Thaindian News

London, Aug 6 (IANS/CMC) Stephen Francis, coach of the women’s Olympic 100 metres champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, says Saturday’s triumph has given her momentum and he has now tipped the Jamaican to win the sprint double.

Fraser-Pryce became the first woman in 16 years to win back-to-back sprint titles when she stormed to win the marquee event at the London Olympics in 10.75 seconds, reports CMC.

“The extra momentum and motivation that she has now will serve to let her do her best, and hopefully that will be good enough to get her another gold medal,” Francis said of Fraser-Pryce, who beat World champion American Carmelita Jeter (10.78) and fellow Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown (10.81) for the title.

“I think she doesn’t really have anything to lose for the 200m, so I think she will understand that she would have to perform a lot better from a technique point of view in the 200m if she is going to win it.”

The 25-year-old did not contest the half lap at her debut Beijing Olympics four years ago or at the Berlin World Championships the following year, when she took gold in the 100m on both occasions.

However, she completed the double at the Jamaica Olympic Trials in June and has now trained her sights on a similar achievement at the 30th Olympiad here.

She will begin her quest Monday and Francis said judging from her performance in the 100m, it would take a lot to beat her.

“I think she can win. I think she can. You see how the 100m unfolded, the vast majority of the race, nobody couldn’t hold her until she started to strain for the tape. They couldn’t gain on her much,” he pointed out.

“And I think it will be even better in the 200m, and as I said, technically she is going to be a lot better because she is going to be more a aware of what she should do in that race.”

With Fraser-Pryce’s triumph Saturday, she joined only two other women - both American - to repeat as Olympic 100m champions.

Wyomia Tyus was the first in 1964 and 1968 with Gail Devers following up in 1992 and 1996.

Francis said the 100m had been the pressure event and hinted that Fraser-Pryce could have been even more dominant.

“She came through it even though I think she made the race closer than what it was suppose to be,” he said.

–IANS/CMC
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