Jamaican track star Elaine Thompson-Herah is back on track with her new secret weapon. She has always been the reigning queen of sprinting and is a force to be reckoned with on the track. But recently, fans have noticed a unique trend that might be guiding her way to the podium. Track enthusiasts are taking her choice of hairstyle as a signal about her performance in upcoming events. 

Elaine Thompson-Herah dominated the track in the 100-meter dash in the Eugene Diamond League in both 2021 and 2022. She grabbed gold in both years and was spotted ruling the tracks in short haircuts. But in 2023, Elaine stepped on the track with a different hairstyle. She switched to a ponytail and co-incidentally finished in the third position. Now this pattern of winning has created a buzz in the track world. Is her sleek and short hairstyle truly the ‘business wig’ that would play out as the competitive edge over others?

Is Elaine Thompson-Herah’s hairstyle the secret to her speed at the Prefontaine Classic?

With the Prefontaine Classic approaching, anticipation is building among supporters of the track sensations from all across the globe. Jamaican sprint sensation, Elaine has been reigning the hearts of fans not just with her impeccable talent and athleticism but also with her choice of hairstyle. 

Her unique hairstyle has become more than just a fashion statement. And it’s now considered as a strategic signal of her readiness to dominate the track. After reaching the zenith in the Tokyo Olympics, Elaine Thompson-Herah set a record. Clocking a time of 10.54 seconds in the 2021 Eugene Prefontaine Classics, she set her new personal best in the 100-meter. In 2022 as well, clocking 10.79 seconds, she won in the 100 m in the Prefontaine Classics.

And in both years, she donned her sleek hair look. In 2023, she changed her fashion to a ponytail. But unfortunately failed to secure gold and ended in the third position. In a recent X post, the Jamaican track queen Elaine Thompson-Herah could be spotted in her signature look. She is back in her coveted avatar. But will this become the secret weapon for the Jamaican athlete?

Return of Thompson’s ‘Business Wig’

The 31-year-old Jamaican sprinter is currently the fastest woman alive in 100 meters and second fastest in 200 meters. She dominated the track for the women’s category in both the Rio and Tokyo Olympics. Back in 2016, she bagged two golds in the Rio Olympics in both the 100 and 200 m dash alongside a silver in 4×100 m.

While in the Tokyo Olympics, she grabbed gold in all three categories. These records etched her name as the only female Olympian and the second one after Usain Bolt to grab gold in ‘sprint double’ at consecutive Olympics. And with Jamaica’s track athlete returning in the 2024 Prefontaine Classics, America’s rivalry with Jamaica in the track comes to the limelight.

US track athlete Sha’carri Richardson participated in Prefontaine Classics but was dominated by Thompson-Herah for three consecutive years. And now, with her “business wig” making a return, fans are confidently predicting another stellar performance from the sprinting sensation in the upcoming track events marking the calendar.