Reuters
Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Athletics – Women’s 100m – Medal Ceremony – Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan – August 1, 2021. Gold medallist, Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica wearing a protective face mask on the podium poses with silver medallist, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica wearing a protective face mask and bronze medallist Shericka Jackson of Jamaica wearing a protective face mask REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Reuters
Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Athletics – Women’s 100m – Medal Ceremony – Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan – August 1, 2021. Gold medallist, Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica wearing a protective face mask on the podium poses with silver medallist, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica wearing a protective face mask and bronze medallist Shericka Jackson of Jamaica wearing a protective face mask REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
2021 has seen some fine performances from female sprinters across several global events. However, the Jamaicans dominated the top of the timesheets once again, which millions across the world saw at the Tokyo Olympics last month.
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In fact, they dominated not just the 100m event, but the 200m event as well. Some of their top sprinters this year were Shericka Jackson, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah. However, only one of them holds the title of bring the fastest woman on the planet in 2021.
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This impressive feat belongs to none other than Thompson-Herah. The 29-year-old has been nothing short of impressive this year, setting sub-11 second times in every appearance she made.
In her debut Olympic appearance in Rio five years ago, Thompson-Herah took the world by storm. She won gold medals in the women’s 100m and 200m events to add to Jamaica’s well-known prowess on the track.
She arrived in the Tokyo Olympics on the back of stellar performances in the Jamaican Olympic trials and prior performances in several tournaments. Billed as a favorite to retain her Olympic crown, the 29-year-old didn’t disappoint.
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TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 03: Elaine Thompson-Herah of Team Jamaica celebrates after winning the gold medal in the Women’s 200m Final on day eleven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 03, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
She clocked a stunning 10.61s on July 31, 2021 in the women’s 100m final to clinch her second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the event. In addition, she led a surprising Jamaican 1-2-3, which saw Fraser-Pryce take second and Jackson third.
And she didn’t stop there. Just three weeks later, the 29-year-old clocked 10.54s in the Diamond League to clinch victory in the women’s 100m event. This time is the fastest of the year, which makes Thompson-Herah the fastest woman in the world in 2021.
Elaine Thompson-Herah also retained her Olympic 200m crown in Tokyo
Along with the women’s 100m event, the Jamaican also won the women’s 200m event. With a time of 21.53s set on August 3, 2021, she retained the gold medal she won in Rio five years ago. In addition, she also set the fastest time of the year in the women’s 200m event.
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Athletics – Diamond League – Zurich – Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland – September 9, 2021 Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah celebrates winning the women’s 100m REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
She also won the women’s 4x100m relay in Tokyo, to go one better than her debut Olympics in Rio. Along with Fraser-Pryce, Jackson and Briana Williams, the Jamaican quartet won the event with a time of 41.02s.
At just 29, one may argue Thompson-Herah could compete till, and in the Paris Olympics 2024. And if she can compete in those Games, she would be a favorite to repeat Usain Bolt’s success of winning the 100m and 200m three times in a row.
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