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Can Gabby Thomas defeat Shericka Jackson for the first time in 200m at Paris Olympics?
Gabby Thomas from the USA has a daunting task ahead. The bronze medalist from the women's 200m at the Tokyo Olympics is not only aiming for the coveted gold medal but also for the chance to break the 36-year-old world record of 21.34 seconds held by compatriot Florence Griffith-Joyner.
This is easier said than done. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, one of her biggest competitors would be Shericka Jackson, the Jamaican sprinter who is also the current world champion in the 200m category.
The two sprinters have rarely faced each other. Their first major face-off was at the 2023 World Championships held in Budapest where Gabby Thomas had the best time of 21.97 seconds in the semifinals, followed by Shericka Jackson who also managed to qualify for the finals with a time of 22.0 seconds.
However, the finals changed the equation once and for all. Shericka Jackson, who had only recently switched to 200m, surprised everyone by clocking 21.41 seconds to win the race, which was also a new Championship record. Gabby Thomas finished 2nd with a time of 21.81 seconds while Sha'Carri Richardson, also of the USA, finished 3rd with a time of 21.92 seconds.
Notably, Gabby Thomas had had her priorities clear going into the race. In a statement she made before the Championships, she had mentioned:
"So I came back from my semifinal. I went on my phone, I saw Shericka [Jackson] got like 21.70. I was like, 'They can't let us have anything, anything!' So alright, I'm going to have to bring my A-game. If it's not at this Trials meet, (then) Budapest [the host-city of 2023 World Championships]."
So, can Gabby Thomas overcome the challenge posed by world champion Shericka Jackson at Paris 2024?
How has Gabby Thomas performed this year?
Before the Paris Olympics, if we look at the statistics, it seems that Shericka Jackson has a slight edge over Gabrielle 'Gabby' Thomas.
Thomas has a personal best of 21.6 seconds, which she achieved in a local athletic meet in 2023, while Shericka Jackson's personal best is 21.41 seconds, which she had achieved at the World Championships in 2023.
However, Gabby Thomas has a trump card that Shericka Jackson doesn't - consistency!
If we look at the performances of both the athletes, Gabby Thomas has a significant edge over Shericka Jackson at the moment. Shericka Jackson's seasonal best this year has been an average time of 22.29, which she recorded at the Jamaican Olympic Trials in June 2024.
On the other hand, Gabby Thomas has managed to improve her timings, recording a season best of 21.78 at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. Out of the six races she has competed in this year, Gabby Thomas ran in under 22 seconds twice, including at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials held in June 2024.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, all Gabby Thomas needs to focus on is this consistency, and give it her all during the finals. With both Elaine Thompson Herah and Sha'Carri Richardson out of the race, Gabby Thomas has a golden opportunity to win the coveted Olympic gold medal in the 200m event.
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