‘Mind-blowing’!
Elaine Thompson-Herah has described her winning the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year as “mind-blowing” when on Sunday she became the first woman from the Caribbean to win the prestgious award, called the ‘Oscars for sports’.
Thompson-Herah, who won three gold medals at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, last year to defend her sprint double, and was a member of the women’s 4x100m team that took the gold, beat an impressive field to join four-time male winner Usain Bolt as the only Jamaicans to win the award.
The nominees for the 2021 award included veretan American track and field athlete Allyson Felix, Spanish football player Alexia Putellas, Australian tennis player Ashleigh Barty, Australian swimmer Emma McKeon, and American swimmer Katie Ledecky.
Thompson-Herah expressed her appreciation via video on the awards show that was broadcast on the American network NBC.
“I want to thank all the other nominees from the different sports with all their fantastic talents. Reflecting on last year and all the achievements that I had on the track, it was an amazing season to become the first woman to defend the Olympic sprint double, and to be the fastest woman alive, it’s an honour,” Thompson-Herah said.
On her social media pages she wrote: “I really don’t think I can express how it feels to be nominated amongst these wonderful and super talented ladies across their respective disciplines but to think I could actually come out as the chosen winner of this prestigious award is just mind-blowing for me.”
She added: “I would like to thank the Laureus Sports Academy for this wonderful recognition, I want to thank all my friends and family who have continuously supported me through this journey, my sponsors @flowJamaica, @ncbJamaica, @nike, My fans! My fans! I love you guys so much, continue to motivate and pray for me as I set out to continuously rewrite the history books, I am just a blessed soul trying to glorify the Lord though this wonderful gift of a talent He gave me, To the up and coming, dream big, work hard, I don’t expect it to be easy but plan to overcome all obstacles.”
Thompson-Herah, who also won the World Athletics female athlete of the year award, as well as the Jamaican sports woman of the year, had one of the best seasons ever. In addition to winning three gold medals at the Olympics, she broke both national records in the 100m and 200m in 2021. She ran 10.54 seconds for the 100m, the second fastest ever behind the World Record 10.49 seconds set in 1988 by American Florence Griffith Joyner.
Thompson-Herah also won the Diamond League women’s 100m title.