Elaine Thompson-Herah sizzles to historic double-double at Tokyo 2020

Elaine Thompson-Herah, on Tuesday’s 5th day of track and field at Tokyo 2020, cemented her place as arguably the greatest female sprinter in Olympics history. She became the first woman to defend her sprint double title at Tokyo 2020.

Thompson-Herah produced a scintillating run in the final of the women’s 200 metres with a personal best 21.53, which erased Merlene Ottey’s national record of 21.64 seconds which stood for thirty years. After the final, Thompson-Herah spoke of the 200 metres heats and semi-finals on the same day and described the schedule as “challenging”.

“I equalled my PB last night. We still have not recovered fully. To come back out here and run a national record, I think I would have gone faster if we had another day (rest) from the heats; but I am happy. It’s amazing to be in this history book; God is amazing.”

An ecstatic Elaine Thompson-Herah with nothing left to prove will be looking to end her season in September.
“After this, I will see what more is in the leg. My season ends in September, so there is more to come, even though there is nothing more to prove.”

She also made mention of what securing this historic back-to-back sprint double at the Olympic games meant to her. “It means a lot to me,” she said.

“I have never seen this day; even though my dream was to make the Olympics, I have never seen myself getting another double. I have never broken 21 (seconds) for the past five years, and I have done that twice this championship. This means a lot to me to be part of the history books.”

Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, who finished shy of the medals in fourth place with a time of 21.94 seconds, had high praises for Thompson-Herah’s performance.
She extended, “congratulations to Elaine as well because 21.5 is no joke.”

Fraser Pryce also mentioned that it was difficult to run the sprint double. “it’s very hard to do the double, especially having ran two 200 metres races yesterday, but I am glad I came out here.”

The eighteen-year-old Namibian Christine Mboma finished second, setting a world under 20 record of 21.81 seconds. Third place went to the USA’s national champion Gabby Thomas in a time of 21.87 seconds. Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo was last in 24 seconds flat.