And Gabby Thomas has succeeded.
The American track and field athlete, who has long coveted the gold medal, finally fulfilled her dream on Tuesday at the Paris Olympics when she claimed first place in the 200-meter event in a timing of 21.83.
Thomas defeated Brittany Brown of the United States in third place and Julien Alfred of St. Lucia in second.
Alfred was not able to win both the 100-meter and 200-meter gold medals as a result.
“You train so hard and prepare for this moment, but it’s indescribable when it really happens,” Thomas remarked. “I never in a million years thought that I would win an Olympic gold medal, and here I do. I’m still trying to process that.
Despite being one of the biggest names in the sport, 27-year-old Thomas had not yet won a gold medal as of Tuesday. She finished third in this competition in the Tokyo Games, trailing only Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica and Christine Mboma of Namibia. She also won silver in the 4×100-meter relay.
The Harvard alumna recovered from a hamstring injury in 2022 and had an amazing year of training and competition, preparing her for a major 200-meter performance in Paris.
Following her silver medal at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, she went on to win the 2024 New York City Grand Prix in 22.42 and set a new record for fastest sprinter of the year in June at the U.S. Olympic Trials with a time of 21.78. Thomas won the 2024 London Diamond League in 21.82, just before the Olympics.
Thomas also took home the gold in the World Championships’ 4×100-meter relay.
Sherika Jackson, the two-time reigning 200-meter world champion, withdrew from the competition earlier this week, which improved her prospects of winning on Tuesday. She shared on social media that “God’s plan is always the best,” but she did not give an explanation.
“The process can be difficult and painful at times,” Jackson stated. “Remember, though, that God is working for your good even in silence.”
Prior to the Olympics, Thomas stated to NBC News that she wanted to motivate the upcoming generation of runners.
You get out exactly what you put into track and field, which makes it extremely special and unique, the person stated. “When people watch me race, I want them to realize that they can have confidence in themselves.”
That took place on Tuesday evening.