‘Now is the time’: Fastest woman alive Elaine Thompson-Herah drops Nike for Puma in legendary deal

Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah has signed a mouth-watering deal with PUMA, the company announced in a statement. The deal came after the five-time Olympic champion quit NIKE. She now joins world record holder and Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt.

“PUMA just felt like a right fit, a company that has been working with the World’s Fastest Man for decades,” Thompson said in a statement expressing her delight. “I’m excited to be a part of an elite group and I can’t wait to get started.”

“I really want to break the 100-meter world record. The current one has been undefeated for 34 years. Now is the time. I think there’s still a lot I can unleash.”

The chief executive officer of PUMA, Bjørn Gulden, noted in a statement that they will do whatever they can to assist her in her quest to break the women’s world 100 meters record.

“We are thrilled that Elaine has chosen to join the PUMA family,” said Gulden. “With her speed, she embodies everything we stand for as a brand. Elaine ran the second-fastest time in women’s history last year and is only 0.05 seconds off a world record. She really targets the 100-meter world record and we want to help her achieve that goal with our most innovative performance products.”

Thompson-Herah became the first woman in history to win the “sprint double” at consecutive Olympics, capturing gold in both the 100 meters and 200 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics and again at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

She also became the fastest woman on earth when she ran 10.54 seconds at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, USA, in 2021. 

Born in Manchester, Jamaica in June 1992, the 29-year-old started running while in high school. She sprinted for Christiana High School and later Manchester High School. As a younger athlete, Thompson-Herah had her breakthrough when she placed fourth at the Jamaican ISSA Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships in 2009.

She was recruited to the University of Technology, Jamaica after high school by Paul Francis. Under Francis’ guidance, she steadily improved her performance, resulting in her clocking her seasonal best of 11.41 seconds at the Gibson Relays. She subsequently placed second at the Jamaican Intercollegiate Championships.

Also, she won gold at the 2013 Central American and Caribbean Championships in Morelia in the 4 × 100 meters relay, running the first leg on the Jamaican team as it won in 43.58. She won her first intercollegiate title in 2014 and came in fifth at the national championships. Thompson-Herah represented Jamaica in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and won gold in the 4 × 100 m relay heats.

In 2015, she won gold at the World Championships in the 4×100 meter relay and a silver medal in the 200 meters. She subsequently won a bronze medal in the 60 meters at the 2016 World Indoor Championships.

She shot to fame at the 2016 Rio Olympics games. Elaine won a gold medal in the 100 meters. 

In 2017, she was in the relay team that won a gold medal in 4×200 m at the World Relays, setting competition and national record with a time of 1:29.04. She also competed in the 100 m at the 2017 London World Championships, placing 5th with 10.98 seconds.

She defended her title at the Tokyo Olympics after setting a record of 10.61 seconds to beat Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson as Jamaica secured a clean sweep in Tokyo. According to Time, it was the second-fastest 100-m time in history.

Thompson-Herah’s success in the field has undoubtedly positively impacted her finances. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the Jamaican sprinter has a net worth of $4 million. Thompson-Herah is married to a former athlete and coach Derron Herah. The two kept their relationship private until they got married in November 2019.