5 Times Elaine Thompson-Herah Shocked the World

Discover 5 Times Elaine Thompson-Herah Shocked the World

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Discover 5 Times Elaine Thompson-Herah Shocked the World

5 Times Elaine Thompson-Herah Shocked the World

Stephen Awino 16:30 - 26.06.2025

Discover when Olympic legend Elaine Thompson-Herah stunned the track, from Tokyo golds and Olympic records to heartbreaking injury moments.

Elaine Thompson-Herah has redefined sprinting greatness, delivering unforgettable performances on the biggest stages.

From setting Olympic records to chasing history, the Jamaican sprint queen has consistently stunned the world going up against the likes of fellow Jamaicans Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson.

Here are five of her most jaw-dropping moments, Jamaica's fastest woman shocked the world.

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5. 2024 New York Grand Prix Ends Olympic Dream

Elaine Thompson-Herah
Elaine Thompson-Herah's 2024 Paris Olympic dream ended at the New York Grand Prix | Image source: Imago

In a heartbreaking twist, Elaine Thompson-Herah suffered a devastating Achilles tendon injury during the New York Grand Prix in June 2024.

The Jamaican sprint icon grimaced and slowed visibly in the final meters of the 100m before collapsing across the line and being helped off the track.

Scans later confirmed a serious Achilles tear, ruling her out of the Paris 2024 Olympics, just as she was gearing up to defend her sprint legacy.

4. Rio 2016 Olympics- Debut Sprint Double

Elaine Thompson-Herah
Elaine Thompson-Herah claimed the sprint double in her Olympic debut.

Elaine exploded onto the global athletics stage at the 2016 Rio Olympics, becoming the first Jamaican woman to win both the 100m and 200m golds at a single Games.

She clocked 10.71s in the 100m and 21.78s in the 200m, stunning the world with her raw speed and composure.

Before Rio, she had never even won a global title and afterwards she was sprint royalty.

3. 2021 Prefontaine Classic – A Blistering 10.54 Seconds

Elaine Thompson-Herah
Elaine Thompson-Herah the fastest woman alive.

Fresh off Olympic glory in Tokyo, Elaine ran the second-fastest 100m of all time at the Prefontaine Classic, clocking a mind-blowing 10.54 seconds.

Only Florence Griffith-Joyner’s controversial 10.49 record stood ahead of her.

That run established Elaine as the fastest woman alive in modern sprinting conditions and left the world wondering if she’d break the world record next.

2. Tokyo 2020 – Olympic Record in 100m Final

Elaine Thompson-Herah
Jamaican sprint icon Elaine Thompson-Herah.

Elaine set a new Olympic Games record of 10.61 seconds in the women’s 100m final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, breaking a 33-year-old mark held by Flo-Jo.

What made it more iconic was her confident gesture, pointing at the clock as she crossed the finish line.

It was the fastest 100m in Olympic history and showed that she was in a league of her own.

1. Tokyo 2020 – Historic Sprint “Double-Double”

Elaine Thompson-Herah
Elaine Thompson-Herah became the first woman ever to clinch the "Double-Double"

History was made when Elaine became the first woman ever to win the 100m and 200m titles at two consecutive Olympics in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

She ran 10.61s in the 100m, an Olympic record and 21.53s in the 200m, the second-fastest time ever.

The feat earned her comparisons to legends like Usain Bolt and cemented her as one of the greatest female sprinters of all time.

Elaine Thompson-Herah has not only won medals, but created moments that define generations.

Whether it's smashing records, dominating the biggest stages, or showing resilience through injury, she continues to inspire fans around the world.