With airs of rockstar arrives Elaine Thompson to the Diamond League in Lausanne (this Thursday, #Vamos 20:00). The Jamaican flew to Switzerland in a private jet, at the press conference she allowed herself to be a few minutes late … She is on the crest of the wave. Triple Olympic champion in Tokyo (100, 200 4×100) and on Saturday he ran in Eugene the 100 in 10.54, 5 hundredths of the Florence Griffith-Joyner record (10.49, 1988). On the fast track at La Pontaise, the 29-year-old Banana Ground sprinter will once again attack the controversial Flo-Jo record, a record long considered untouchable, ‘impossible’ for any human sprinter.
“Even Eugene didn’t see it clearly, but after running at 10.54 the world record is in my sights, It would have to be a perfect race, the day, the weather, it must be the best possible conditions, “said Thompson in his low tone of voice., in that press conference to which she came lagging before the gaze of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. And it is true that the weather will be key. Over 23 degrees are expected in Lausanne at race time. “We want the hotter the better “, agreed Fraser-Pryce and Thompson, protagonists of the great revolution of world speed.
“A few years ago it was unthinkable to think that I, or another woman, could break the world record, and now we are here. It is magnificent. And yes, I would love to beat the Flo-Jo mark, anything is possible, “threw Thompson, that to the three Olympic golds of Tokyo 2020 adds the three of Rio 2016. Trained by Stephen Francis, close to Bolt’s environment, and due to his calmer character, a kind of nemesis of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. The two Caribbean ones have returned the maximum level of the hectometer of Jamaica and the world. “Elaine runs almost perfect,” says her coach.
“The level of the female 100 right now is so high, it is very exciting to face someone like Elaine, face to face. It is a show for us and for the spectator,” said the eloquent Fraser-Pryce, at 35, and with 10.63 this year. Another bombshell that happy Shelly-Ann talks about: “It’s nice to be able to talk about a record breaking, obviously Elaine is closer than me. But it’s great to see how women’s speed evolves, both from a technical point of view and from the level of the athletes that we are there … “.
Training, sports maturity and also, according to some authorized voices, can influence the new speed shoes. This is the time of Fraser-Pryce, the voice of experience that has been in the fight since 2008 and it runs faster than ever almost a decade later. “My perfect career is yet to come. Since 2016 Elaine Thompson has been wearing, threatening to wipe Flo-Jo off the map. The pinnacle of the Banana Ground bullet.
More stars: Ingebrigtsen, Duplantis, Warholm, Yulimar …
If Thompson threatens the world record, Lausanne will be an endless gathering of stars of this modern athletics that was uncovered at the Tokyo Games: Ingebrigtsen (3,000), Duplantis (pole), Barega (3,000) … And there will be three athletes who have broken the world record in 2021: Ryan Crouser (weight 23.37), Karsten Warholm (45.97 in 400 hurdles) and Yulimar Rojas (15.67 in triple jump).
Warholm will run the 400 meters, with Thomas Schonlebe’s European record (44.33) as the big goal. His extraterrestrial record in the Games with the fences (45.97) and leaves any prognosis that can be made out of square over a hypothetical Norwegian mark in the smooth distance. Just in case, it is worth remembering: 43.03 Van Niekerk’s world top, 44.33, the continental, 44.87, his personal best and Norwegian. If you keep the shape of Tokyo, any record can be blown up. “It’s very different from hurdling, but I’m not afraid of anything,” says the Viking.
Yulimar Rojas will return to the diamond competition in primetime and wanting to “put on a great show.” “I made a big leap in Tokyo and I can give more than I have given so far. “After having erased the mark of Inessa Kravets (15.50), with his 15.67 now he looks further. At 16.00 meters. A record that seems feasible, the question is when it will arrive. In 2021, 2022? Whenever he is on the track, anything can happen. In this contest, you face the controversial 3-way finals format. The best three until the fifth attempt will start from scratch on the last attempt. The one with the best jump will win.
Adrián Ben repeats the 800 Olympic final
In 800 meters will be Adrián Ben, in what will be a kind of reissue of the Olympic final in Tokyo. All participants will be there, except Nijel Amos, and also the Galician who was fifth in that race, somewhat slower than expected. In Lausanne no one is expected to compromise, champion Emmanuel Korir and runner-up Rotich will be looking for a great time, and if the pace is too high, Ben can challenge the Spanish record. He has 1: 44.18 and Saúl Ordóñez’s cap is 1: 43.65.
In 1,500 Marta Pérez will run, ninth in Tokyo with 4: 00.12, a mark that makes her think of the Spanish record of Natalia Rodríguez (3: 59.51). The Soriana idolizes the Tarragona woman. Now you have your top shot. In 200 meters Aauri Bokesa will run, Madrid athlete living in Switzerland. The Athletissima of Lausanne is traditionally a meeting of a very high level … 2021 shows why.