Track & Field 2k21: Gabby Thomas Grabs Olympic Bronze

Weeks back we did a feature and interview with Gabrielle "Gabby" Thomas, on what it would be like to become an Olympian as she was attempting to qualify for the games during the United States Olympic Trials. She told us, "Being an Olympian is my dream. It’s not something I thought I was capable of before the 2016 trials and ever since then it’s been the goal. I’ve been working so hard and I’ve been patient. I’ve surrounded myself with Olympians and a great environment so I’m ready to earn my spot on the team."

Not only did Thomas become an Olympian, she won a bronze medal in the 200 meters placing third in the final round at 21.87, behind Jamaica's Elaine Thompson-Herah's time of 21.53 and Namibia's Christine Mboma's finish of 21.81.

Thomas qualified for the 200 meters at this year's Olympic Games after winning the event at the trials in June with a time of 21.61. She originally got attention by becoming one of the nation's top sprinters in college while competing for Harvard. Yes, you heard that right, Harvard. Most people don't think track and field when Harvard comes to mind, but Thomas showed that you can go to the nation's most respected institution of higher learning while becoming a national champion in sport.

Thomas won the 200 meters championship at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in 2018. She was the runner-up at the NCAA outdoor meet during the same year. In 2017, Thomas placed third in the 200 meters during the outdoor NCAA final. Thomas, 24, is a native of Florence, Mass.

Thompson-Herah, 29, won her second straight 200 meters Olympic gold medal. She has also won Olympic gold in the 100 meters both this year and in 2016. Thompson-Herah has won a silver medal as well in the 400-meter relay. In 2019 and 2015, she won national championships in the 200 meters, while taking four national crowns in the 100 meters from 2016-19. Her World Championships resume includes one gold medal in the 400-meter relay and a silver in the 200 meters.

Mboma, 18, was the youngest competitor in the race. Her time of 21.81 made her the fastest African to ever run the 200 meters. Over the past two years she has won five national championships in Namibia but none of them have been in the 200 meters. She took two national gold medals in the 800 meters, one in the 400 meters, another in the 1,500 meters and a final one in the 400-meter relay.

Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, 34 placed fourth. She was the oldest competitor in the field. She won her only prize in the 200 meters back in 2012, when she earned a silver medal. Fraser-Pryce has won two Olympic gold medals over her career but both were in the 100 meters in 2008 and 2012. A winner of nine world championships, her lone 200 meters world championship win came in 2013.

Ta Lou was a fifth place finisher at the games. The 32-year-old also competed in the 2016 Olympic games where she placed fourth in the 200 meters. She won a silver medal in the 200 meters at the 2017 World Championships. Another teen from Namibia, Beatrice Masilingi was sixth. At, 19, she is just a month and 12 days older than her fellow Namibian, Mboma. Masilingi finished at 22.28. Sweden's Mujinga Kambundji (22.30) and Bahamas' Shaunae Miller-Uibo (24.00) placed seventh and eighth respectively.

Women's 200 Meters Final - The XXXII Olympic Games

Elaine Thompson-Herah, Jamaica, 21.53

Christine Mboma, Namibia, 21.81

Gabrielle Thomas, USA, 21.87

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Jamaica, 21.94

Marie-Josee Ta Lou, Cote D'Ivoire, 22.27

Beatrice Masilingi, Namibia, 22.28

Mujunga Kambundji, Switzerland, 22.30

Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Bahamas, 24.00