Here’s what Thompson-Herah had to say to CITIUS MAG in Kingston. The following has been edited lightly for clarity.

CITIUS MAG: We’re in 2024 and we’re approaching the Olympics. What’s your mindset like going into this year?

ELAINE THOMPSON-HERAH: For me, the mindset is that I have to be strong and positive. You push out those negative thoughts and replace them with positivity. For me, it’s all about getting my workout done each day. Once I complete my workout, I just Hallelujah to Christ because I am happy that I can complete that. The focus for me is not to be over or under-confident but to always be confident. The key word for me every day is to just believe in myself.

CITIUS MAG: At the end of last year, you were consistent and got healthy again. How do you feel coming into this year knowing you have that health now?

ELAINE THOMPSON-HERAH: I feel good. I just maintained that. It’s like when you have a car. You have to service the car. My duty is to make sure that my body is fine-tuned, serviced and always ready for the goal. I know the key focus is always to stay healthy. I don’t think it matters about the time right now. It matters about getting in each race and staying fit and healthy. Once I have that, the times will come after. Definitely, the aim is always to try to break a world record and defend my title. But my focus right now is to just stay fit, stay healthy and take it race by race – season by season.

CITIUS MAG: How has training felt the past couple of months?

ELAINE THOMPSON-HERAH: It’s felt great. My schedule has changed. Different system. Different coach. I’m trying to be accustomed to that. I think I am in a good place right now and I am really happy about that.

CITIUS MAG: Is there any pressure that you feel going into an Olympic year?

ELAINE THOMPSON-HERAH: The only pressure that comes is when I’m having an injury. The pressure is trying to say, ‘Oh! How do I fix this injury fast to make it to the Olympics?’ To make it to the Olympics, we have to go through our national trials. Once I have that ready, I’m good. But for now, I’m just staying focused and healthy.

CITIUS MAG: You shocked the world so many times. Have you ever shocked yourself with any of your performances?

ELAINE THOMPSON-HERAH: I do shock myself. Because it’s not that you don’t believe in yourself or you don’t have confidence. It’s because of the setbacks you have and the struggles. Sometimes your body is not responding to the mind because most times I feel awful and when I do feel awful, it’s OK because then I get a fast time. I would not say that you’re not supposed to feel good because feeling good is fine. I think because your mind thinks too much when I think I’m in my worst race, it’s fast. I tell everybody that in Eugene I wasn’t feeling at my top. I wasn’t feeling good. I crossed the line and was like, ‘Oh no. I didn’t nail that start. I don’t think I started good – but I feel awful.’ But seeing 10.54, I was like, ‘OK! I need to feel awful more!’ Sometimes it’s not about feeling good. There’s nothing wrong with having nerves or having a little doubt. You don’t want to doubt yourself all the time. For me, I do shock myself all the time. I love shocking myself.’

CITIUS MAG: Do you feel like you’re going to shock yourself this year?

ELAINE THOMPSON-HERAH: Let us see what happens.