Although being unable to replicate her near-world record-breaking form of 2021 in the last two years, five-time Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah says her confidence is growing under new coach Reynaldo Walcott as she aims to win double gold again at this summer’s Paris Olympics.

Thompson-Herah became the first woman in history to win back-to-back gold medals in the 100m and 200m when she surpassed the field in Tokyo in 2021 after doing so in Rio 2016. The 31-year-old also came close to breaking the long-standing world records in the events set by American Florence Joyner-Griffiths (10.49 and 21.34) when she clocked 10.54 seconds in the 100m and 21.53 in the 200m.

However, Thompson-Herah has faced difficulties since. She was third in the 100m final at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, and ending seventh in the 200m final. She also failed to qualify for the individual sprints at the 2023 championships in Budapest after finishing outside the top three at the National Senior Championships.

During that two-year period, she parted ways with Stephen Francis at the MVP Track Club. She also ended her brief stint with former MVP coach Shanikie Osbourne at the end of 2023.

Thompson-Herah is now being guided by Elite Performance Head Coach Walcott, who also conditions Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. While admitting it’s been an adjustment, she says she’s been happy with the results so far.

“Training is going good so far; the work is never easy, it’s always hard. It’s an Olympic year so you have to put in that work. The new set-up is going good so far, I’m getting accustomed to being with a new coach, getting instructions and to follow them, but everything is going good so far, [I] can’t complain,” she told Athletics Weekly.

“It’s more about tweaks and adjustments because if you want to be great, you have to make tweaks and adjustments, and I’m doing that. Along my career to be better each time, I go to improve and to work towards my dreams and my goals.”

Thompson-Herah will have to challenge the likes of countrywomen Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson, as well as American world champion Sha’Carri Richardson if she is to repeat her 2016 and 2021 heroics.

She says she’s not getting ahead of herself but is cautiously optimistic that she can be on the top of the podium in France.

“I’m definitely confident, not super- [confident] or over- [confident] but confident and I don’t want to apply too much pressure of myself as a reigning Olympic champion. I just want to stay focused and humble, have the right mindset and stay positive, no matter what obstacles or struggles come my way. I try to stay focused, it’s going to be a tough one this year, trying to do a three-peat, so for me it’s all about just taking it race by race, make it to the trials and then Paris will speak for itself, but definitely to try to repeat that double and to be a part of history,” said Thompson-Herah.

Her injury struggles had been well-documented but she seemingly began to overcome them when she ended the 2023 season running sub-11 seconds three times including 10.79 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene last September. It was her fastest time since May 2022.

She’s yet to open her season with just over a month before the national trial, but says she’s more mindful of her physical health.

“Honestly, it’s been super-difficult to know what you’re capable of and you’re not able to do that. It keeps setting you back and no matter what you try to do but for me it’s all about staying patient and humble because I don’t question God’s work. Whatever He has in store, I know it will come in the right time and for me, it’s just time and patience and God, of course. Sometimes, my setbacks make me a better person and my comeback is always bigger and better than I have left before. It’s all about [being] humble and patient and waiting on my time,” she said.

“The young Elaine would normally just recover from injury but I’m not younger Elaine anymore. As you go along, the age comes on, the more work you have done; it tells you that your body is taking a lot of work. It’s almost like you have a car; you have to service the car, so if I don’t service my body, I cannot produce to get those world record and times that I want. But for now, I just try to monitor as I go along to make sure my body is healthy and in the best shape to produce a time that I want,” Thompson-Herah said.