thompson, who hails from Banana Ground in Manchester, got a good start, and by the time she came out of her drive phase full of running, she went by her MVP training partner Fraser-Pryce and moved away for a most impressive victory. Fraser-Pryce, who led briefly, just missed the silver medal as she faded towards the end.
After waiting 60 years for their first success in the Olympic 100m, Jamaica, with a population of just under three million people, have now won the gold medal for a third-consecutive edition.
It was joy unconfined for Thompson, who just missed equalling her own national record of 10.70 seconds set last month, but is undoubtedly the fastest woman in the world. Her scream of joy could be heard around the Olympic Stadium.
“I mean I wasn’t the quickest out of the blocks, but I was in my drive phase and that just gave me a push to execute, and that’s what I did,” explained an elated Thompson.
“When I crossed the line and glanced across to see I was clear I didn’t quite know how to celebrate,” she added.
The Manchester High past student, now under the guidance of top coach Stephen Francis at MVP, won silver in the 200m at the World Championships last year and the signs were there that she would more than likely be the one to dethrone Fraser-Pryce.
“I am very excited and so happy. Jamaica has so many talented sprinters, and to be the second champion but as long as it remains Jamaica I am happy and excited,” said Thompson.
Meanwhile, Fraser-Pryce was gracious in defeat and had high praises for her training partner.
“I am really happy for her and I have seen her work hard, and it was her time. In 2008 it was my time, in 2016 it’s her time and I am happy that Jamaica gets to keep the gold medal,” said Fraser-Pryce.
She also explained her struggles with the niggling toe injury which might have cost her at least the silver.
“It was really difficult. I cried because it was really unbearable, but I knew I had one more race to go and I just prayed and said ‘God, if it’s to be, it will be,’ and I am really happy,” she explained.
“I am really happy to be standing on the podium after having a year like this,” she added.
