Jamaican Elaine Thompson arrived in Rio known mainly for her exploits as a 200m runner. She left as the sport’s new sprint queen.
In the 100m she stormed to a 10.71 victory, the second-fastest winning time in an Olympic final. Her performance was just 0.01 shy of the lifetime best she set in Kingston six weeks earlier which elevated the 24-year-old to the No.4 spot on the world all-time list.
In the 200m final four days later, she was even more dominant. Well ahead in the first half, she handily fended off a late-race challenge by Dafne Schippers to win in 21.78, also a world lead, to the Dutchwoman’s 21.88 to reverse their finish from the IAAF World Championships Beijing 2015.
She also earned Olympic 4x100m silver, world indoor 60m bronze, and ended the season undefeated in eight 100m finals.