PARIS (AFP) – American Gabby Thomas stormed to a brilliant victory in the women’s Olympic 200-metre (m) in Paris on Tuesday to clinch the first major title of her career.
Thomas clocked 21.83sec to win ahead of St Lucia’s newly-minuted Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred, who timed 22.08sec.
Thomas’ USA teammate Brittany Brown claimed bronze in 22.20sec.
Thomas, 27, a bronze medallist at the Tokyo Games three years ago, is the first American woman to win an Olympic short sprint title since childhood idol Allyson Felix won the 200m at the 2012 London Games.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Thomas told reporters after her win.
“It’s indescribable, I’m so excited. If I didn’t get this gold medal today I don’t know what I would have done.
“I’m really in disbelief because having an Olympic gold medal is something in my wildest dreams. But at the same time I know how hard I’ve fought for it.
“This has been six years in the making, head down, working hard, going to really hard meets, pushing yourself, and now it’s here and I’ve done it. This is the happiest moment of my life.”
St Lucia’s Alfred had been hoping to clinch an Olympic sprint double after her dazzling win in the 100m on Saturday, extending the dominance of Caribbean sprinters in the event.
But Thomas, the fastest woman in the world this year over 200m, was in no mood to let her date with destiny slip.
The Harvard-educated sprinter exploded out of the blocks and ran a superb bend to open up a sizeable lead coming into the home straight.
The American’s strength and finishing power never looked like waning as she powered over the line to claim a deserved gold.
“I don’t think it could have gone any better,” Thomas said of her race. “My coach told me the only thing I need is to get the lead and finish strong and I did that.
“I couldn’t tell you where my competitors were in that race because I locked out and when I crossed the line that’s the only thing I can remember.”
