Gabby Thomas wins gold in women's 200m at the Olympic Games in Paris

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.

In doing so, the Harvard graduate denied silver medalist Julien Alfred from completing a remarkable sprint double.

Thomas, 27, took bronze in Tokyo and silver in last year's world championships, but she was in control throughout the final, coming home in 21.83 seconds.

Alfred, who claimed Saint Lucia's first Olympic medal when she won the 100m on Saturday, was a clear second in 22.08, with Brittany Brown taking bronze for the US in 20.20.

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.

Gabby Thomas has won gold in the women's 200 meters at the Olympic Games in Paris

Thomas blew the rest of the field away and stormed to victory after a dominant season

It was the 27-year-old's first Olympic title, having won a silver and a bronze in Tokyo in 2021

There was more frustration for British duo Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita who finished fourth and fifth.

Jamaica's reigning world champion Shericka Jackson withdrew from Sunday's heats due to injury.

Thomas' victory came almost an hour after fellow American Cole Hocker gatecrashed the most eagerly-awaited grudge match of the Olympics to win 1500m gold for the United States.

What was billed as a heavyweight clash between defending Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen and reigning world champ Josh Kerr, Hocker flew home on the inside to win in an Olympic record time of three minutes 27.65 seconds.

Kerr, 26, set a British record of of 3:27.79 for silver and a second American, Yared Nuguse, finished strongly for the bronze in 3:27.80, relegating the flagging Ingebrigtsen to an improbable fourth place.