Elaine Thompson-Herah smashed a 33-year-old Olympic record to defend her 100m women’s Olympic title from Jamaican compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
Saturday’s final pitted Thompson-Herah against two-time Olympic champion Fraser-Pryce, with the pair in blistering form during the heats and semifinals.
But Thompson-Herah raced over the line at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium in 10.61sec, with 34-year-old Fraser-Pryce taking silver in 10.74 and Shericka Jackson bronze in 10.76.
hompson-Herah’s Olympic record winning mark matched the second-fastest time in history of 10.61 set by the late Florence Griffith-Joyner.
Only Griffith-Joyner, known as Flo Jo, the 1988 Olympic champion who remains the world record holder with a best 10.49, has ever run faster.
Thompson-Herah said after the race: “I am really excited to come back and retain my title. My chest hurts, I am so happy.”