Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metres

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Women's 200 metres
at the Games of the XXXII Olympiad
Olympic Athletics.png
Olympic Athletics
Venue Japan National Stadium
Dates2 August 2021
(heats & semifinals)
3 August 2021
(final) [1]
Competitors41 from 31 nations
Winning time21.53
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Elaine Thompson-Herah Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
Silver medal icon.svg Christine Mboma Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia
Bronze medal icon.svg Gabrielle Thomas Flag of the United States.svg  United States
  2016
2024  

The women's 200 metres event at the 2020 Summer Olympics took place on 2 and 3 August 2021 at the Japan National Stadium. [1] 41 athletes from 31 nations competed. [2] In successfully defending her title, Elaine Thompson-Herah became the first woman in history to win both the 100 and 200 metres titles at successive games. Her winning time of 21.53 secs, moved her to second on the world all-time list behind Florence Griffith Joyner, and broke Merlene Ottey's 30-year-old Jamaican record. The winning margin was 0.28 seconds. Surprisingly, Thompson-Herah had the slowest reaction time in the final.

Summary

The field included six of the top 25 women in history, three of whom set their personal bests earlier in the season. The defending champion Elaine Thompson-Herah was rounding into form having defended her 100m title three days earlier. The world leader coming into the Olympics was Gabrielle Thomas, who ran the #2 time in history to win the US Trials. Two unknown commodities were Namibian teenagers Beatrice Masilingi and Christine Mboma, who had run exceptional 400m times earlier in the season, but less than a month before the Olympics, they were blocked from running in that event due to their having excess natural testosterone. The 200 metres was their back up event because it is exempted from the rule's limited range of events.

In the second heat, Masilingi set the National Record. In the fourth heat, Mboma broke it, in the process surprising Thomas. What was particularly shocking was the terrible start of Mboma, with Thomas making up the stagger in the first few steps of the race, and the awkward but blazing speed she had in the last half of the race. Returning silver medalist Dafne Schippers failed to qualify in the first semi-final, where Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Masilingi did. In the second semi, Thompson-Herah equalled her personal best, but behind her with superior top end speed was Mboma, again beating Thomas while setting the world junior record at 21.97.

In the final, Fraser-Pryce had a rocket start as would be predictable considering her history, three lanes outside of her in a matching Jamaican uniform, Thompson-Herah was keeping pace. In stark contrast, Mboma trailed the field with Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Masilingi. Coming off the turn, Thomas was barely behind Fraser-Pryce and Thompson-Herah. From there, Thompson-Herah pulled away as Thomas slowly chipped away at Fraser-Pryce's slight advantage. Miller-Uibo's closing speed was not present, but Mboma's was, rocketing past four of the top sprinters in the world in a different gear. Mboma passed Fraser-Pryce and Thomas ten metres out, beating Thomas for the third time to take silver. Thomas beat Fraser-Pryce for bronze. [3]

Background

This was the 19th time the event was held, having appeared at every Olympics since 1948.

Qualification

A National Olympic Committee (NOC) could enter up to 3 qualified athletes in the women's 200 metres event if all athletes meet the entry standard or qualify by ranking during the qualifying period. (The limit of 3 has been in place since the 1930 Olympic Congress.) The qualifying standard is 22.80 seconds. This standard was "set for the sole purpose of qualifying athletes with exceptional performances unable to qualify through the IAAF World Rankings pathway." The world rankings, based on the average of the best five results for the athlete over the qualifying period and weighted by the importance of the meet, will then be used to qualify athletes until the cap of 56 is reached. [2] [4]

The qualifying period was originally from 1 May 2019 to 29 June 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the period was suspended from 6 April 2020 to 30 November 2020, with the end date extended to 29 June 2021. The world rankings period start date was also changed from 1 May 2019 to 30 June 2020; athletes who had met the qualifying standard during that time were still qualified, but those using world rankings would not be able to count performances during that time. The qualifying time standards could be obtained in various meets during the given period that have the approval of the IAAF. Both indoor and outdoor meets were eligible for qualification. The most recent Area Championships may be counted in the ranking, even if not during the qualifying period. [2] [5]

NOCs can also use their universality place—each NOC can enter one female athlete regardless of time if they had no female athletes meeting the entry standard for an athletics event—in the 200 metres. [2]

Competition format

The event continued to use the three-round format introduced in 2012. [6]

Records

Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows.

