Elaine Thompson looks set to try and become the sixth Jamaican woman to secure medals in the 100 and 200 metres at the Olympics, after her coach Stephen Francis confirmed she will be doing the double.
World 200 metres silver medallist Thompson, who missed out on doubling in Beijing last summer, will now get her chance to take on the double with the Rio Olympics looming on the horizon.
The confirmation came from MVP head coach Stephen Francis in a RJR Sports online exclusive interview, just under three weeks after Thompson clocked a wind-aided 10.71 seconds in Kingston.
‘Well that’s the plan (to double). She has a couple more 200 metres coming up…I think she has improved on her start, not as good as I would like it, we still have some work to do before the trials and presuming she's healthy, that’s the plan for her; to do both sprints,” said Francis.
It means, Thompson, who already won the world 60m indoor bronze in March, will be aiming to join Merlene Ottey, Juliet Cuthbert, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Kerron Stewart and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce as the only Jamaican women to medal in both the 100 and 200m at the Olympic Games.
Thompson, the fifth fastest woman all-time with 21.66 seconds over 200 metres, is the seventh fastest Jamaican of all-time over 100 metres with 10.84 seconds.
Meanwhile, two-time Olympic and World Championship 100 metres champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will make her season debut over 100 metres on Saturday at the Prefontaine Classic, according the coach Francis.
The ‘Pocket Rocket’ has withdrawn from three meets since May 7 with a troublesome toe injury.
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