Why Elaine Thompson-Herah will not give up hope of one day breaking Florence Griffitrh-Joyner's 100 meter world record despite recent struggles.
Elaine Thompson-Herah, a five-time Olympic gold medallist and the fastest woman alive, has faced numerous challenges in recent years, from injuries to coaching changes.
Yet, her determination to excel on the track remains unwavering. While Florence Griffith-Joyner's iconic 100m world record of 10.49 seconds, set in 1988, has stood unchallenged for over three decades, Thompson-Herah has come closer than anyone else in history, clocking an astonishing 10.54 seconds at the 2021 Prefontaine Classic.
Despite being just 0.05 seconds shy of this historic mark, Thompson-Herah insists she will not pressure herself to break the record but remains hopeful of achieving the feat.
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Thompson-Herah’s dominance in the sprinting world peaked in 2021, when she clinched her second consecutive Olympic 100m gold in Tokyo, running an Olympic record of 10.61 seconds.
Shortly after, she stunned the athletics world with her personal best of 10.54 seconds, solidifying her status as the fastest woman alive. However, her career trajectory hit a snag in 2022 as injuries, including an Achilles issue, took a toll on her performances.
Her struggles led many, including four-time Olympic medallist and commentator Ato Boldon, to question whether her best days were behind her. Yet, Thompson-Herah has consistently defied critics and remains focused on reclaiming her place among the world’s top sprinters.
In preparation for the 2025 athletics season, Thompson-Herah has yet to announce her new coach amid reports she had joined Tumbleweed Track Club in Jacksonville, Florida, under the guidance of renowned coach Rana Reider last October.
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This would mark another fresh start for the Jamaican star, who left her longtime base at MVP Track Club in 2021, seeking individualized attention and a new training philosophy.
Her previous stints with coaches Shanikie Osbourne and Reynaldo Walcott were short-lived, but she now aims to find stability and the competitive edge needed to return to form. Her primary goal: proving she still belongs at the top and, perhaps, making history by challenging Flo-Jo’s record.
Thompson-Herah has openly discussed the immense difficulty of consistently lowering personal bests in track and field. Speaking to World Athletics in 2022, she explained, “In track and field, time fluctuates. Sometimes when you run your PB, it is super hard to hit that target back because it takes a lot of work.”
Reflecting on her own progression, she highlighted how challenging it was to break her early PB of 10.84 seconds and eventually dip below the 10.7 mark twice in her career.
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“10.84 was a lot of work... but looking back now, I would not put pressure on myself to say, ‘okay, I want to break the world record.’ It would take a lot of work.”
Despite these challenges, Thompson-Herah believes the key to breaking Flo-Jo’s record lies in adopting a stress-free mindset. “In 2021, I was running relaxed. Not thinking about world titles or world records, and if I can repeat that—not putting any pressure on myself—I think it is reachable.”
For the Jamaican sprint queen, the journey to breaking the world record is not about immediate results. “Whenever I take it, I will do that, even if it takes two years or five years. I will still try to break it, but I will not put pressure on myself because the world has to continue.”
As Elaine Thompson-Herah embarks on the next phase of her career, her resolve remains unshaken. With the support of her new training environment and a renewed focus, she is poised to make another push toward the elusive 10.49 mark.
Whether or not she breaks Flo-Jo’s record, Thompson-Herah’s legacy as one of the greatest sprinters of all time is already cemented. Her journey serves as a testament to resilience, reminding us all that greatness is often about the pursuit, not just the achievement.