W e’re almost out of breath but, with a last burst of energy, catch up with Rock sprint-sensation Elaine Thompson who’s in Europe for the Grand Prix circuit. It’s the day before her race in Switzerland…

Who chased whom? Running and Elaine?

I‘ve always wanted to do this, ever since primary school watching Jamaica do well at the Olympics. So I pursued running.

Tell us about that first ‘aha’ moment.

When I equalled the national record of 10.70sec, I knew in my heart that a double Gold over 100 and 200m was in sight at the Olympics. I’m a big believer in my abilities and that set my dreams in motion.

What changes have you had to make to your life as an elite athlete?

I’ve made many changes. I now see myself as a role model for many little girls and boys to dream big. The most important thing to me is positively influencing my young fans who may one day wish to be the next Elaine Thompson.

How do you stay motivated?

Wanting to top all I achieved in 2016 is enough motivation for me on a day-to-day basis. My hope is to lower my current national record over 100m.

How do you handle defeat?

Maybe too well! Lol. Defeat is a normal part of competition because not every day will be your best day. Some days, it’s more important to execute well and just stay healthy or continue on the road to recovery. Sometimes, it can be stressful as I know my potential and my Achilles injury gets in the way of me doing my best. But I also know that losing is a part of winning. Nobody wins all the time!

What has defeat taught you?

Defeat has taught me patience and mental toughness. It has taught me to look at the big picture, which oftentimes is to see where I went wrong and try to correct that in the future.

What would you say to your 12-year-old self?

Anything you can conceive you can achieve! I am living proof of that!

Who do you call for advice?

Friends and family. They know me best and are there for me regardless of anything.

Heels or flats?

Heels. I like to dress up!

Jeans or LBD?

Little Black Dress. I’m in track gear so often that it’s nice to switch it up.

Train or plane?

Plane. It’s faster!

Beyoncé or Rihanna?

The Caribbean girl Rihanna! I also like her sense of style.

Were you able to share track notes with five athletes, who would they be and why?

I think all athletes can learn from each other, so every and anybody who has done this!

Finally, how’s the shopping in Europe?

It’s good, and on this trip, quite convenient! I was without my luggage twice already and had to head to H&M for a quick purchase. They saved the day!