Paris 2024 Olympics: Heartbreaker Julien Alfred out to shred American hearts in 200m final

Paris 2024 Olympics: Heartbreaker Julien Alfred out to shred American hearts in 200m final

Mark Kinyanjui 12:00 - 06.08.2024

Julien Alfred will be looking forward to completing a brace of Paris 2024 Olympic gold medals against American favorite Gabby Thomas in the 200m final.

The stage is set for an electrifying showdown in the women’s 200m final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, with U.S. star Gabby Thomas and Saint Lucia's newly crowned 100m champion Julien Alfred emerging as the top contenders. 

Both sprinters have showcased impressive form in the heats and semi-finals, setting the scene for what promises to be a thrilling duel on Tuesday.

Gabby Thomas

Gabby Thomas has been a dominant force in the 200m this season, and she carried that momentum into the Olympic Games. 

The American sprinter clocked the fastest times in both the heats and semi-finals, stopping the clock at 21.86 seconds in her semi-final run. 

Thomas demonstrated her speed and control, comfortably pulling away from competitors like Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith. With the fastest time heading into the final, Thomas is a strong favorite to claim gold.

Will Julien Alfred’s 100m heroics continue in the 200m?

Julien Alfred has been one of the breakout stars of these Olympics. After capturing the 100m title on Saturday night, Alfred now has a shot at joining an elite group of women who have completed the sprint double at the Olympics. 

Alfred secured her place in the 200m final with a winning time of 21.98 seconds in her semi-final, showing that her 100m victory was no fluke. If she can replicate that form, Alfred could make history again for Saint Lucia, a nation that had never won an Olympic medal before her triumph.

The finalists to watch

Beyond Thomas and Alfred, the 200m final will feature other top sprinters who could spring a surprise. Nigeria’s Favour Ofili pushed Alfred hard in the semi-finals, finishing with a season’s best of 22.05 seconds.

 Meanwhile, Brittany Brown of the United States and Britain’s Darryl Neita also secured their spots in the final, with Brown crossing the line first in their semi-final in 22.12 seconds.

Ivory Coast’s Jessica Gbai and U.S. sprinter McKenzie Long earned their places in the final as time qualifiers, rounding out a strong field that promises intense competition.

As the sprinters prepare to take their marks, all eyes will be on Gabby Thomas and Julien Alfred.

 With Thomas’ consistency and Alfred’s historic momentum, the final could be one of the highlights of the Paris 2024 track and field events. Fans can expect a fast and fiercely contested race as these athletes vie for Olympic glory.

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