Why should Elaine Thompson double this year at the World Champ in Doha?

Why should Elaine Thompson double this year at the World Championship in Doha, Qatar? 

Coming on the heels of the tumultuous success at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Elaine Thompson was expected to dominate the 2017 London World Championship. But a bout of stomach virus, along with a persistent tendinitis in one of her heels, denied her from realizing one of her sporting ambitions, that is, winning the 100m gold at the World Championship. Thompson entered the 100m final with the fastest time but finished a disappointing fifth as a consequence of her viral illness and tendinitis. Tori Bowie with a late surge, finished first ahead of Marie- Jose Talou of the Ivory Coast, and Dafne Schippers of the Netherland, respectively, to win gold.
 

Down but not out

Predictably, many fans around the world were made dejected and disappointed by Thompson's fifth place finish, notwithstanding the fact, that, she reported ill for the final, and had struggled all season with tendinitis. Winning for Thompson had become a common place, and fans had come to expect nothing less than winning from her, but were forced to swallow a bitter pill, and to contend with the agony of her defeat. It was therefore no surprise that Thompson would take no further part in that 2017 London Championship, following her illness and her ill-fated fifth place finish. However, one week later, Thompson would go on to defeat Talou and Schippers over the 100m, to win the 100m Diamond League series, to underscore the point, that, gold eluded her a week earlier, because of illness. 

Missed Opportunities

To my mind, two glorious opportunities were missed at the 2017 world championship, in Thompson's failed 100m bid and in her non-participation in the 200m events, that would have long cemented her legacy, and confirmed her as being the greatest female sprinter in recorded history. Had Thompson won the 100m at the London World Championship, and was made to compete in the 200m, and won, she would have become the only sprinter in history, to have won the sprint double at the Olympics and the World Championship, and doing so, back to back. Suffice it to say, such opportunities again beckon. Thompson is once again presented with the opportunity to write her name in the rare pages of history. And if she is allowed to double, and to be successful on this occasion, without doubt, she would have achieved the greatest feat ever by any female sprinter.  

And to think, the twenty-six year old, who will turn twenty-seven on June 28, 2019, could go even further at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, raising the bar, and winning an accumulated three double gold medals, two Olympic double, and one World Championship double.

Redemption awaits

Now, if Thompson should go on to win the sprint double at the 2019 Qatar World Championship, she would become a legend. And if she should likewise go on to win same at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, she would undisputably become an "immortal". This is greatness that awaits Elaine Sandra-Lee Thompson. History beckons! But will Bruce James and Stephen Francis stop their "curry favour" politics with Fraser-Pryce, and allow Thompson, MVP's and Jamaica's brightest star, to answer the call? Your guess is as good as mine. But I hope they allow Thompson to double, because if they don't, take it from me, history will not be kind to them. Karma is a bitch! We get only one chance to get it right. MVP has gotten two at two consecutive World Championships. It has muffed the first. Make use of the pending one. Thompson's success, is as much Jamaica's and MVP's success to claim.
 

Henley Taylor (Sensenya Ben Nyah) is a avid track and field writer, who has been covering track and field for over 30 years.