Elaine Thompson-Herah completes sprint double-double

On Aug 4, 2021

TOKYO, August 4 – Defending champion Elaine Thompson-Herah produced another superlative show last night as the Jamaican Woman completed a golden 100m and 200m ‘double-double’ at the 2020 Olympic Games here.

It was only three days ago she successfully defended her 100m title with an Olympic record-breaking sprint of 10.61s.

She produced yet another fine show as the 29-year-old sprinted to her second successive 200m title in 21.53s.

She now becomes only the second-fastest Woman in history in both the100m and 200m. The much older records she erased in both these were held by two all-time veterans – Florence Griffith-Joyner (100m) and Merlene Ottey (200m).

Yesterday, she bettered the Jamaican 200m record of 21.64s held by Merlene Ottey in 1991 and only the USA’s world record-holder Florence Griffith-Joyner has a better timing than that, running to the world and Olympic record timing of 21.34s set at the 1988 Games in Seoul.

Thompson-Herah fired all her cylinders in the last stages as she accounted for the fourth Olympic Gold. Teenager Christine Mboma from Namibia bagged the Silver, improving the world Under-20 and African senior records with 21.81s.

The Bronze was won by Gabby Thomas of USA, who had run 21.61s to win the US title. She held on for Bronze ahead of Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, with their respective times of 21.87s and 21.94s being the fastest ever for third and fourth place in any Women’s 200m race.

“It was a tough race. I really had to pull it out to win the 200m. It’s a new personal best and a national record. I am really happy. The ups and downs have been so many and to come here five years later and to win two events is just amazing. Honestly, I am very tired,” Thompson-Herah said, completing her sixth race in five days.

“My legs just need some rest. I have had a rough week. I haven’t slept after the 100m final,” said Thompson-Herah.

She had to undergo a series of injury struggles since achieving her first Olympic sprint double in Rio five years ago. Elaine Thompson-Herah completes sprint double-double

She got off to a good start in the final but was not extraordinary. However, she soon got into her brilliant running and the 2015 world 200m Silver Medallist was level with two-time Olympic 100m Gold Medallist Fraser-Pryce and Thomas off the bend. However, from this point onwards, the defending champion began to edge ahead. It soon became her race and there was no looking back.

The fast-finishing Mboma advanced from sixth off the bend to second, passing Fraser-Pryce and Thomas to her left to become the second Namibian athlete after Frankie Fredericks to ever claim a medal at the Olympics. Fredericks accounted for Men’s 100m and 200m Silver at both the 1992 and 1996 Games.

“This is my first Olympics. I came here for experience but I did better than I expected. I am really happy with my performance. I am proud of myself. Every time I ran against the best athletes in the past, I felt nervous. But I don’t feel nervous now,” said Mboma.

Thompson-Herah had given a hint of things to come in the semi-finals, when she levelled her personal best of 21.66s despite easing down as she approached the finish line.

Mboma had also stepped up on the major stage, and after taking to the Tokyo start line with a best of 22.67s, she improved to 22.11s in the heats and then 21.97s in the semi-finals.