‘I don’t see what anybody is worried about’

Paris, France:

AS THE Olympic debut of national 100-metre champion Kishane Thompson fast approaches, MVP coach Stephen Francis believes his charge has all the tools to unlock his full potential.

Thompson’s quest for Olympic glory begins on Saturday at the Stade De France when the men’s 100 metres begins. Thompson enters his first major global senior championships as the world leader, having clocked 9.77 seconds at the national championships last month.

He will be battling a strong field, which includes the reigning world champion Noah Lyles as well as his teammates, Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake, all targeting podium success.

While he may not be as experienced as his competitors on the biggest stage, Francis is adamant that it counts for very little when it comes to what is important – winning.

“Everybody is talking about experience. It is all about speed. When the gun fires, you run from there to here. Whoever gets their first, wins. So it has nothing to do with the experience or mental pressure or whatever. He just has to execute as well as he can,” Francis said.

Thompson’s season so far has been consistent and Francis declares that given his current shape mirrors his national championship form, he is eager to see how Thompson handles himself.

“He ran 9.82, 9.84 and 9.77. Not even Usain bolt has ever had that kind of series in a championships. I don’t see what anybody is worried about. He has averaged 9.81 over three rounds. Maybe Usain did the same in 2009 when he ran 9.58. But I don’t think anyone else has done that. I don’t think based on his June shape he has much to worry about in the rounds,” Francis said.

Jamaica is chasing its first major global 100-metre title in eight years. Francis didn’t offer predictions but he said that Thompson is yet to reveal what he is truly capable off.

“I can’t predict what he is going to do. Just to say that I don’t think that anybody has seen him run at his maximum,” Francis said.

“Every race has eight people. And to win or come second depends not on you, but on the other people in the race. I am in no position to predict what anybody else is going to do. It appears to me that he is at least as good as he was at the national championships in June, so we will see.”