Olympic Women’s 200 — The Night Belonged To Thomas

IT WAS HER TURN. After winning bronze in Tokyo and silver at last year’s World Championships, Gabby Thomas at last had her chance to grab the golden ring with a dominating victory in the 200.

Absent were the women who beat her in Tokyo: Elaine Thompson-Herah done in by injury, Christine Mboma by WA’s gender guidelines. Also missing was the woman who won the past two World titles, Shericka Jackson, who has struggled this season and withdrew days earlier.

Not that Thomas lacked for challengers. After Julien Alfred dominated the rain-swept 100 in 10.71, the Saint Lucian needed to be considered a major threat. In addition, U.S. teammates McKenzie Long and Brittany Brown had also broken 22 this season.

Thomas sailed through Sunday’s heats with the fastest time, 22.20. Next was Nigeria’s Favour Ofili, who might have been a factor in the 100 but was undone when her federation failed to enter her. She ran 22.24 to win her heat, ahead of the 22.28 of ’22 Worlds bronze medalist Dina Asher-Smith of Britain.

In the semis on Monday, Alfred showed she was ready, with a 21.98–22.05 win over Ofili. Long’s 22.30 in 3rd would be one of the time qualifiers. In semi 2, Thomas made a statement with a huge win over Asher-Smith, 21.86–22.31. Brittany Brown took the third race in 22.12.

That set the stage for the Tuesday night final. In contrast to the 100, conditions were perfect. When the lights came up in the stadium after the laser show introduction, Thomas stood ready in lane 7, with Alfred in 8 and Ofili in 9. To her left, Brown had corridor 6, Britain’s Daryll Neita 5 and Asher-Smith 4.

Alfred reacted best to the gun and indeed carried the lead into the first 30 meters of the turn, with Asher-Smith also out well and Thomas running 3rd. Asher-Smith started to pull ahead at 40 and it wasn’t until the end of the turn that Thomas found enough momentum to take the lead. She emerged on the stretch with such speed that the question became by just how much she would win. At 100 she led with an 11.10, followed by Asher-Smith (11.15), Brown (11.18) and Alfred (11.20).

Alfred hit a new gear on the straight and blew past Brown and Asher-Smith; she chased hard but could not eat into Thomas’s margin. Behind them, Brown and the two Brits engaged in heated battle for the final podium spot.

Thomas streaked…