No American has won gold since 1996, when Gail Devers took her second straight Olympic title.
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The result came a year after Thompson took second in the 200m at the world championships in Beijing, as well as winning gold in the 4x100m on a team led by Fraser-Pryce and veteran Veronica Campbell-Brown, who Thompson edged in the 200m at the country’s national championships in June.
Thompson started cleanly and powered to a comfortable lead.
Thompson, 24, wasn’t sure how to celebrate at the finish line, but she knows the folks back home rejoiced for her.
“Most times I hate talking about my toe and pain because it’s a part of athletics”, she added. “I was excited to have the opportunity to defend my title and I’m equally excited that the woman who won it will be going home to Jamaica”. “He is by far the greatest track athlete of all time”.
Thompson was quick to praise Fraser-Pryce, pointing out that the year had been a hard one for her. Its incredible, I feel great!
All three medalists grew up in impoverished communities.
Thompson is from the village of Banana Ground in Manchester Parish, where she was raised by her grandmother. Yet again and again she said, “I’m happy”, because of all she’d been through.
“To represent the people, I’m really proud and I’m sure they’re celebrating”, she said.
Fraser-Pryce also told the paper how her mother tried to shield her from the violence, and drug wars that occurred in their neighborhood.
She was clearly healed once she got to Brazil. Other short odds to win are Elaine Thompson (+200), Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce (+335) and Tori Bowie (+600). “I got emotional because you put so much work in and in one moment it’s gone”. I don’t think I could have written this story.
The two-time Olympic champion also hailed compatriot Thompson.
Bolt was his usual outgoing self in winning his first-round heat in 10.07 seconds and advancing to Sunday afternoon’s semifinals. Farah, aiming to become only the second man since legendary Finn Lasse Viren in 1972 and 1976 to complete a 5000m-10,000m double, was left stunned after being sent crashing to the track by training partner Galen Rupp on the 10th lap.
After falling in the first half of the race, Farah popped right back and returned to the front of the pack. I came determined to win a gold medal and I didn’t do that today. “I am happy that Jamaica gets to keep the gold medal”.
Jeff Henderson of the United States overtook Luvo Manyonga of South Africa by one centimeter on his last jump to win the long jump in 27 feet, 6 inches. “It’s very emotional”, Ennis-Hill said.
His teammate Jarrion Lawson thought he had done enough to snatch the gold with what looked like a big final-round jump.
Fraser-Pryce was hoping to win a third successive women’s 100m Olympic title, but found her training partner too hot to handle.
They didn’t, as Fraser-Pryce won her semi-final in 10.88 seconds. Canada’s Brianne Theisen-Eaton claimed bronze after a strong second day.
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Merlene Ottey won nine Olympic medals between 1980 and 2000.
