Thompson Herah will be ready for Tokyo – James

After her 2019 season ended prematurely at the World Athletics Championships last September in Doha, Qatar, double sprint Olympic champion Elaine Thompson Herah has overcome her injury issues and is focused on returning to top form in time to defend her 100m and 200m titles at this year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

Thompson’s representative and president of MVP Track Club, Bruce James, confirmed that the 27-year-old has returned to training and he expects her to get back to her best for the 2020 season.

James did not disclose the extent of the treatment received by Thompson Herah, but did say that he is happy that the sprinter is back at camp.

“I am not at liberty to say what we did but what I can say is that Elaine has returned to training and is looking set to be in fully fit form long before the Olympics in Tokyo,” James told The Sunday Gleaner.

Thompson Herah complained of tightness in her Achilles previously but managed to run the final of the 100m at the World Championships in Doha, where she finished fourth. She subsequently withdrew from the 200m semi-final and took no further part in the championships.

At the time of the injury, MVP coach Stephen Francis confirmed that the problem was due to calf tightness, which caused stress to her Achilles tendon. He said that he did not foresee surgery necessary to correct the issue.

Back in training

In an Instagram post in October after the championships, Thompson Herah was seen with an orthopaedic cast on her left leg, which James said was placed there on the advice of the medical team as a precaution.

Although she is back in training, James says that no decision has made as to how many races she will compete in before the Olympic Games, noting that at his point he is simply pleased that she is back in training and performing well.

“That is a decision that is made later on in the year. That’s not a decision that is made in January but we are just pleased to know that she’s in training and looking so good,” he said.

Despite not able to complete her championships, Thompson Herah still managed to produce great performances throughout the season, highlighted by her capturing the 100m title at the Pan American Games last summer in Lima, Peru. The continental title win was a determining factor in her nomination for the RJRGLEANER National Sportswoman of the Year award.

James says that for her to be among the nine finalists is a privilege considering the wealth of athletes that have represented the country.

“In a country like Jamaica with the outstanding sportsmen and sportswoman that we have, it’s an honour merely to be nominated. She’s thrilled at the nomination,” James said.

The field is dominated by track and field athletes with four-time World 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce being the favourite to claim the award for the fourth time.