By NAN Sports Editor
News Americas, LONDON, England, Mon. Aug. 7, 2017: On a weekend when Jamaica’s top sprinters and Jamaicans were forced to swallow a bitter pill of defeat in both the men’s and women’s 100-m at the IAAF World Championships in London, Jamaican Olympian Elaine Thompson is waxing poetic.
Thompson who shocked Jamaican and global fans by placing only fifth in the women’s 100-m finals Sunday after winning the semi-finals, took to Facebook after the loss in a philosophical mood.
“A race is sometimes like life, life is sometimes like a race it doesn’t always go as you plan it but, there is always a tomorrow and lessons learned to better deal with that tomorrow,” she wrote in a Facebook post after the loss.
The post quickly gathered over 9,000 reactions as well as over 800 shares and over 1,200 comments.
Thompson added that while she did not come “across the line in front today” she gives “thanks to the lord I came across the line.”
She also expressed her thanks to “supporters across the world for always supporting me and believing in me.”
“It didn’t go as planned today,” she confessed. “But I will keep working hard and striving for excellence never down never out on to the next one#selflove#limitless#lifestory.”
The post quickly earned support from many Jamaican fans globally.
“Proud a u girl, u are only human,” said Letoria Haughton.
“Great run mami no matter what mi proud a u,” added Unruly Dee Willis.
“No worry wi have u back,” posted Trevor Locksley Brown while Dawn Christie-VanHorne added: “I’m with you girl. Pick yourself up, Dust yourself off. #MyChampion. Delays are not denials.”
Unbeaten at 100-m for more than two years, since the Eugene IAAF Diamond League meeting on 30 May 2015, Thompson crossed the line on August 6, 2017, fifth in 10.98 – 0.27 down on her world lead.
The US’ Tori Bowie bagged the gold with a dramatic dip to win in 10.85 while Ivorian Marie-Josee Ta Lou was second with 10.86 and Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands took the bronze in 10.96.
For the first time since Justin Gatlin and Lauryn Williams triumphed in Helsinki, the US had matching men’s and women’s 100m world champions after this weekend’s loss by Jamaica’s top champs.
