Jamaica : Five-time Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah says she is enjoying her return to competition after a lengthy injury layoff, using the season as a stepping stone back to peak form.
The 33-year-old Jamaican missed the Paris Olympics due to an Achilles tendon tear and spent nearly 20 months in rehabilitation before making her comeback earlier this year.
A history-maker at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she became the first woman to retain both the 100m and 200m titles, Thompson-Herah admitted the recovery process was mentally challenging.
“It’s been a rough one mentally, but I’ve overcome that. It’s nice to be back on the track,” she said ahead of the World Athletics Relays in Botswana.
She added that she is gradually rebuilding form, having competed in shorter races to assess her fitness.
“No pain… I don’t think I’m where I want to be yet. I’m being patient with myself.”
Thompson-Herah is targeting a strong showing at the Commonwealth Games in July, where she will aim to defend her sprint titles as part of her long-term build-up to another Olympic campaign.
“I’m using this season as a stepping stone… have fun, run races and defend my title,” she said. “Once the pain is gone, Elaine is capable of doing anything.”
