JAMAICA GLEANER: Elaine Thompson blasted to the 200 metres Olympic title last night, earning Jamaica another sprint double as she had already claimed the 100 metres gold earlier in the Rio 2016 Games.
The 24-year-old Thompson left her main rival, Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands, stumbling in her wake as she crossed the line in a season’s best 21.78 seconds. Schippers finished in 21.88 seconds, and the USA’s Tori Bowie took bronze in 22.15 seconds.
Earlier in the evening Thompson’s compatriot Usain Bolt, who is also seeking to add the 200 metres title to the 100 metres gold he won on Sunday, ran the fastest time across the three semi-finals, 19.78, his best this season.
There were shocks when two of Bolt’s main rivals, the USA’s Justin Gatlin and fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake, failed to qualify for today’s 200m final. Both Thompson and Bolt are aiming for triple gold in Rio, with strong chances as part of their respective 4x100m relay teams.
