Elaine Thompson ended the eight-year Olympic reign of her training partner and compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in a thrilling final as the Jamaican secured gold in a stunning 10.71, the second-fastest winning time in the history of the women’s Olympic 100m final.  

In a demonstration of her recently discovered world-class ability, the 24-year-old, who like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is coached by sprint guru Stephen Francis, stalked the two-time former Olympic 100m champion before unleashing her decisive strike for gold over the second half of the race,

The fast-finishing US sprinter Tori Bowie accelerated past the fading Fraser-Pryce in the latter stages of the race to take silver in 10.83, with Fraser-Pryce having to settle for bronze in 10.86.

Yet on this day Thompson, who earlier this year moved into joint fourth place – coincidentally alongside Fraser-Pryce - on the 100m all-time list after recording 10.70 in Kingston, was just too good.

"When I crossed the line and glanced across to see I was clear I didn't quite know how to celebrate,” reflected Thompson.

"There is a big screen back home in my community in Jamaica. I can't imagine what is happening there right now."

A magnanimous Fraser-Pryce said: "What I'm most happy about is that the 100m title is staying in Jamaica. I'm on the podium with my training partner. I'm proud of Jamaica - just look at my hair (which was coloured the green and gold of the Jamaican flag).”

The eight finalists were introduced to the crowd one by one via the tunnel leading into the stadium to the accompaniment of loud rock music.

The move added a gladiatorial feel to the race to discover the world’s fastest woman and while Fraser-Pryce, who has been cursed by a nagging toe injury this year, looked a little anxious, by comparison, Thompson appeared relaxed and smiled freely to the crowd.

With Fraser-Pryce in lane six and Thompson in lane four, the training partners were separated by Bowie.

As the gun went, although Fraser-Pryce got away to a reasonable start but crucially she never opened a gap of any significance on Thompson or the quick starting Ivorian, Marie-Josee Ta Lou.

Thompson takes control at halfway

By halfway, it was Thompson, who was raised in the Jamaican town of Manchester by her grandmother from the age of seven, who emerged to the fore and started to dictate terms.

In the blink of an eye the gap had grown and for the remainder of the race she extended her advantage to gallop home in a winning time only ever previously surpassed in an Olympic women’s 100m final by Florence Griffith-Joyner 28 years ago.

Bowie finished with a late charge to take silver with Fraser-Pryce earning bronze from Ta Lou in a photo-finish by 0.007, 10.852 to 10.859.

Ta Lou had to settle for fourth but successive lifetime bests in both her semi-final (10.94) and then the final should fill the 27-year-old with huge confidence.

European champion Dafne Schippers was drawn on the outside lane eight and never in the medal picture.

The 2015 world championships 100m silver medallist ran solidly to record 10.90, but will now have to turn her attention to her speciality event, the 200m.

Michelle-Lee Ahye followed up her fifth place in last year’s world final with a sixth place spot in Rio, the Trinidadian recording a solid 10.92, while 0.02 further back was a disappointing US champion English Gardner.

The quality of the race was also emphasised by the fact the race produced more women under 11 seconds than in any previous Olympic 100m final with seven, the previous best high water mark having been six in London four years ago.

Steve Landells for the IAAF

Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce stands about 11 seconds from the brink of history later on Saturday as the Jamaican sprint icon hopes to become the first woman in history to secure a hat-trick of Olympic individual titles in the same event.

It is easier said than done, of course, but Fraser-Pryce won her semi-final with a flourish in 10.88 and with all her experience will start favourite, although threats lie from various angles in what is shaping up as classic tussle.

In the opening semi-final, Tori Bowie recovered from a sluggish start to book her spot in the final alongside Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye.

The pair both recorded 10.90, which for the latter was a season’s best, to show their hand ahead of the final. And should world bronze medallist Bowie make a quicker start when it really counts, she looks a real danger.

In slightly chilly conditions, far from ideal for sprinters, it was Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast with her trademark quick start who made the early running with Ukraine’s Olesya Povkh from lane two also prominent. Bowie, meanwhile, was out the back with much to do.

