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Elaine Thompson-Herah has struggled for form and fitness since quiting Stephen Francis' MVP Track club in 2021, but she has revealed a fresh stance on why she had to leave.
Jamaican sprint icon Elaine Thompson-Herah has shed light on her decision to leave the MVP Track Club in 2021 and the challenges she has faced since.
Speaking on Season One of Netflix’s SPRINT, the double Olympic champion shared her perspective on why she parted ways with the esteemed club and her ongoing efforts to reclaim her dominance in track and field.
Thompson-Herah cited the MVP Track Club's group training approach as a key factor in her decision to leave. At MVP, all athletes train together, a setup she found counterproductive to her goals.
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16:47 - 04.10.2024
Stephen Francis on why Elaine Thompson-Herah should consider moving to US amidst rumors of potential return to MVP track club
Stephen Francis has previously explained why Elaine Thompson Herah needs to consider moving to the United States if she is to stand any chance of overcoming her injury problems to return to the top.
“When you let all athletes train together, it can be very challenging because you tend to race each other in practice,” Thompson-Herah explained. “You do not want that to happen because it causes chaos and problems.”
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Having spent 11 years at MVP, she acknowledged the club's role in shaping her career but emphasized the importance of personal growth and self-determination.
“The more you grow, the more you know what you want, and sometimes, you have to be selfish. If you want to be great, you have to be selfish,” she said.
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15:02 - 06.12.2024
Stephen Francis sheds light on the rift between Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce & Elaine Thompson-Herah at MVP: 'It became too much'
Both Fraser-Pryce & Thompson-Herah were teammates for a long time at MVP under Stephen Francis' guidance, but their rise to becoming world class sprinters naturally created animosity between the two.
Thompson-Herah initially chose her husband, Derron Herah, as her coach after leaving MVP. Despite the promising start, her performance faltered.
A stint with Reynaldo Walcott’s Elite Performance Club and an Achilles injury compounded her struggles, eventually sidelining her from the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Her current training base is in Miami under renowned coach Rana Reider, although no formal announcement has been made about a long-term arrangement.
Rumors of a possible return to MVP Track Club have swirled since late 2023, but Stephen Francis, the club's head coach, has expressed reservations about welcoming her back.
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09:18 - 06.12.2024
'Better things to come' - Elaine Thompson-Herah eyes redemption amid uncertainty over coaching future
Thompson-Herah is yet to sign up with a coach ahead of the 2025 season amid reports she was set to start training in Florida, USA.
Francis, who coached Thompson-Herah to her historic back-to-back Olympic titles in 2016 and 2021, has been vocal about his disappointment in her comments upon leaving.
In 2024, Francis softened his stance slightly, suggesting that Thompson-Herah might benefit from U.S.-based training programs tailored to her physical needs. “If she were to ask me what she should do, I would tell her to go somewhere in the States and train,” Francis remarked, adding that her body might not respond well to the traditional Jamaican training methods.
However, Francis also noted that MVP is currently prioritizing other athletes, making a reunion unlikely. “She can’t fit in at MVP because there is too much talent right now which is a priority,” he said.
Despite the setbacks, Thompson-Herah remains resolute in her belief that she can succeed without MVP.
“I am grown up, matured, and know what is best for me,” she said. “I can make it on my own without MVP. Anybody can be your coach. Once they know what you want and what they can do to help you, they can make your dreams come true.”
As she prepares for the 2025 season, Thompson-Herah’s focus is on regaining her form and proving that her best days are not behind her. Whether or not she returns to MVP, her story underscores her determination to navigate the challenges of elite sprinting on her terms.
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