ELAINE THOMPSON NO LONGER A “SCARED CAT” AT 200M

Photo: The irrepressible Elaine Thompson

In her post-race comments at 15th IAAF World Championship, the 200m silver medalist Elaine Thompson mentioned the word “scared”.

“The first time in the 200m, I was scared when my coach told me that I was going to run it at the trials. I was like wow, no 100m for me, but I just worked with him; he is a good coach and anything he has in store for me, I just work with him,” said Thompson.

As they often say belief kills and belief cures. Thompson has gone past her moments of fear and is now firmly piloting her way to becoming one of the greatest female sprinters to emerge from Jamaica.

In what is now regarded as the most dominant performance at a world championship over 200m, Thompson coming off the turn with a clear lead and powered for home, just to be caught on the line by the relaxed, powerful striding Dutch woman, Daphne Schippers.

Both athletes managed to carve out career-best performances, with the 23-year-old, Schippers blazing to the fourth faster time in history over the distance of 21.63, bettered only by the record holder Florence Griffiths with 21.34 & 21.56 seconds and tainted American sprinter Marion Jones 21.62 seconds.

Thompson’s time of 21.66 seconds makes her the second fastest Jamaican female sprinter over that distance, with the record held by the great Merlene Ottey at 21.64 seconds.

In her first major competition, Thompson managed to launch herself into the highest ranks of a sport many have come to love and cherish. In fact, we are now convinced that she is willing to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve athletic greatness. Nothing more will matter, than to own the track each time she steps thereon.

There is no limit to where she can go, with herself and Schippers still at a tender age; some are now convinced that the 200m record that seemed somewhat unbreakable is within their reach.

If she continues to give full commitment, hard work and dedication to this sport then there is nothing unattainable for this young super talent.

Once she continues to develop and master that winning psyche, the world may just witness one of the greatest to have ever lived over 200m.