Confirming the predictions, the American favorite Gabby Thomas She was crowned the new champion in the 200 meters of the Olympic Games Paris 2024avoiding a double in speed for Saint Lucian Julien Alfred.
Thomas was already in a favorable position at the exit of the curve and imposed his acceleration in the final straight to cross the finish line in 21 seconds and 83 hundredths, with Alfred second with 22.08 and the also American Brittany Brown as bronze with 22.20.
The American thus saves the honour of women’s sprinting in her country, after the defeat of her compatriot Sha’Carri Richardson in the 100 metres, where she took silver behind Julien Alfred, the surprise champion that day.
Richardson did not compete in the 200 metres because he failed to qualify for the demanding US Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
The reigning two-time world champion, Jamaican Shericka Jackson, also did not take part in the event, having withdrawn on Sunday due to her physical condition.
A few weeks before the competition, Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah, who had won the 100-200 metre doubles in the two previous Olympic Games, had dropped out of the list.
Almost due to the absence of many of the best athletes in the track, Gabby Thomas arrived as the main favourite and the 27-year-old sprinter from Atlanta, who has the best world time of the year with 21.78, did not disappoint.
Alfred was unable to complete the double in the sprint (100-200 metres), but with his silver he secured his second Olympic medal and the second in the history of Saint Lucia, which before its successes on the purple track of the Stade de France had never stood on an Olympic podium.
Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith finished fourth, just short of a podium finish. Her only Olympic medals have come in relay events, with bronze with Team GB in the 4x100m at both Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
Source: Ambito
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