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Gabby Thomas is currently one of the most dominant sprinters in the women’s 200m discipline. At present, she holds the world-leading performance in the 200m event, clocking 21.78s (+1.4 m/s) in the semifinals of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.
With less than a month to go for the Quadrennial Games, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Thomas will head into Paris as one of the favorites for the gold medal. However, the American will have to overcome the challenge from the reigning world champion Shericka Jackson to claim her first-ever Olympic title.
However, considering the current form of both athletes, Thomas currently stands as the better athlete among the two sprinters and is likely to continue her dominant performance at the Paris Olympics. Jackson’s season-best performance in 2024 is 22.29s which she achieved during the finals of the Jamaican Olympic Trials to top the field.
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With this, let’s look at the athletes who can pose a threat to Gabby Thomas at the Quadrennial Games.
Athletes who can challenge Gabby Thomas in women’s 200m at Paris Olympics 2024
#5 Julien Alfred
Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred is one of the sprinters to watch who will feature in both the women’s 100m and 200m at the Paris Olympics. In the 200m, she holds a season best of 22.16s which she clocked during the indoor season at the 2024 New Mexico Collegiate Classic.
However, Alfred has previously clocked under the 22.00s mark, with her personal best being 21.91s at the 2023 Tom Jones Memorial. She also ran a wind-assisted 21.73s (+2.5) at the 2023 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships to become the 200m NCAA champion.
#4 Dina Asher-Smith
The former world champion Dina Asher-Smith is another strong contender for a podium finish in the 200m at the Paris Olympics. Asher-Smith, who holds the British national record in the distance, has a season-best and personal best of 22.18s and 21.88s respectively.
#3 Brittany Brown
Brittany Brown, who finished second at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials behind Thomas, is another athlete to look out for at the Quadrennial Games. Her season-best performance of 21.90 seconds in the finals of the Trials also positions her as a serious medal prospect in the distance.
In the 2024 season, her notable accomplishment is winning the 200m at the Oslo Bislett Games (Diamond League leg) in a time of 22.32s.
#2 Mckenzie Long
Mckenzie Long, who rose to fame for winning three NCAA titles in 2024 in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m, is another American who can pose a challenge to Gabby Thomas in the 200m.
This will be Long’s first Olympics and she will look to make every opportunity count with her performance in the 200m.
#1 Shericka Jackson
Despite having a decent season so far, Shericka Jackson will undoubtedly remain as Gabby Thomas’s biggest rival at the Paris Olympics. The Jamaican is the second-fastest woman in the distance with a sensational time of 21.41s, which she accomplished at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
Jackson will be aiming to clinch her first Olympic title in her signature event as she heads to the Paris Olympics.
