Jamaican Elaine Thompson seals Olympic sprint double

Rio de Janeiro: Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson sealed an Olympic sprint double after scorching to victory in the women’s 200m on Wednesday.

Thompson, who won the 100m crown on Saturday, timed a season’s best of 21.78 seconds to trump Dutch favourite Dafne Schippers, who won silver in 21.78.

It was a first Olympic sprint double since American world record holder Florence Griffith Joyner’s at the Seoul Games in 1988.

American Tori Bowie claimed bronze (22.15).

Thompson, running in lane six, was pulled along on the coat-tails of Michelle-Lee Ahye of Trinidad and Tobago outside her over the first 80 metres.

The danger Schippers posed for the Jamaican was always going to be coming off the bend, but Thompson managed it perfectly, powering through and accelerating away for victory.

Schippers also started well, and despite a good view of Thompson from her lane four, was unable to make up any ground on the fast-finishing Jamaican.