Weeks of speculation ended today when Puma announced the signing of five-time Olympic gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah.

The German apparel manufacturer made the announcement on Thursday that they secured the signature of the 30-year-old Jamaican, dubbed the fastest woman alive.

“(She) will further boost the company’s impressive roster of track and field athletes ahead of the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon,” Puma said.

Last summer, Thompson-Herah became the first woman in Olympic history to win the 100/200m double at consecutive Olympic Games (2016, 2021). She further enhanced her status as one of the greatest female sprinters when she ran a world-leading 10.54 while winning the blue ribbon dash at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting on August 21, 2021.

She also became the first woman to run sub-10.7 times four times.

“We are thrilled that Elaine has chosen to join the Puma family,” said Puma CEO Bjorn Gulden.

“With her speed she embodies everything we stand for as a brand. Elaine ran the second fastest time in women’s history last year and is only 0.05 seconds off the world record. She really targets the world record and we want to help her achieve that goal with our own innovative performance products.”

Meanwhile, Thompson-Herah, formerly signed with Nike, said Puma was the right fit for her.

“Puma just felt like the right fit, a company that has been working with the world’s fastest man for decades. I am excited to be part of such an elite group and can’t wait to get started,” she said, while revealing her ambitions regarding the 100m world record that has stood since 1988.

“I really want to break the 100m world record. The current one has been undefeated for 34 years. Now is the time. I still think there’s a lot I can unleash.”