Gabby Thomas Wins Gold Medal In Women’s 200-Meter Race

U.S. sprinter Gabby Thomas won a gold medal in the women’s 200-meter race, clocking in at 21.83 seconds. She bested St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred while Brittany Brown claimed bronze.

Thomas is the first American track star since Allyson Felix in 2012 to win gold in the 200-meter race, earning the U.S. its fifth gold medal in track and field – Cole Hocker added to the total after his come-from-behind win over Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

“You prepare for this moment and train hard for this moment, but when it actually comes, it’s indescribable,” Thomas said. “I never would have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would become an Olympic gold medalist, and I am one. I’m still wrapping my head around that.”

Thomas has already made a name for herself by winning bronze in the 200-meter in the Tokyo Olympics and silver at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.

At her alma mater, Harvard University, Thomas won the 200-meter NCAA title in 2018 while being recruited to also run the 100-meter, in addition to doing the short and long jump. The Northampton, Massachusetts native won the 2024 New York City Grand Prix with a time of 22.42 and the 2024 London Diamond League in 21.82.

Shericka Jackson withdrew from the 100-meter and 200-meter for an unknown reason. The Jamaican track star experienced a hamstring injury affecting her performance. Jackson’s absence from Tuesday’s race made Thomas the clear favorite to win gold.

“I knew what I wanted to do: take the lead and finish strong,” Thomas remarked. “It’s kind of like tunnel vision at that point. I got out of the blocks and I couldn’t tell you where anyone was. But I knew I was ready; I knew I trained for this.”