Elaine Thompson of Jamaica has just made history by winning the women’s 200 meters, becoming the first woman since world record(21:34) Florence Griffith Joyner did it in 1988 to complete a sprint double at the Olympic Games.
The 24 year old won the race in a time of 21.74, and is the 6th fastest woman in the race. She ran a faster time at the 2015 world championships in Beijing with a time of 21:66.
The favorite of the completion Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands who is the third fastest woman of all time in the race (21:63). She however fell short winning the silver medal in a time of 21:88 seconds. Schippers leaned at the line in a desperate bid to catch Thompson and tumbled hard to the track. Tori Bowie of the United States won the bronze. Thompson’s winning time was 21.78.
In the 100 meters, Thompson had dethroned her countrywoman, the two-time winner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Bowie was the silver medalist in that race.
The race was missing Allyson Felix, who has been a dominant athlete at the distance since as far back as 2004 and who won the gold medal in London in 2012. She was only fourth in the U.S. Trials at 200, though she did qualify for the 400, in which she won the silver medal.
Elaine’s reaction after winning the race just like the 100m was that of sheer surprise. Amazing athlete with many years of greatness to come.
