TOKYO — Elaine Thompson-Herah made the history books this week after she shattered Florence Griffith Joyner’s Olympic record in the women’s 100 meters.
Flo-Jo’s record has stood for 33 years. Thompson-Herah is now officially the fastest woman in the world and the second-fastest woman in history.
Thompson-Herah nabbed a time of 10.61 seconds Saturday beating
Griffith Joyner’s 10.62 at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Thompson-Herah also beat out fellow Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, by .13 seconds. The two were closely followed by Shericka Jackson, who won bronze in 10.76.
Teahna Daniels, America’s sole sprinter in the race, finished seventh.
“I knew I had it in me but obviously I’ve had my ups and downs with injuries,” she said per NPR. “I’ve been keeping faith all this time. It is amazing.”
Fraser-Pryce looked visibly disappointed by the loss. But a silver medal is not to be sniffed at. She still killed.
“It wasn’t the best [opening] 30 because I had a stumble at the third step, and I never recovered from it,” she told the BBC. “But nevertheless, I’m grateful to be able to come out here and represent the gift what God has given me. I’m just excited because mainly as a mother … and my fourth Olympic Games… to be able to stand on the podium again is just a tremendous honor,” she shared. “I’m hoping that wherever in the world, mothers, athletes, females … we understand that there is so much more we can achieve. I’m hoping that they draw some inspiration from this.”
Fraser-Pryce won back-to-back titles at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. She also took bronze in the 100 meters at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Still, one can’t help but wonder what could have been if Sha’Carri Richardson had been allowed to compete in the Tokyo Olympics.
Richardson tested positive for marijuana, a banned substance, and was given a 30-day ban. She would have been eligible before the start of the relays on Aug. 5 and could have won a medal as part of the 4×100 relay team — but she was not selected for the team.
