Tokyo Olympics: Women’s 100m Final: Elaine Thompson-Herah wins with Olympic record, clean sweep for Jamaica – Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah shattered the 33-year Olympic record, clocking 10.61 seconds to claim the gold medal in women’s 100m sprint. It was a clean sweep from Jamaica as her two teammates — Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson finished 2nd and 3rd respectively to secure silver and bronze.
Elaine Thompson-Herah didn’t have the fastest reaction time but after the 50m mark, she took control and cruised to the top spot. However, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson had to fight against Marie-Josse Lou in the last 20 meters to claim the silver and bronze medals. It was almost a photo finish with 200th of a second dividing the 2nd and 3rd. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce clocked 10.74s while Shericka Jackson registered 10.76s.
Tokyo Olympics: Women’s 100m Final: The Olympic record stood at 10:61s that was created by Florence Griffith Joyner in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Jamaica sweeps the women’s 100m final at the #Olympics #JAM
Elaine Thompson Herah ran the second-fastest time ever in the event (10.61). pic.twitter.com/Frsp31aym2
— Billy Heyen (@BillyHeyen) July 31, 2021
Tokyo Olympics: Women’s 100m Final:
The pre-race hype had focused on Fraser-Pryce, who until Saturday had been the fastest woman in the world over the distance this year. The 34-year-old had been bidding to become the oldest sprinter to ever win an Olympic 100m title, and the first woman to win three individual track and field golds.
But in sultry conditions at an empty Olympic Stadium, it was 2016 Rio gold medallist Thompson who seized the moment.
“I am really excited to come back and retain my title. My chest hurts, I am so happy,” Thompson-Herah said.
Before the race, the stadium was plunged into darkness as the finalists were introduced under a spotlight bearing down on the starting area.
Thompson-Herah looked stony-faced as she focused on the challenge ahead in the lane next to Fraser-Pryce.
Fraser-Pryce got out of the blocks smoothly but once Thompson-Herah hit her stride there was only going to be one winner.
She drew level with Fraser-Pryce after around 60 metres and pulled clear, pointing and gesticulating in delight at the electronic board displaying her winning time as she crossed the line.
Thompson-Herah had earlier given a clue she was in prime form with a dominant display in the semi-finals, romping home in 10.76 despite easing up well before the finish line.
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