Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah defends 100 meter crown with new Olympic record

(CNN) – Jamaica swept the top three spots in the women’s 100 meter final tonight in Tokyo.

Elaine Thompson-Herah defended her 2016 Olympic 100 meter title with a time of 10.61, a new Olympic record. She broke Florence Griffith Joyner’s 33-year-old mark set in Seoul.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce took home silver with 10.74 and Shericka Jackson won bronze with 10.76.

Among those celebrating their win was fellow countryman and Olympic legend Usain Bolt:

1.2.3 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) July 31, 2021

“I’ve been injured so much. I’m grateful I could get back on the track, and get back out on the track this year to retain the title,” Thompson-Herah added following her win. “Now, I have one more to go.”

Thompson-Herah said she looks forward to competing in the 200 meter and 4x100m relay.

“I can’t just imagine if we didn’t have the pandemic what would be happening in Jamaica, just speaking about the legacy that we have back home, all the athletes, young and old, you are all inspired by something that happened tonight, we were just really excited that we were able to come and to have a wonderful show tonight,” Thompson-Herah said following the medal sweep.

Thompson-Herah is the fourth athlete to win two Olympic gold medals in the women’s 100 meter after Wyomia Tyus in 1964 and 1968 for the US, Gail Devers in 1992 and 1996 for the US and Fraser-Pryce in 2008 and 2012 for Jamaica.

This is the sixth straight Olympic Games that the gold medal-winning time was faster than in previous Games.

This story was first published on CNN.com, “Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah defends 100 meter crown with new Olympic record”