Monaco (AFP) – Olympic sprint champions Gabrielle Thomas and Julien Alfred hope to bring the best out of each other in the 200m at Friday’s Monaco Diamond League in a season during which the emphasis is on finding a good work-life balance.
Thomas and Alfred lit up the women’s sprint disciplines at the Paris Olympics in 2024, the American winning 200m gold while Alfred bagged a first-ever medal of any colour for her tiny Caribbean island homeland of St Lucia when she claimed victory in the 100m.
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Thomas will be making her first Diamond League appearance in two years in Monaco after suffering an achilles injury last season. The American is already in formidable form, having clocked 21.70sec in Texas last month, then a world lead and still the second-fastest time in the world this year. She faces a tough test in Monaco, going up against world leader Adaejah Hodge, fellow US star Anavia Battle and Alfred, who is unbeaten outdoors this season.
“It’s a great field with amazing competitors so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can bring out of each other,” said Thomas. Alfred said the line-up was “exciting.” “Gabby’s a big competitor so I’m just looking forward to having a race,” said Alfred, who confirmed that she would not be taking part in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July.
While this is a season without a world championships or Olympic Games, World Athletics is to introduce its inaugural biennial invitational Ultimate World Championship to bring the curtain down on the season in Budapest in September.
But for Thomas and Alfred, it remains a season in which family commitments could — for once — be kept alongside competition demands. “I’ve been going back to St Lucia every month,” said Alfred. The 25-year-old sprinter said she was happy to “find a balance between life and sport,” seeing a lot more of her family and friends.
“Sometimes I tend to be so focused on just competing and winning all the time so that I’m so proud of myself. Winning is always fun, but winning can’t be the end and be all of your life,” she said. “While we do love to compete, and we’re both very competitive, we are also full of people outside of the sport.”
Thomas, 29, was taking advantage of a less intense schedule to get married. “I actually have my wedding plan for this year because it’s an off season, and I’m having so much fun planning my wedding,” Thomas said. She said she was “centering other aspects of my life, and just taking time to see my friends.”
“I’ve made multiple trips to see my family. Normally, in every other year, you feel guilty for taking trips to visit your mom and dad, showing up for your friends.” Thomas said many people didn’t understand the sacrifices made by elite athletes. “This is a time that we get to enjoy life like that, and we foster these relationships, and we get to add it to our potential support while also still being on the circuit and still always running.”
Turning to Friday’s showdown at what promises to be a sold-out Stade Louis II in perfect weather conditions, Thomas insisted that being Olympic champion did not change her approach. “I try to focus on the same, despite the fact that the expectations get higher,” she said.
“The goal is to win. The goal is to come out and put your best foot forward, no pun intended, and just do what it takes to win the race. You take it race by race, and hopefully, I compete well to the best of my abilities, and I finish the race healthy. And of course, just have a good time and push myself!”
© 2024 AFP
