Tori Bowie and Mujinga Kambundji of Switzerland competes in the women's 100-meter semifinal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on Aug. 13, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
RIO DE JANEIRO -- Tori Bowie wore gold glitter under her eyes, but came away with a silver medal instead in the women’s 100-meter.
Elaine Thompson of Jamaica, who came in with the world-leading time of 10.70 seconds, ran 10.71 to claim the gold. Bowie was second at 10.83, followed by two-time defending champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica, who ran a season-best 10.86.
“I’m extremely excited,” she said. “It’s a little overwhelming, first time being here and leaving with a silver medal.
“But I’m not giving up on me having a chance at being a gold medalist here.”
Bowie has the 200-meter, which starts on Monday with heats.
“It just makes me a bit more motivated,” she said. “I came here hungry, I came here determined to leave with a gold medal. I didn’t do that today, but just makes me a little bit more motivated for Monday.”
A former long jumper, Bowie said she is still learning how to run the 100, which she took up in 2014.
“So I’m right at two years in,” said Bowie, the 2015 world championships bronze medalist. “My next time around, I’ll be a real professional.”
Her silver medal, though, will still go over big in tiny Sand Hill, Missisippi, where Bowie was raised by her grandmother.
“Oh yeah, she’s watching,” Bowie said. “She’s probably crying right now.”
English Gardner, who won the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, placed seventh at 10.94 seconds. Tianna Bartoletta did not advance from the semifinals to the final, although she will also compete in the long jump in Rio.
Bowie ran with a colorful cloth headband. “It’s just fashion,” she said. “It makes a crown, so this is my way of crowning myself.”
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