Double gold medallist at the Olympic Games Elaine Thompson, credits coach Stephen Francis with her victory over World Championships winner Dafne Schippers at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Wednesday.
Thompson exacted revenge on Schippers, who caught and defeated her in the final of the World Championships last year, by leading from start to finish, with the latter, this time, engaging in a futile chase for victory.
Thompson was clocked at 21.78 seconds, with Schippers doing 21.88 for second. Tori Bowie of the United States of America was third in 22.51 seconds.
Thompson said, “the game plan was to get off the corner as fast as I can and then execute from there and I think I did well tonight. I think I have worked well with my coach Stephen Francis because he knew that I could do it and I knew that I could do it as well.
“He said I should keep my knees up and think through the line and I think I did that, that’s why I came out with that gold tonight. I got another gold medal and it is a very happy feeling and I am speechless right now. To come out here and getting another gold is a marvelous feeling,” she said.
Earlier, Thompson had won the 100 metres, with Bowie finishing second and her MVP teammate Shelly-Fraser-Pryce, who was the defending champion, third. Schippers, also a favourite for that title, ended fifth.
It was the first time that a Jamaica woman was winning the 100 and 200 metres sprint double at the Olympic Games.
Thompson said the 200 victory on Wednesday, drained her somewhat and she will be resting for the first round of Jamaica’s 4×100 metres relay, before coming in for the final, in her bid to win triple gold medals.
“Honestly, it has been a rough 200 (Wednesday evening) as I haven’t run much 200 for the season.
“Tomorrow the girls are coming out here without me and I know they are going to pull through. We have the finals on Fridayand I know we coming out here with a fight and we are also capturing that gold as well,” she said.
She was happy that her sponsor National Commercial Bank (NCB) was able to bring the Olympics to her family in Banana Ground, where she grew up.
“I know they are celebrating, but I am not there. I just want to big up my family, my friends, everybody that is looking out for me and have brought me through this season. Thanks to my coach Stephen Francis, the management and everybody else, thank you so much,” she said.
Good Job with the interview…