The World’s Fastest Woman

Winning Olympic gold last night in the 200m cemented Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson as the fastest woman in the world and completes her sprint double in Rio.

The Jamaican held off the challenge from pre-race favourite Dafne Schippers, who loomed but never delivered, to take gold in 21.78 sec, the fastest time in the world this year.

Silver was no consolation to Dafne Schippers who’s pre-tournament preparation has been hindered by a leg problem.

“I came for gold,” Schippers said. “I was in good form. My times were OK but they were not strong enough. It’s heavy to run six races. I was getting closer and closer. I felt I was nearly passing her, but then I broke down as well. I’m not happy with the silver.”

‘I let my light shine tonight,’ says Thompson after winning in 21.78 sec.

Her 100m winning time of 10.71s was just one hundredth of a second off her personal best 10.70s a Jamaican National Record and faster than Schippers PB and Netherlands National Record of 10.81s.

How Bolt Came From Behind Again to Win Gold

NY TIMES INTERACTIVE

The Man Faster Than Bolt

Wayde van Niekirk broke Michael Johnsons 17 year 400m World Record with a sensational performance on the Rio track last night. In what the former record holder Johnson called ‘a massacre’ he blew away a one the fastest assembled fields with the first track world record of the games. His domination of the one lap event posted with splits across each of the 100m he ran of: 10.7 secs, 9.8, 10.5, 12.0.

On the night that second 100m was faster than Usain Bolt’s Olympic gold winning 100m time of 9.81s. The South African’s personal best at that distance of 9.98s would’ve placed 7th in that final.

The way he moved away from the field in the final 100m was possibly the most stunning moment of the Olympic games so far and to do so from lane 8 all the more remarkable, destroying the two previous Olympic champions in the process.

The 24 year old is coached by a 74-year-old great-grandmother Ans Botha, once a sprinter and a long jumper, and her pupils call her “Tannie Ans,” meaning Auntie. Last year, the head coach at South Africa’s University of the Free State told the City Press that her “passion is too high” to stop coaching in a career spanning five decades. She got emotional when describing her responsibility in coaching van Niekerk.

“I wouldn’t say I’m afraid … but I have such a big responsibility to get this athlete to develop to his full potential. Also, I need to try to do my very best not to do something wrong that might break him,” she told the City Press.

Botha started coaching van Niekerk in 2012, connecting after he attended the University of the Free State as a marketing student. They met with his parents and laid out a plan, the focus of which was to not push van Niekerk’s body beyond its limits. Their first three months in partnership were spent rehabbing some nagging injuries.

The strategy worked — since she’s been his coach, van Niekerk’s time has dropped by a whopping four seconds.

Nike: Unlimited…

New Ad spots from Nike USA.

Jam packed with talent…

Aaron Gordon, English Gardner, Giancarlo Stanton, Kevin Durant, Mo Farah, Neymar Jr., Nyjah Huston, Serena Williams, Su BingTian and Zach LaVine.

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Nike’s Latest Ad Stars Chris Mosier, the First Transgender Athlete on a U.S. National Team

 

The campaign kicked off with Nike ‘Unlimited Future’ – watch actor Bobby Cannavale deliver a rousing inspirational message to the infant versions of Nike athletes.