Elaine Thompson-Herah, the fastest woman alive, is embarking on a fresh chapter in her illustrious career, reuniting with her former coach Reynaldo Walcott to revive her sprinting prowess. The Jamaican sprinter, who made history with back-to-back Olympic 100m and 200m titles in 2016 and 2021, is returning to the Elite Performance Track Club in Kingston, where she had previously trained before parting ways in 2024.
Thompson-Herah, 33, is known for her breathtaking 10.54-second 100m run, which solidified her place among the greatest sprinters in history. Her decision to rejoin Walcott’s training camp comes after a tumultuous period of injury struggles. In June 2024, she suffered an Achilles tendon injury at the New York Grand Prix, which curtailed her season and forced her to miss the 2024 National Championships. The injury ultimately ruled her out of the Paris Olympics, where she had hoped to defend her sprint titles.
Despite the setback, Thompson-Herah’s determination remains unwavering. She has been working with the Elite Performance Track Club for the past three weeks, preparing herself for a comeback that could see her return to peak form. The sprinter’s resilience is evident in her response to the injury, acknowledging that although she initially tried to push through the pain, it became clear that her Achilles was not ready for competition. This setback follows a similar injury in 2017 that saw her miss out on the podium at both the World Championships and 2019 World Championships.
Thompson-Herah’s legacy in the sprinting world is unparalleled. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she became the first woman in history to win consecutive Olympic sprint doubles, capturing gold in both the 100m and 200m. She set an Olympic record in the 100m at 10.61 seconds and established a national record of 21.53 seconds in the 200m. Although the Jamaican 200m record is now held by Shericka Jackson with a time of 21.41 seconds, Thompson-Herah’s achievements remain a benchmark in the sport.
Now, as she embarks on this next phase of her journey, the sprinting world will be watching closely to see if she can overcome her injury struggles and reclaim her place at the top of the global sprinting hierarchy.
