"Jamaicans, all three of them could upset" - Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green discuss whether Gabby Thomas can defend her 200m crown next season

Former American Olympic champion Justin Gatlin and the retired Bahamian runner Rodney Green recently discussed the chances of Gabby Thomas winning the 200m title at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo next year. Thomas is currently the reigning Olympic champion in the distance.

The Harvard graduate achieved a major milestone in her track and field career at this year's Paris Olympics, where she won the 200m title with a time of 21.83 seconds, defeating Saint Lucia's Julien Alfred and fellow American Brittany Brown. In addition, she also contributed to America's gold medal triumphs in the 4x100m relay and the 4x400m relay events.

Despite her success at the Paris Olympics, Thomas has yet to win an individual gold in the World Championships. In her debut appearance at the World Championship in 2023, the 27-year-old secured a silver medal in the 200m event and also contributed to a gold victory in the 4x100 m relay.

In their Ready Set Go podcast, Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green evaluated Gabby Thomas' prospects of replicating her Paris success at the 2025 World Championships. While Green expressed confidence in Thomas' abilities, he also acknowledged the unpredictability of the Jamaican runners, who can be formidable competitors on any given day.

"Gabby's gonna do what she does but once again them Jamaicans, needless to say all three of them I mean they could upset the medal stand. They do Shericka, Elaine, Shelly-Ann as well as you throw Dina in there," Rodney said. "They have the capabilities of doing so," Gatlin added. [0:45 onwards]

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"I’ve grown so much as an athlete" - When Gabby Thomas discussed her 200m Paris Olympics title

Gabby Thomas at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 - Athletics (Image via Getty)

Gabby Thomas was the first American woman to win a gold medal in the 200m event since Allyson Felix won it in 2012 at the London Games. Discussing her victory, the Dunellen native said:

"Being the first woman to win the 200m gold since Allyson Felix in 2012 is such a great feeling because I have looked up to her for so long, ever since I was a child." (via Olympics.com)

She added:

"I’ve grown so much as an athlete since Tokyo,” said Thomas, who won the 200m bronze there. “It’s all part of this process and this grand play of working my way up to be a gold medallist, and then, just going for it and taking that opportunity and doing it."

Following a remarkable 2024 season, Gabby Thomas wrapped up her professional endeavors for the year at the Athlos NYC event in September.