Tokyo 2020 - ‘It’s mind-blowing’ - Greg Rutherford on Elaine Thompson-Herah’s amazing 100m Olympic title

ByRichard Newman

Updated 31/07/2021 at 16:08 GMT

The London 2012 long jump gold medallist and Eurosport expert says the Jamaican’s time of 10.61, the second fastest women’s 100m time ever and an Olympic record, was “semi unreal” and “unbelievable”. Thompson-Herah beat team-mate Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to retain her title. You want it? We have it. Stream every Olympic event live on discovery+.

Elaine Thompson-Herah’s run to become the fastest woman alive - retaining her 100m Olympic title - was “semi unreal” and “mind-blowing”, according to Greg Rutherford.

The London 2012 long jump gold medallist was watching inside the stadium at Tokyo 2020 for Eurosport, witnessing the Jamaican cross the line in 10.61 seconds, the second quickest time ever and an Olympic record.

Thompson-Herah, who has struggled with injury since winning double gold at Rio 2016, saw off the challenge from Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, whose own time of 10.74 was fast enough to make the top 10 ever run by a female athlete.

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“You see these moments and you think, it’s semi unreal.” said Rutherford.

To run that fast, it’s an Olympic record, in the blue riband event. To become an Olympic champion again, as Elaine has, it’s mind-blowing, it’s remarkable.

“Jamaica got a 1-2-3 (Shericka Jackson claimed bronze), it’s showing that dominance that they’ve had for a while now. You see things like that - speechless. Unbelievable.”

'Would you believe it?!' - Watch Thompson-Herah storm to 100m gold

Fraser-Pryce went into the race as the quickest in the world this year and has returned to the sport after becoming a mum since the last Games in Rio. Rutherford is full of admiration for an athlete who has become a role model: “She’s most certainly one of the Olympic greats. She is still the double Olympic champion from '08 and '12.

For her to go away, to become a mother, to put her body through that and come back out and do this, she is such an inspirational person.

“For someone like me that’s trying to make a small comeback into sport, I don’t know what I’m moaning about to be honest, I’ve gone through absolutely nothing in comparison. She really is somebody that a lot of people can look up to.”

• Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: Schedule, key events, every medal and more
• Thompson-Herah breaks Olympic record in brilliant 100m defence
• Heartbreak for Asher-Smith as fitness issues end 100m, 200m dreams

'Absolutely gutting' - Rutherford crushed by Asher-Smith not making 100m final

Earlier in the day, Dina Asher-Smith was unable to make the final and then revealed she has been struggling with a hamstring injury since the end of June. The 200m world champion has now pulled out of her specialist event, but plans to run the relay.

“To be able to run that fast, the speeds that she’s running missing part of her hamstring, that’s phenomenal, genuinely phenomenal,” said Rutherford.

“She really did put up a massive fight. She’s going towards the relay, with the grit and determination that she has, I would not bet against her having an absolute blinder, running incredibly fast and helping the British 4x100m get round and win a medal.”

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