RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, the biggest sprint names, hailed the performances of Elaine Thompson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, after Rio 2016 Olympic Games women’s 100m final on Saturday night (Aug 14).
Thompson blasted to a stunning time of 10.71 to win the women’s 100m – dethroning her compatriot and training partner, Fraser-Pryce, who finished third in 10.85.
American Tori Bowie split the Jamaicans with 10.83.
“Team Jamaica all day everyday..
Congrats to Elaine on her gold and @realshellyannfp for fighting and showing the heart of champ for Bronze,” said Bolt in a tweet.
Fraser-Pryce was chasing to become the first woman to win three straight Olympic 100m titles, but her season has been hampered by a toe injury.
She ran with the toe injury through the Olympic Games, saying it was “unbearable” and she cried after the semi-finals, but wanted to defend her title.
It was with this in mind Blake tweeted “Can’t stop loving Shelly-Ann. Heart of a champion!!”
He also showed love to Thompson’s success by adding “Elaine Thompson to di worl!!!”
Thompson, after winning the 100m at the Jamaica Trials in a national record 10.70, pulled out of the 200m and was making her first appearance since, at the Olympic Games.
She is down for the women’s 200m set to start on Monday.