lympic 100m gold medalist Julien Alfred is safely through to the semi-final of the women’s 200m less than 24 hours after making history.
Other top contenders for the gold medal, Gabby Thomas of the USA and Great Britain’s Daryll Neita are in the semi-final.
Before the first round, news broke that Shericka Jackson, the world champion and fastest woman alive in the distance, had pulled out.
Straight from beating Sha’Carri Richardson in the 200m final, Alfred won the first heat in 22.41 seconds ahead of France’s Gemima Joseph and Swededn’s Julia Henriksson.
Richardson did not compete in the 200m for the USA after winning a silver medal in the 100m. Her compatriot Thomas comfortably won the second heat.
Other top names, Brittany Brown, Dina Asher-Smith, Favour Ofili, and Tasa Jiya, are in the semi-finals, which are set for Monday, August 5. The final will be on Tuesday, August 6.
Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Hera is the reigning Olympic champion in the 200m, but she is not competing in Paris due to injury.
