Gabby Thomas won gold at the Olympics in the women’s 200 meters race
7 august 2024 в 13:37
Showing that she was a woman to beat, having the fastest time in the Sunday morning preliminary round, Gabby Thomas left no chance for anyone as she won Olympic gold in the women’s 200-meter final on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old athlete won bronze in Tokyo and silver at last year’s world championships, but she was in control throughout this year, finishing in 21.83 seconds. Hailing from Northampton and a former Harvard star, she became the seventh American woman to win gold in the 200 meters, and the first since Allyson Felix in 2012.
In the 200-meter race, Thomas quickly started, took the lead decisively on the turn, and was never challenged on the final straight.
She was emotional immediately after crossing the finish line, grabbing her head with both hands after the victory.
Julien Alfred, who won the first Olympic medal for Saint Lucia when she won the 100 meters on Saturday, was a clear second with a time of 22.08, and Brittany Brown won bronze for the USA in 20.20.
Thomas started as the favorite, especially after defending world champion Shericka Jackson of Jamaica withdrew earlier on Sunday, less than a month after an injury in the heats in Hungary.
The dominant runner from the semifinals with a time of 21.86 seconds had been dreaming of victory for several years, especially after tearing her Achilles tendon plate before the 2022 World Championships and being forced to withdraw.
«Having to sit on the sidelines was very difficult, but it also made me truly appreciate how important running is to me, and how much I want to do it», - she told PEOPLE in July. «I am so excited to go to Paris and represent Team USA, feeling strong and in the best shape».
The Olympic champion said at the time that bringing home the gold medal «would mean everything to her» and that she looks forward to the support of her mother, father, and boyfriend in Paris.
«In 2021, I was just happy to be there, and it felt a bit unexpected», - she said. «Now I have big goals for myself, and I am doing everything possible to bring home the gold. I really feel like this is a special year»
The 27-year-old athlete won bronze in Tokyo and silver at last year’s world championships, but she was in control throughout this year, finishing in 21.83 seconds. Hailing from Northampton and a former Harvard star, she became the seventh American woman to win gold in the 200 meters, and the first since Allyson Felix in 2012.
In the 200-meter race, Thomas quickly started, took the lead decisively on the turn, and was never challenged on the final straight.
She was emotional immediately after crossing the finish line, grabbing her head with both hands after the victory.
Julien Alfred, who won the first Olympic medal for Saint Lucia when she won the 100 meters on Saturday, was a clear second with a time of 22.08, and Brittany Brown won bronze for the USA in 20.20.
Thomas started as the favorite, especially after defending world champion Shericka Jackson of Jamaica withdrew earlier on Sunday, less than a month after an injury in the heats in Hungary.
The dominant runner from the semifinals with a time of 21.86 seconds had been dreaming of victory for several years, especially after tearing her Achilles tendon plate before the 2022 World Championships and being forced to withdraw.
«Having to sit on the sidelines was very difficult, but it also made me truly appreciate how important running is to me, and how much I want to do it», - she told PEOPLE in July. «I am so excited to go to Paris and represent Team USA, feeling strong and in the best shape».
The Olympic champion said at the time that bringing home the gold medal «would mean everything to her» and that she looks forward to the support of her mother, father, and boyfriend in Paris.
«In 2021, I was just happy to be there, and it felt a bit unexpected», - she said. «Now I have big goals for myself, and I am doing everything possible to bring home the gold. I really feel like this is a special year»
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
