The women's 100 metres at the 2024 Summer Olympics was held in four rounds at the Stade de France in Paris, France, on 2 and 3 August 2024. This was the twenty-third time that the women's 100 metres has been contested at the Summer Olympics. A total of 40 athletes qualified for the event by entry standard or ranking. Julien Alfred won Saint Lucia's first-ever Olympic medal after taking gold in the final.
There were a lot of candidates for favorite in the Women's 100 but Double defending Champion, #2 of all time Elaine Thompson-Herah was unable to defend her Olympic titles from 2016 and 2020, as an achilles tendon injury forced her to withdraw from the Jamaican Olympic trials, thus not allowing her to qualify for these games.[2]; returning bronze medalist Shericka Jackson pulled out after suffering a cramp in a tune up race in Hungary to "protect my body" for her primary event, the 200 metres;[3] American collegiate surprise Jacious Sears =#16 held the fastest time of the year for over two months, was injured in the SEC Championships and couldn't make the US Trials.[4]
Reigning World champion, Sha'Carri Richardson, tied with Jackson for #6 of all time, won the US Trials. Teenager Tia Clayton won the Jamaican Trials ahead of #3 of all time, 37 year old Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Perennial contender, newly hyphenated Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith , #8 of all time, now eligible for the Masters Division is back as a 35 year old. And two months before the Olympics, former double NCAA Champion Julien Alfred moved into a tie for #23 of all time.[5]
There was an early Preliminary round to give athletes representing countries without a qualified athlete a chance to compete. No Preliminary qualifiers advanced out of the heats. The veterans ran fast in the first round, Ta Lou-Smith had the fastest time with 10.87 with Fraser-Pryce tied with Daryll Neita for the next fastest at 10.92. In the semi-finals, Fraser-Pryce did not show up to the start line due to an undisclosed injury.[6] Alfred had the fastest qualifying time 10.84, Richardson and Clayton shared the next best at 10.89.[7]
In the final, Alfred got out to a quick start, her rapid acceleration taking a clear lead in the first 10 metres. Next to her, Richardson gave up .08 just in reaction time, putting her dead last at the same point. As Alfred expanded her lead, a row of chasers formed across the track; Mujinga Kambundji, Clayton, Melissa Jefferson and Neita. Ta Lou-Smith was struggling and would stop running by 40 metres. Richardson was into her running form and was starting to pick off runners from the back. Richardson passed the row, still focused on Alfred but the gap was way too much to make up. She turned off the power and coasted the last three steps.[8]Jefferson was able to separate from the others for a clear third. Alfred ran a new personal best, 10.72;[9][10] a national record and the first ever gold medal for St. Lucia. Her time moved her up to tie Ta Lou for the #8 performer in history.
The women's 100 metres has been present on the Olympic athletics programme since 1928. The 100 metres is considered one of the blue ribbon events of the Olympics and is among the highest profile competitions at the games. It is the most prestigious 100 metres race at an elite level and is the shortest sprinting competition at the Olympics.
For the women's 100 metres event, the qualification period was between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024.[14] 48 athletes qualified for the event, with a maximum of three athletes per nation, by running the entry standard of 11.07 seconds or faster or by their World Athletics Ranking for this event.[14] Additionally, universality places were given to NOCs that had not qualified athletes in any other event.
The preliminary round was held on 2 August, starting at 10:35 (UTC+2) in the morning.[1] Qualification: First 3 in each heat (Q) and next 5 fastest (q) advance to round 1.
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Round 1 was held on 2 August, starting at 11:50 (UTC+2) in the morning.[1] Qualification: First 3 in each heat (Q) and next 3 fastest (q) advance to the semi-finals.
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The semi-finals were held on 3 August, starting at 19:50 (UTC+2) in the evening.[27] Qualification: First 2 in each heat (Q) and next 2 fastest (q) advance to the final.
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The final was held on 3 August, starting at 21:20 (UTC+2) in the evening.[1][9]