#RioGoldRush: Gold for Elaine Thompson in women's 200m

Livern Barrett, Senior Gleaner Writer

Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson completed the sprint double at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil when she sped to victory in the women’s 200m final.

Thompson’s second gold medal pushed Jamaica’s total medal tally at the Games of the 31st Olympiad to six - four gold and two bronze.

Running out of lane 6, the former Manchester High School athlete took the lead out of the turn and held on gamely over her fast-finishing rival, Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands in a time of 21.78.

It is the first Olympic Games for the 23-year-old University of Technology student.

PROFILES

Elaine Thompson
Age: 24 years old
High School: Manchester High School
Tertiary Education: University of Technology, Jamaica
Events: Women’s 100m, 200m, 4X100m relay
Personal Best: 100m - 10.70s, 200m - 21.66
Interesting Facts:
She had a spectacular 200-metre race winning silver medal at the Beijing World Championships in 21.66 seconds, the fifth-fastest time ever over the distance.