By Mitch Phillips and Lori Ewing
PARIS (Reuters) -American Gabby Thomas finally claimed the global title she has promised for so long when she delivered a dominant performance to take Olympic 200 metres gold on Tuesday, denying silver medallist Julien Alfred a sprint double.
Thomas, 27, took bronze in Tokyo and silver in last year’s world championships, but gold had eluded one of the sport's most recognisable athletes and she had been vocal about her quest for an Olympic title.
In control of the final throughout the race, Thomas came home in 21.83 seconds and broke into a wide smile of disbelief, hands on her head, as she crossed the finish line.
"Honestly, I kind of blanked out for all of it, I can't even remember what I was doing, I just wanted to win," said Thomas.
"The only moment I remember was crossing the finish line and being in disbelief, that was it."
Alfred, who claimed Saint Lucia’s first Olympic medal when she won the 100m on Saturday, was fastest out of the blocks but was a clear second in 22.08, with Brittany Brown taking bronze for the U.S. in 20.20.
"I'm tired. Long five days," Alfred told reporters. "I did feel ready for the 200m tonight. I feel good, no complaints at all. This means a lot. First Olympics, to go back with gold and silver, I can't ask for more than that."
Thomas arrived in Paris with the world's fastest time this season of 21.78 and made an emphatic statement in Monday's semi-finals when she pulled away from the field with ease over the final 50m to cross the line smiling in 21.86 seconds.
The race, which kicked off with a dazzling light show at Stade de France, was a blur for Thomas who has a Harvard degree in neurobiology and Master's in public health from the University of Texas.
"I have actually never forgotten a race so quickly in my life," said Thomas, who emphatically rang the track-side victory bell cloaked in an American flag.
"I was just on autopilot, but I practiced for it, everything that I did up until that moment was to prepare myself to run that race, so I just knew how to do it, so I did it," she said.
"I was only able to have one bite of the famous croissant cookie you guys have here, so I'm gonna go get one tomorrow."
There was more frustration for British duo Dina Asher-Smith, and Daryll Neita who finished fourth and fifth, with Asher-Smith missing a medal by two hundredths of a second.
"I just really enjoyed that. I just got told myself 'when the gun goes, just run' and whatever happens, happens. It was a great race," Asher-Smith said. "I was so focused on my race, I had no idea where I finished."
Jamaica's reigning world champion Shericka Jackson withdrew from Sunday's heats due to injury.