Elaine Thompson-Herah made Olympic history by becoming the first woman ever to win both the 100m and 200m titles at successive Games, running the second fastest 200m time ever in the Tokyo 2020 final.
The Jamaican is now the quickest woman alive in both sprint distances, slower only than American great Florence Griffith-Joyner, following her time of 21.53 seconds – a new national record.
Eighteen-year-old Namibian Christine Mboma, who only ran the distance because naturally high testosterone levels means she cannot compete in her favoured 400m, took silver with a new world under-20 record, with American Gabby Thomas getting bronze.
Thompson-Herah was rapid out of the blocks and had a clear lead heading into the final straight, and while the rest of the field faded with 40m to go, the 29-year-old raced clear.
Fraser-Pryce was in the silver medal position with around 90m left but she was one of a number of athletes to fade, as Mboma came from sixth place with around 70m to race to bomb through the rest of the field and take second place on the podium.
“I guess I’m an Olympic baby!” Thompson-Herah told Eurosport after the race. “For the last five years I’ve been up and down with this injury but I still have my composure, put in the work to come out here and claim my title I’m happy for that.”
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