PARIS:
Gabrielle Thomas, a 27-year-old American sprinter, achieved her long-awaited goal by winning the Olympic 200 metres gold medal on Tuesday.
Thomas, who had previously earned a bronze medal in Tokyo and a silver at last year’s world championships, finally secured the gold medal she had been striving for, showcasing a dominant performance in the final. Her victory denied silver medalist Julien Alfred from achieving a sprint double.
Thomas’s journey to the top has been marked by her outspoken determination to win an Olympic title. She delivered an impressive performance, finishing the race in 21.83 seconds.
Reflecting on her race, Thomas expressed her disbelief and excitement, saying, “Honestly, I kind of blanked out for all of it, I can’t even remember what I was doing, I just wanted to win. The only moment I remember was crossing the finish line and being in disbelief, that was it.”
Julien Alfred, who became the first athlete from Saint Lucia to win an Olympic medal by securing gold in the 100 metres on Saturday, was initially the fastest out of the blocks. However, she ultimately finished second with a time of 22.08 seconds. Brittany Brown, another American athlete, took bronze with a time of 20.20 seconds.
Alfred expressed her satisfaction with her performance, despite the challenges she faced over the five-day competition. “I’m tired. Long five days,” Alfred told reporters. “I did feel ready for the 200m tonight. I feel good, no complaints at all. This means a lot. First Olympics, to go back with gold and silver, I can’t ask for more than that.”
Thomas entered the Paris Olympics with the fastest time of the season, clocking 21.78 seconds. She made a strong impression during the semi-finals, where she effortlessly pulled away from her competitors in the last 50 metres, finishing with a smile in 21.86 seconds. Her preparation and determination paid off as she confidently rang the track-side victory bell, draped in the American flag.
The 200 metres final at Stade de France began with a captivating light show, setting the stage for Thomas’s memorable performance. Despite her impressive achievement, Thomas described the race as a blur, stating, “I have actually never forgotten a race so quickly in my life. I was just on autopilot, but I practiced for it, everything that I did up until that moment was to prepare myself to run that race, so I just knew how to do it, so I did it.”
Thomas, who holds a degree in neurobiology from Harvard and a Master’s in public health from the University of Texas, demonstrated not only her athletic prowess but also her dedication and discipline. Her victory was further highlighted by the absence of Jamaica’s reigning world champion Shericka Jackson, who withdrew from the competition due to an injury sustained in the heats.
With her Olympic gold medal win, Gabby Thomas has solidified her place among the world’s elite sprinters, fulfilling her promise to achieve global success.
