On Tuesday at the Paris Olympics, U.S. track and field star Gabby Thomas clinched the gold medal in the 200-meter race with a time of 21.83 seconds, achieving a long-awaited victory. She surpassed Julien Alfred of St. Lucia, who finished second, and fellow American Brittany Brown, who took third. This win also prevented Alfred from securing a double gold in both the 100-meter and 200-meter events.
Gabby Thomas, 27, had previously not won an Olympic gold medal, despite being one of the sport’s biggest names. She earned bronze in the 200-meter at the Tokyo Games and silver in the 4×100-meter relay. Her triumph in Paris follows a remarkable year of preparation and recovery from a hamstring injury sustained in 2022. She earned a silver medal at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, and prior to the Olympics, she won the 2024 New York City Grand Prix and posted the fastest time of the year at the U.S. Olympic Trials with a 21.78.
Gabby Thomas’s chances were boosted when two-time reigning world champion Sherika Jackson withdrew from the event, citing personal reasons on social media.
Reflecting on her win, Gabby Thomas expressed her disbelief, saying, “You prepare and train so hard for this moment, but when it actually comes, it’s indescribable.” She also shared her aim to inspire the next generation of runners, emphasizing, “When people watch me race, I want them to know that they can believe in themselves.”
