by Stuart Weir
Stuart Weir wrote this on Gabby Thomas, who ran a remarkable race on July 20 in London and won in the final centimeters. Gabby will be competing in Paris 2024, with track and field from August 1-August 11, 2024.
Gabby Thomas getting ready for Paris with a win in London.
Gabby Thomas put down a marker in London, winning the women’s 200m in a meeting record 21.82, running into an adverse wind (-0.9m/s). She summed up her day: “I feel perfect. It’s made me feel confident going into the Paris Games after that one. Everything considered, hopping off the plane and coming into this stadium with all these people was a perfect race for me. This crowd is incredible; it’s got to be my favorite Diamond League – it’s just so much fun. The crowd is incredible, the stadium is incredible, and the meet’s so well run. I’m so happy to be here; this experience was great”.
Julian Alfred, who recently won the 100 in Monaco, was second in 21.86 NR PB. Afterward, she said she was excited about her first Olympics and added that two medals suddenly seemed a possibility.
The race was perhaps a reality check for the two British athletes, Dina Asher-Smith in 22.07 for third and Darryl Neita in fourth in 22.20, both season’s bests. Sub 22 will undoubtedly be needed in Paris for a medal.
Gabby is a great advocate of being a student-athlete, so when she graduated from Harvard, she enrolled in a Master’s in epidemiology because she wanted a whole life.
“Balancing it is just about doing what I love. It is great to go from track practice to studies. I have a bad track session, but instead of going home and thinking about it repeatedly, I get on with my academic work. And instead of sitting around when I have done my work, I get to go out and do track. I am just one of those people who needs that balance, and I really appreciate that”.
Gabby and I have been before. When she ran in Florence last year at the Golden Gala, I was on the same flight from London. We were diverted to Pisa, bussed to Florence, and dumped at Florence airport to find our way to the hotel. We had lots of opportunities to chat.