World recordFlag of the United States.svg  Florence Griffith Joyner  (USA)21.34 Seoul, South Korea 29 September 1988
Olympic recordFlag of the United States.svg  Florence Griffith Joyner  (USA)21.34 Seoul, South Korea 29 September 1988
AreaTime (s)WindAthleteNation
Africa ( records )22.04+0.5 Blessing Okagbare Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria
Asia ( records )22.01+0.0 Li Xuemei Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China
Europe ( records )21.63+0.3 Dafne Schippers Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands
North, Central America
and Caribbean
( records )
21.34 WR +1.3 Florence Griffith Joyner Flag of the United States.svg United States
Oceania ( records )22.23+0.8 Melinda Gainsford-Taylor Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
South America ( records )22.48+1.0 Ana Cláudia Lemos Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil

The following national records were established during the competition:

CountryAthleteRoundTimeNotes
Namibia Beatrice Masilingi Round 122.63
Christine Mboma Round 122.11
Semifinals21.97 WU20R, AR
Final21.81 WU20R, AR
Switzerland Mujinga Kambundji Round 122.26
Semifinals22.26
Niger Aminatou Seyni Semifinals22.54
Jamaica Elaine Thompson-Herah Final21.53

Schedule

All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

The women's 200 metres took place over two consecutive days. [1]

DateTimeRound
Monday, 2 August 20219:00
19:00
Round 1
Semifinals
Tuesday, 3 August 202119:00Final

Results

Round 1

Qualification rule: first three finishers of each heat (Q) plus the next three fastest times (q) qualify to the semifinals.

Heat 1

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
16 Marie-Josée Ta Lou Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 0.17022.30 Q
23 Shaunae Miller-Uibo Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas 0.13722.40 Q
38 Nzubechi Grace Nwokocha Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 0.15622.47 Q, PB
44 Gloria Hooper Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 0.19123.16 q, SB
52 Ana Azevedo Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 0.19223.20 SB
65 Olga Safronova Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 0.16223.64
Wind: +0.3 m/s

Heat 2

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
16 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 0.14022.22 Q
23 Beatrice Masilingi Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 0.18522.63 Q, NR
32 Dafne Schippers Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 0.15123.13 Q
48 Lisa-Marie Kwayie Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 0.16923.14 q
57 Rafaéla Spanoudaki-Hatziriga Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 0.13123.16 q
64 Lucia Moris Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan 0.14925.24
75 Najma Parveen Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 0.17328.12 SB
Wind: +0.4 m/s

Heat 3

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
18 Mujinga Kambundji Flag of Switzerland.svg  Switzerland 0.12922.26 Q, =NR
25 Anavia Battle Flag of the United States.svg  United States 0.12922.54 Q
34 Gémima Joseph Flag of France.svg  France 0.15322.94 Q
47 Jaël Bestué Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 0.17123.19 PB
56 Inna Eftimova Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 0.14123.42
Wind: -0.2 m/s

Heat 4

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
13 Christine Mboma Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 0.27522.11 Q, WU20R, NR
22 Gabrielle Thomas Flag of the United States.svg  United States 0.17222.20 Q
35 Aminatou Seyni Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 0.14422.72 Q, SB
48 Rhoda Njobvu Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 0.14523.33
56 Jessica-Bianca Wessolly Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 0.17623.41
64 Vitória Cristina Rosa Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 0.18723.59
77 Dutee Chand Flag of India.svg  India 0.14023.85 SB
Wind: +0.7 m/s

