Elaine Thompson-Herah Should Replace Florence Griffith-Joyner as World?s Fastest; Jamaican Athletics Association Suggests

Olympic gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah undoubtedly outclasses her opponents during the games. Clocking in a time of 10.61seconds, the Jamaican established a new Olympic record. However, in 2021, she created her personal best and the second-fastest time in history.

With blistering pace, Elaine clocked a time of 10.54seconds during the Diamond League in Eugene. The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association has now suggested that this time be recognized as the world record.

Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association makes a case for Elaine Thompson-Herah

The late American sprinting legend, Florence Griffith-Joyner, currently holds the record for 100m. She achieved a time of 10.49seconds in 1988 during the US Olympic trials in Indianapolis. There were suspicions around such a sudden improvement from ‘FloJo.’ But there was no evidence of wrongdoing around the athlete. However, there is one topic of debate regarding the record time- the wind reading.

There are claims that because of an official standing too close to a gauge, the reading was invalid. Noticeably, the wind reading showed 0.0seconds.

JAAA president Garth Goyle has now suggested that Elaine’s wind-legal time should be the rightful world record time.?“All the technical areas were covered, such as wind reading, and the authenticity of the track is not in question,”?said?Goyle. He also mentioned that they are prepared to do some lobbying on Elaine’s behalf.

World Athletics President weighed in on the matter. He said that there would be difficult legal obstacles that might stand in the recognition’s way. He also mentioned that it is challenging to change records without a burden of proof.

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When Elaine was overlooked for the Best Female Athlete Award

Scheduled for 2020, the Tokyo Olympics took place in 2021 owing to the pandemic. Regardless of the delay, Thompson-Herah was unstoppable on the track. The Jamaican took home three gold medals, breaking the Olympic record.

However, the Association of National Olympic Committees did not award Elaine with the ‘Best Female Athlete’ title. Instead, Canadian swimmer Maggie McNeal was given the honor. Compared to Thompson’s three golds, McNeal won one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal.

Notably, the North American, Central American, and Caribbean Athletics Associations were unhappy with the decision. Despite clocking the second-fastest time in history in 2021, Elaine was deprived of the award.

World record or not, Elaine’s personal best certainly shows that she is a top contender to beat FloJo’s time of 10.49seconds. We may very well it happen sooner rather than later.

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