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Jamaican sprinter, Elaine Thompson-Herah feels that Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 100m world record at 10.49 is within her reach. She has run 10.54 this summer and is expected to race on Thursday in Lausanne, Switzerland at the Athletissima Diamond League meet.

She told the BBC on Wednesday that she feels she can break the record (BBC, Elaine Thompson-Herah: Double Olympic champion feels new women’s 100m record is within reach. August 25, 2021).

“A few years ago I was asked whether I could break that record and I said it was not possible,” she said.

“But for me to run 10.54 means it is within reach, therefore it means anything is possible.”

The 29-year-old has earned five Olympic gold medals in the 100m, 200m, and 4 x 100m events in Rio and Tokyo, as well as one silver medal. Her 10.54 is the second-fastest time in history and the Jamaican national record. The 10.54 performance from the Prefontaine Classic that took place last weekend in Eugene, Oregon at Hayward field is rarified air. Few performances have rating values into the 1300s.

Thompson-Herah led a Jamaican sweep at the Tokyo Olympics as well as the Prefontaine Classic. She will need her teammates to challenge her on Thursday to make the record happen.

Griffith-Joyner’s record, once considered outrageous, has held strong since 1988.

During the pandemic and in the era of super spikes and faster track surfaces many national, area, and world records and personal bests have been demolished over most distances. The half a second chasm is a big ask, however, on the right day and in the right circumstances, if any athlete is to break Griffith-Joyner’s long-standing record it is Thompson-Herah.

Thompson-Herah also owns four national records in the 100m, 200m, and 4 x 100m relay, as well as the 4 x 200m relay. Her 200m best is also the second-fastest performance in that distance, all-time.

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