By 60 metres, Ahye loomed up alongside Ahoure before taking control of the race only for Bowie hit her stride and, with a late burst, edge Ahye for the win.

Jamaica’s Christania Williams finished strongly from the outside lane nine to chip 0.01 from her lifetime best to record 10.96 for third and later book a spot in the final as one of the two fastest non-automatic qualifiers. The fading Ahoure grabbed fourth in 11.01.

The home crowd raised their approval for Brazilian favourite Rosangela Santos at the start of the second semi-final but, in truth, the 2007 world U18 100m silver medallist was never in the mix, finishing fifth in 11.23.

Season's best for Fraser-Pryce

From the gun, it was the two-time Olympic champion Fraser-Pryce who showed all her class with a reliably slick start, with rising star Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast also out of the blocks quickly.

With Fraser-Pryce dictating the race, Dafne Schippers came with her customary late surge but could not close down Fraser-Pryce, who stopped the clock in a season’s best of 10.88 and 0.02 clear of the imposing Dutchwoman.

The principal duo both grabbed a qualification spot by right and they are to be joined in the final by Ta Lou, who qualified as one of the two fastest athletes on time courtesy of a PB of 10.94.

However, there was disappointment for USA’s world long jump champion Tianna Bartoletta who missed out on the final after running 11.00 for fourth.

The final heat served up, arguably, the most impressive qualifier as Elaine Thompson flew to victory, easing down in 10.88 to win by 0.02 from USA’s English Gardner.

The long-striding Thompson, who last year came to prominence when taking the world 200m silver medal, got away quickly alongside Great Britain’s Desiree Henry. By 60 metres, Thompson had clear daylight on her rivals before easing off the accelerator for the final phase of the race.

US champion Gardner, with her familiar rocking style, finished strongly to claim the second automatic qualifier.

Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare and Henry flashed past the line in an identical time of 11.09 – with Okagbare awarded third – but neither athlete will play any part in the final.

Steve Landells for the IAAF

Moments after Valerie Adams was dramatically denied making history as the first ever women to win a hat-trick of Olympic titles in an individual event, the next cab off the rank for that particular feat, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, was in action and she remains on track to deliver after leading the qualifiers for Saturday’s semi-finals.

The diminutive Jamaican has not quite yet been at the top of her game so far this season, but as a three-time world champion and two-times Olympic gold medallist she is a formidable competitor and impressively clocked 10.96 to edge Marie Josee Ta Lou of Ivory Coast by 0.05 to take victory in heat four.

Fraser-Pryce, due in part to her outstanding championship credentials, still remains the favourite for the gold medal in this event but Friday nights heats show there are a raft of women who could potentially challenge in what looks set to be an enthralling battle.   

In the opening heat, Great Britain’s Desiree Henry sprung a slight surprise to overhaul 2013 world silver medallist Murielle Ahoure of the Coast to take the win in 11.08 and triumph by a margin of 0.09.  

As you might expect from the 2015 world 100m silver Dafne Schippers, the Dutchwoman recovered from a steady start to comfortably accelerate past her rivals and take victory in heat two, recording 11.16 and finishing 0.15 clear of Germany’s Tatjana Pinto.

US sprinters chase gold

US is chasing a first Olympic title in this event for 20 years, claimed three heat winners and they all look like potential challengers.

In heat three, 2015 world bronze medallist Tori Bowie ran a solid 11.13 to shade Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare by 0.03.

In heat five, world long jump champion Tianna Bartoletta edged Poland’s fast-starting world junior silver medallist Ewa Swoboda by 0.01 to take the heat win in 11.23.

US completed a full set of heat wins via the 2016 national champion English Gardner, who flew to a 11.09 clocking despite easing down from South Africa’s Carina Horn, who was a distant second in 11.32.   

In heat seven, world number one Elaine Thompson powered through strongly in the latter stages of the race to take the heat win by 0.04 in 11.21 from Brazil’s Rosangela Santos, who received a predictably vociferous support from the crowd.

Michelle-Lee Ahye of Trinidad and Tobago was an eye-catching winner of heat six, recording 11.00 to finish an emphatic 0.27 clear of the third-string Jamaican Christania Williams.

Steve Landells for the IAAF