Gabby Thomas won gold for Team USA in the 200m after Sha’Carri Richardson was denied a spot in the event at the Paris Olympics .
Thomas has been the best 200m runner all season and she delivered on the biggest stage. The American finished first ahead of 100m champion Julien Alfred of St. Lucia while fellow Team USA star Brittany Brown edged Team GB’s Dina Asher-Smith to bronze.
Thomas was the favorite heading into the event. She won the 200m at the U.S. Olympic trials back in June, clocking a time of 21.81 seconds.
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Despite clinching silver in the women's 100m final at the Paris Olympics, Richardson failed to qualify for the 200m after finishing fourth at the U.S. Olympic track trials back in June. The 24-year-old was behind Brown and McKenzie Long - who finished seventh in the Olympics - and the result ensured she was ineligible to compete in the event in Paris.
Richardson - who claimed bronze in the 200m at the 2023 World Championships - will still compete in the 4x100m relay, but it was all about Thomas on Tuesday. The 27-year-old ran the event in 21.83 seconds to surge to gold before over 77,000 fans at Stade de France.
Thomas was in the lead as runners came around the bend, and appeared in control throughout the entire race. She was emotional as soon as she crossed the finish line as disbelief and elation set in.
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It is Thomas’ second individual Olympic medal. She has a bronze from the Tokyo Olympics 200m final, as well as a silver from the 4x100m relay. Thomas is expected to join Richardson on the 4x100m relay team in Paris, too.
Thomas’ win is also her first gold medal at any major world championship. At last year’s World Championships in Budapest, she took silver in the 200m.
At the U.S. track and field trials in Eugene, Thomas had claimed she considered competing in both the 200m and 400m only to focus on the shorter distance in order to help herself win gold. She certainly made the right call.
Thomas, Richardson, and Team USA will be eyeing further track success in the 4x100m relay on August 9 - if they qualify for the final as expected
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