Gabby Thomas’ Attempt to Erase 41-Year Jamaican Dominance Can Bring New Twist in Track & Field Rivalry at Paris Olympics

Several incidents from the past few weeks have the potential to draw an end to a 41-year-long supremacy. Stunningly, that has stood victorious in every test in this duration, leaving a zero component behind for the opponents to take pride in. It is all about the Jamaican reign in the 200m Olympic sprinting event in the women’s category. In that fairy tale, Elaine Thompson-Herah has added the last two pages being the astonishing champion. However, the reigning champion has a high chance of being grounded in the upcoming Paris Olympics. 

Two factors have majorly worked to build this probability: 

1. Elaine Thompson-Herah has a low chance to step in the 200m event in the upcoming Jamaican trials for the Paris Olympics. As per the current situation, the 5-time Olympic gold medalist has chosen the 100m event as her sole entry. Noteworthy, the nomination window for the trial is going to close soon. 
2. Another factor is Gabby Thomas’ current form. The 27-year-old athlete holds the 3rd world-leading timing (22.08 seconds) in the 200m event this season. The same season-best list is yet to see any Jamaican women athletes in the top 10 as of now. 

Now, these two points sum up Gabby Thomas’ high chance of grabbing the 200m gold that she lost to Elaine Thompson-Herah in Tokyo for being 0.28 seconds late. However, since the 1980 Olympics, the Jamaican stronghold has thwarted every effort to claim the crown from them. But this time, the camp of Black and Green has failed to produce a memorable prospect till now. On the other hand, the rival American camp has been giving consistent standout performances in the 200m event in the women’s category. 

In fact, the current world lead in the event, McKenzie Long will enter the US Olympic trials in a few days to be cut into the national squad. Furthermore, in the same trials, she will be joined by 5 more athletes from the top list of the season-best. Apart from them, Brittany Brown and Anavia Battle would also enter the US Olympic trials, aiming to get the 200m berth. Incidentally, this season, Brittany Brown’s chance to get success doubled because of her victory against Shericka Jackson, the Jamaican prospect in the Oslo Diamond League a few days ago. But would the victory be easy against a camp that has names like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson? Let’s discuss that. 

A few facts before Gabby Thomas and others face the Jamaican camp 

In the absence of Elaine Thompson-Herah, the responsibility to extend the reign will be on the other two from the legendary Jamaican trio. However, among the two fabled sprinters, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is yet to try her feet in a 200m sprinting contest. 

Rather, the Jamaican Olympics trials will be her first 200m contest in this season. The 10-time world champion has yet to bow down her head to receive the 200m Olympic gold medal in her 22-year-long competitive sprinting career. But such factors may not erase her chances as in the past, she has made several comebacks from a minimal situation. And no one could wave her possibility off in her last Olympics. Another Jamaican authority on the track, Shericka Jackson, has faced a different outcome. 

The reigning 200m world champion has topped several 200m races this season. However, her timing has failed to do justice to her fame. Subsequently, in this season, she has not faced the standout American names yet to display her chance against them. Still, the possibility of a comeback should be on the cards. The rest of the outcome is still waiting for the upcoming days. Till then, please let us know about the arguments and counterarguments on this possibility.