Gabby Thomas leads by example in Olympic women's 200m

American sprinter is a popular winner of the sprint title in Paris as she beats Olympic 100m winner Julien Alfred while Brits Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita narrowly miss the medals

Gabby Thomas emerged as an emphatic winner of the women’s 200m title in Paris. The 27-year-old clocked 21.81 (-0.6) to leave Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia and fellow American Brittany Brown behind with a dominant run.

Finishing agonisingly just outside the medals, British duo Dina Asher-Smith was fourth in 22.22 and Daryll Neita fifth in 22.23.

Asher-Smith bounced back from a disappointing 100m where she was knocked out of the semi-finals and she said: “I just really enjoyed that. I just got told ‘when the gun goes, just run’ and whatever happens, happens. It was a great race.”

Asher-Smith added: “I’m still really disappointed about the 100m. But overall I am happy because I know I have been in a great place all season which is why I was so disappointed in the 100m.

“For the first year with a new coach, this is a great platform to build on. I had some fun in the 200m, so that’s always a plus as well.”

Gabby Thomas wins (Getty)

After finishing fourth in the 100m, Neita was again narrowly outside a podium place and said: “I really gave it everything in that race. At the minute I don’t have many thoughts as it is very fresh. I just wanted to be strong on the home straight and not have anything in my tank, so I felt like I gave it everything. I fought to the line. I’ll keep working to stride for those individual medals.”

She added: “It’s fine margins, it’s the same as the 100m. So it is really frustrating. But it gives me a load of motivation. I am in touching distances now.”

For Thomas it was a well deserved gold after years of hard work. The Harvard University neurobiology graduate won silver in Budapest last year, for instance, behind Shericka Jackson of Jamaica, who won the world title 12 months ago.

Gabby Thomas (Getty)

“I didn’t realise I’d won this race until I crossed the line,” the Olympic bronze medallist continued. “I had an Olympic champion (Alfred) in the lane right next to me for starters.

“But I have been visualising this race for a long time.”

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