Almost a month after refuting reports in the media that she was leaving MVP Track Club, two-time Olympic sprint-double gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah has confirmed those reports, stating on Monday night (October 18) that she will be training independently until she finds a new coach.

“While pre-season training has already commenced for Elaine Thompson-Herah, she is still in the process of finalizing her training arrangements for the 2022 season,” said a statement from her camp Monday. “The double Olympic champion is considering all options available concerning her team.”

The elite sprinter who ran 10.61 to break the Olympic 100m record in Tokyo in August then confirmed that she was no longer a member of the track club where she has honed her incredible talents for a decade.

“In light of an abundance of requests from my fans and concerned Jamaicans, I want to assure everyone that I have begun my training independently and will continue to do so while I finalize all aspects of my team for the coming season,” said Thompson-Herah, who ran 10.54 in Oregon on August 21, to become the fastest woman alive and second fastest of all time.

“I want to thank everyone for their support and express appreciation to those who have reached out in concern. I remain committed to representing my country and to lead with courage and grace as I am aware that I inspire young women across the world who have dreams and who dare to see those dreams come to pass.”

The announcement contradicts the statements she made on NBC Sports‘ Brother from Another in late September when she said: “Persons probably hear something and never hear it properly and put it out there for the world to see. I am the fastest woman alive so they are going to create some sort of news to distract the world so it’s rumours, of course.”

The confirmation came on the same day when she was conferred with the Order of Distinction, Commander Class at the 2021 Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards for her contribution to sport, specifically in the sport of athletics.

Among the many records she established during the past season, the 29-year-old Thompson-Herah also became the first woman to run four times faster than 10.70 over 100m – 10.61, 10.54, 10.64 and 10.65. She also expressed the intent to break Florence Griffith-Joyner’s world record of 10.49 set at the US Olympic trials in 1988.