She told, 'I am a top athlete and I just have to work my way back to the top. The postponement of the Games was a double-edged sword for the Jamaican, who admitted it gave her more time to get in shape. It is like three years I have been dealing with it. Speaking to Jamaica's Loop News at the start of 2019, she said, 'Honestly, Achilles injury is a hard one to deal with, and I have dealt with it for a long time. Her 2018 was also a disappointment, and she finished fourth in the 100m at the 2019 Worlds in Doha - where Fraser-Pryce took gold - before opting not to run the 200m. It has been far from an easy path to the pinnacle of sprinting for Thompson-Herah, who was only fifth in the 100m at the 2017 World Championships in London. Picture by 2021 Getty Images Elaine Thompson-Herah and her road back to the top But they were a long way behind the undisputed sprint queen, whose 21.53 was, like the 100m, the second fastest in history behind the late Griffith-Joyner. Namibian youngster Christine Mboma came home for second, with USA's Gabby Thomas taking bronze as Fraser-Pryce faded in the closing stages. In the final, Fraser-Pryce was able to stay with her compatriot around the bend, but then Thompson-Herah pulled away once more to become the first woman to retain both the 100m and 200m Olympic titles. She was able to relax in the home straight and eased down to cross the line in 21.66, equalling her personal best. That evening, London 2012 silver medallist Fraser-Pryce looked assured in winning her semi-final heat, but Thompson-Herah - running blind in the outside lane - was quite superb as she flew out of the blocks and ran an excellent bend.

It was a different story for Jackson, who slowed down too quickly at the end of her heat to finish up in fourth place and out of the competition.

Just two days later, they were back for the 200m heats with Thompson-Herah only third in her race but qualifying automatically. Picture by 2021 Getty Images Rematch in the women's 200m It was an emphatic triumph, with the winner able to point in celebration five metres from home before screaming with delight, clocking 10.61 for a new Olympic record and the second fastest time in history. The pair were level at halfway in the final, but Thompson-Herah appeared to find another gear at 70m and surged clear with Fraser-Pryce just holding off Jackson for silver. It was all set up for a titanic showdown in Japan between the reigning 100m champion and the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 gold medallist.īoth cruised through the Tokyo heats and the semi-finals with Fraser-Pryce slightly quicker at 10.73 to 10.76. The 29-year-old was only third in June's Jamaican trials over 100m and 200m behind her great rival Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson.įraser-Pryce went second on the all-time women's 100m list behind Florence Griffith-Joyner with her 10.63 in Kingston, but Thompson-Herah defeated her two weeks later in Hungary with a season's best 10.71. Gayle goes in the long jump, where he will look to add another major medal to his 2019 world title, while world medallists Shanieka Ricketts and Kimberly Williams are named for the triple jump.Those words accurately described Elaine Thompson-Herah as the Jamaican sprinter made Olympic history with her three track athletics golds at Tokyo 2020 in 2021.

London 2012 Olympic 100m and 200m silver medallist Yohan Blake is also set to double up, with Oblique Sevill and Tyquendo Tracey selected alongside him for the 100m, and Rasheed Dwyer and Julian Forte named for the 200m. Reigning world champions Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Tajay Gayle are among the athletes selected for Jamaica’s team for the Tokyo Olympic Games.įraser-Pryce claimed 100m titles at both the 20 Games and has been named for the 100m and 200m in Tokyo, where she will be joined by Elaine Thompson-Herah, who defends the titles she won in Rio, and 2016 Olympic 400m bronze medallist Shericka Jackson in both events.

Jamaica olympic games tokyo 2020