American Sprint Icon Explains What Impressed Him Most About Elaine Thompson-Herah's Gold-Winning Anchor at World Relays

Justin Gatlin has explained what impressed him the most about Elaine Thompson-Herah after she anchored Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team to a gold medal at the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana.

Elaine Thompson-Herah was in a class of her own as she crossed the finish line first, teaming up with Briana Williams, Jodean Williams and Lavanya Williams to clock 42.00. She finished ahead of Canada and Spain.

The Canadian quartet, featuring Marie-Éloïse Leclair and Audrey Leduc, powered to a national record of 42.17, securing another second-place result. Spain followed closely, crossing in 42.31 to round out the podium.

Speaking on the Ready Set Go podcast, Justin Gatlin said that Elaine Thompson-Herah clearly embraced her responsibility as the anchor leg and remained firmly committed to executing that role.

He noted that her approach in the race stood out because of her discipline and composure, explaining that she focused strictly on delivering what was required in the moment rather than overextending herself.

The American legend added that this level of control and awareness is what makes her so effective in high-pressure situations, highlighting how she judged the race perfectly and brought the team home with confidence.

“That's her thing. She understands that that's her position and she ain't going to come up off that position. You know what I loved about that race right there from Elaine is the fact that she did only what she needed to do,” Justin Gatlin said.

Justin Gatlin went on to commend Elaine Thompson-Herah for the way she managed the final leg, explaining that she took full control of the race and confidently carried her team through to the finish without unnecessary strain.

He observed that once she had established a clear advantage, she showed the awareness to maintain her pace rather than overexerting herself, demonstrating maturity and tactical intelligence.

Justin Gatlin described this as the mark of an experienced competitor, noting that she understood the situation completely. He added that her composure reflected an athlete who knows exactly when to push limits and when to hold back, emphasising that when the moment calls for an exceptional performance, she has the capability to deliver it.

“She made sure she ran down the anchor leg for the Canadian team, and then she was able to say, ‘Okay, I don't need to press any harder. I don't need to go any faster. Let's keep it right here.’ That is a seasoned veteran move right there. She realises, ‘I got you. We won. Let's move on. Guess what? We'll see you later on.’ When it's time to go out there and run a super-fast time, she'll be ready,” he concluded.