Heat 5

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
14 Anthonique Strachan Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas 0.15522.76 Q, =SB
26 Lorène Bazolo Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 0.13023.21 Q
37 Dalia Kaddari Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 0.14423.26 (23.251) Q
42 Shericka Jackson Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 0.16723.26 (23.255)
53 Ivet Lalova-Collio Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 0.15823.39 SB
65 Shanti Pereira Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 0.16423.96 SB
Wind: -0.3 m/s

Heat 6

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
16 Crystal Emmanuel Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 0.15722.74 Q, SB
28 Beth Dobbin Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 0.13622.78 Q, =SB
35 Elaine Thompson-Herah Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 0.16522.86 Q
44 Imke Vervaet Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 0.13823.05 q, PB
57 Phil Healy Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 0.14023.21 SB
Wind: +0.4 m/s

Heat 7

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
12 Jenna Prandini Flag of the United States.svg  United States 0.16322.56 Q
26 Gina Bass Flag of The Gambia.svg  The Gambia 0.15822.74 Q
37 Riley Day Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 0.15522.94 Q
45 Maja Mihalinec Zidar Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 0.14523.62 SB
54 Kristina Knott Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 0.13323.80
8 Jamile Samuel Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands DNS
Wind: +0.9 m/s

Semifinals

Qualification rule: first 2 of each heat (Q) plus the 2 fastest times (q) qualified.

Semifinal 1

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
16 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 0.14322.13 Q
24 Beatrice Masilingi Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 0.18122.40 Q, PB
35 Anthonique Strachan Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas 0.15322.56 (22.551) SB
49 Riley Day Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 0.14722.56 (22.557) PB
57 Jenna Prandini Flag of the United States.svg  United States 0.14222.57
62 Dafne Schippers Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 0.15123.03
78 Lorène Bazolo Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 0.13823.20
83 Lisa Marie Kwayie Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 0.16923.42
Wind: +0.3 m/s

Semifinal 2

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
19 Elaine Thompson-Herah Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 0.16521.66 Q, =PB
24 Christine Mboma Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 0.21221.97 Q, WU20R, AR
36 Gabrielle Thomas Flag of the United States.svg  United States 0.15622.01 q
45 Gina Bass Flag of The Gambia.svg  The Gambia 0.14422.67
58 Beth Dobbin Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 0.14522.85
67 Crystal Emmanuel Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 0.16623.05
72 Gemima Joseph Flag of France.svg  France 0.16823.19
81 Gloria Hooper Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 0.19723.28
93 Rafaéla Spanoudaki-Hatziriga Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 0.11723.38
Wind: +0.3 m/s

Semifinal 3

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
16 Marie-Josée Ta Lou Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 0.17822.11 Q, SB
25 Shaunae Miller-Uibo Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas 0.15422.14 Q
37 Mujinga Kambundji Flag of Switzerland.svg  Switzerland 0.13922.26 q, =NR
49 Nzubechi Grace Nwokocha Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 0.17222.47=PB
58 Aminatou Seyni Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 0.15622.54 NR
64 Anavia Battle Flag of the United States.svg  United States 0.16723.02
72 Imke Vervaet Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 0.13923.31
83 Dalia Kaddari Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 0.13423.41
Wind: +0.1 m/s

Final

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
Gold medal icon.svg7 Elaine Thompson-Herah Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 0.17321.53 NR
Silver medal icon.svg5 Christine Mboma Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 0.16921.81 WU20R, AR
Bronze medal icon.svg3 Gabrielle Thomas Flag of the United States.svg  United States 0.15921.87
44 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 0.14121.94
56 Marie-Josée Ta Lou Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 0.15022.27
68 Beatrice Masilingi Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 0.16622.28 PB
72 Mujinga Kambundji Flag of Switzerland.svg  Switzerland 0.14722.30
89 Shaunae Miller-Uibo Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas 0.14524.00
Wind: +0.8 m/s

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