Finishing 9th at the Prefontaine Classic 2024, “the world’s fastest woman” had a slow start this season. Elaine Thompson-Herah, the renowned Jamaican sprinter and two-time Olympic champion in the 100m and 200m events, clocked in at 11.30s, the slowest she has ever run in any meet to date! As a result, her lackluster finish – despite her track record of speed and dominance – has stirred debates and speculations.

Elaine’s start at Eugene was quite disappointing but not alarming, considering it was her season debut. Looking back at her history, this isn’t the first time Thompson-Herah has had a slow start. In 2021, she clocked 11.21 seconds at the Velocity Fest early in the season. Later that year, she stunned the world by finishing first at the Prefontaine Classic with a blistering time of 10.54s!

X handle Track Spice shared their opinion about Elaine Thompson’s decision to return to race at the high-profile Prefontaine Classic ahead of the race. They wrote, “Popular opinion – Elaine should have opened up her season at a smaller meet.” It implied that since Elaine usually requires some time to find her momentum at the start of the season – as her track record suggests – making her first appearance of 2024 at the Prefontaine Classic may not have been the best decision. Maybe a smaller, lower-stakes meet than the Diamond League would’ve made more sense.

Elaine Thompson-Herah’s reasoning for starting her Olympic season at the Prefontaine Classic could’ve been that a strong showing here may likely have set her up for success – considering the confidence she would’ve gained – and her third consecutive Olympic gold medal. However, this seems a little unlikely after watching her performance, where Sha’Carri Richardson placed first, clocking in 10.83s, setting a difference of 0.47s!

However, given her track record, it’s clear that Elaine’s race is far from over. There is a significant chance she might bounce back from this early loss in the upcoming trials. With much enthusiasm, Thompson-Herah expressed on Instagram after the race that her dismal performance did not deter her. She wrote, “Journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step……2024 first step 3x🥇🥇#grateful#perseverance#faith#believe.” And similar sentiments are shared by many in the track and field community as well.

Can Elaine “open wherever she wants,” or has she put herself at risk to qualify for the Olympics?

Many fans have commended Elaine’s bravery in going up against athletes like Sha’Carri Richardson from the get-go. One supporter recognized the importance of Elaine facing elite competition akin to Olympic standards, viewing it as a key measure of her training advancement. They doubt another high-caliber opportunity will arise before the Olympics and praise Richardson for silencing critics with her performance. They expressed that participating in the Diamond League might also be a strategy on Elaine’s part to get a good feel of the competition and the ability of her competitors:

Another user opposed the “popular opinion.” They emphasized the importance of elite-level competition for a professional athlete like her and likened her situation to that of NFL players who start their season at the highest level. Expressing their confidence in the sprinter’s abilities, they stated, “Wrong. She’s a pro! She should open up at a pro meet just like she did and keep improving! NFL players don’t get to open up at high school games and then go play in the Super Bowl.”

Remember how we mentioned that Elaine Thompson-Herah usually takes some time to get to her best level in a season? Well, a fan expressed just that by agreeing with the opinion. They cited the risk of potential injury or performance limitations if her body isn’t fully prepared to meet the competitive standards required for national team selection: “My opinion: Elaine should’ve opened up her season earlier since she’s the type of athlete who builds towards her peak. Opening a month before trials is dangerous bcz her body may not be ready to go the 10.7 low or faster required to make the national team.”

Jamaica’s Olympic Trials are from June 27 to 30, and if she wants to continue her gold medal-winning streak, the only way from here, she would hope, is up. Another user brought up the fact that Elaine was returning after nearly two years of recovery from a shin splint injury. They stressed that writing cannot expedite the healing process and stated, “People keep saying this, but it’s clear she had a setback earlier in the year…she can only open when her body is ready.”

One user argued about Thompson-Herah’s exceptional speed, which is why she is often called “FastElaine.” Expressing their surety that Thompson-Herah can conquer anything as long as she’s fit and in tune with her body, they exclaimed, “Why? Would she have run faster at a smaller meet? I don’t think so. This is FastElaine that we’re talking about. She can open wherever she wants. And if she stays healthy, she’ll be fine.😉”

During an interview with CITIUS MAG, Thompson-Herah made her goal for 2024 clear, stating that she is most focused on her health and staying fit. She showed she’s aiming for peak performance while avoiding injury risks, emphasizing a balanced career approach. As she works to regain her form, Elaine’s supporters eagerly anticipate her next big win!