Harvard graduate Gabby Thomas sprints to 200-meter gold medal for the United States by a big margin

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Before Gabby Thomas set foot on the Stade de France's purple track, surrounded by 80,000 or so screaming spectators, her coach gave her some last-minute advice.

“The only thing I needed to do was get the lead. Get the lead and then finish strong,” Thomas said, recounting Tonja Buford-Bailey's counsel. “And I did that.”

She sure did. Following precisely that easier-said-than-done plan, Thomas, a 27-year-old Harvard grad, sped to the victory in the women’s 200 meters at the 2024 Olympics on Tuesday night, finishing in 21.83 seconds to add a gold to the bronze she took home in the event from Tokyo three years ago.

“I don't think,” Thomas said, “it could have gone any better.”

She burst into the lead for good at the curve and was never challenged down the stretch, finishing well clear of 100-meter champion Julien Alfred of St. Lucia, who was 0.25 seconds off the pace in 22.08.

After Thomas crossed the line, she shouted and placed both of her hands on her head, looking every bit like someone enjoying what she called “the happiest moment of my life.”

“I couldn't tell you where my competitors were in that race, because I blacked out,” Thomas said.

That's one explanation. Another would be that there was no one really all that near her.

Brittany Brown of the U.S. got the bronze in 22.20, 0.02 seconds in front of Dina Asher-Smith of Britain, who was another hundredth of a second ahead of teammate Daryll Neita.

“I'm happy. There's nothing I can complain about," Alfred said. "I just know I went out there and gave my best.”

Out of three sprints so far on the purple track at Stade de France, the Americans have picked up two golds: Thomas' triumph followed Noah Lyles' success in the men's 100 on Sunday night by a far slimmer margin: five thousands of a second.

“It really was so inspiring, hearing Noah go after what he wanted and take it,” Thomas said. “I knew that if I were in any position in this race, I could still go after it and take it if I had to.”

Ask a teammate what about Thomas is most impressive, and “poise” is a word that comes up.

“She’s very much an empowerment woman. She carries a lot of power. You can tell by how she carries herself,” said McKenzie Long, a 24-year-old who finished seventh Tuesday. “She reminds me of me — but an older version.”

After she earned her degree at Harvard in neurobiology and global health, Thomas enrolled at the University of Texas, where she got a Masters in public health for studying sleep patterns of different ethnic groups — while also making the wise choice to double down on her track training.

The decision was to set up a six-year schedule, with the long-term aim being this cool evening in the City of Light. Thomas didn't want the Paris Games to be her first Olympics, so she did what it took to get herself to Tokyo three years ago.

That happened — and her takeaways from that trip to Japan were third place in the 200, a silver medal in the 4x100 relay, plus, maybe most valuable of all, the experience.

“I feel like I’ve worked very hard, and everything has been a part of the plan. This has been a six-year plan, ever since moving to Texas,” Thomas explained. “We've been working hard every day for this, so I earned it. But it’s still an unbelievable, indescribable feeling.”

She came in as one of the favorites, especially after reigning world champion Shericka Jackson of Jamaica dropped out because of an apparent injury.

And this one really wasn't even close, it turned out.

Even Alfred, who also went to Texas and won the first Olympic medal for her island country in the 100 three nights earlier, didn't stand a chance against Thomas on this night.

“You can't take a gold medal away. This is all I wanted," Thomas said. "If I didn't get this gold medal today, I don't know what I would have done.”

And she isn't done. She'll have a chance for another medal as part of the 4x100 relay team, which could be in the final Saturday.

AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, reacts to winning the gold medal in the women's 200 meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, rings the bell after winning the gold medal in the women's 200 meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, right, and Julien Alfred, of Saint Lucia, compete in the women's 200-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, celebrates after winning the women's 200-meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Gold medal winner Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, celebrates after ringing a bell, following the women's 200 meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Gold medalist Gabrielle Thomas, and bronze medalist Brittany Brown, both of the United States, react after crossing the finish line in the women's 200 meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, celebrates her win in the women's 200-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, celebrates with silver medalist Julien Alfred, of Saint Lucia, after winning the gold medal in the women's 200 meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, celebrates after winning the women's 200-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, celebrates after winning the women's 200-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, crosses the finish line in her women's 200-meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, celebrates after winning the women's 200-meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, reacts after winning the women's 200-meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, in lane seven, wins the women's 200-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, right, completes in the women's 200-meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, celebrates after winning the women's 200-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

NEW YORK (AP) — Kelly Clarkson says she’s learned a thing or two about interviewing after being in the spotlight as a recording artist since 2002. So, she’s created a safe space for guests on season six of her talk show which launches Monday. Burned by media stories in the past, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter says she takes a different approach with guests on her daytime show.

Fans of the show — based in New York for its second year — can expect more celebrity interviews, human interest stories, and Clarkson's signature “Kellyoke” musical performances. Clarkson says she likes to make guests feel comfortable, often playing games and infusing humor into her segments.

Clarkson is also an executive producer on the show, which has won 22 Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Daytime Host and Talk Show last year. She spoke to The Associated Press recently about how she approaches interviews, covering new artists and staying incognito on the subway. Answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.

CLARKSON: By season six, people kind of trust our show more. I think a lot of times some actors or artists — especially in the limelight — they get a little nervous about going on shows because they’re like, “Are they going to try and angle something? Or get some sort of soundbite or clickbait?” That’s not what I’m about. I’ve obviously had that happen to me in my career, so I don’t want to do that to anyone. I think people by now feel safe there, and they’re willing to like, you know, play a dumb game that’s just fun or they’re willing to talk about things that maybe they don’t normally talk about.

CLARKSON: I know what the receiving end feels like. You just want to promote something that you’re proud of, and then having to shadowbox your way through an interview so somebody is not trying to make their career off something they try and get you to say — it’s just gross and it’s hurtful. There’s been certain things, like where I help navigate the interview in a way that I’m comfortable. I never ask someone something that I wouldn’t mind answering. I definitely have been on the receiving end of that in a positive way and in a very negative way. I just want people to feel safe and comfortable because it’s supposed to be a good time, you know?

CLARKSON: Everything is a cherry on top at this point. I’ve had the most amazing bookers for my show. I hung out with Dolly Parton and Cher and Heart and Alanis Morissette and Babyface and like all these artists that I love musically. And then I got to hang out with Josh Brolin, who was like in “The Goonies” and he’s Thanos, and it’s like, so cool! Meeting people that you love in their movies or for their work and then, you know, getting to see a sneak peek of who they are as a human is very fun. I always say Meryl Streep — she is one of my favorites in the industry, whether it’s singing or acting or whatever.

CLARKSON: I’m a big fan of Chappell (Roan.) I’m actually covering her quite a bit this season. I love Fletcher. I’ve always been covering this generation, like Billie (Eilish) or Olivia Rodrigo, there’s a lot of them. There’s a lot of talent — Sabrina Carpenter I’m a big fan of. I’m like 42, but I love it. Music is music. That’s the cool thing about it. There is no specific culture, specific age, specific, whatever you have to be — it’s for everyone. I cover 180 songs a season, which is awesome. It’s just a lot of work, so to be able to sing songs and be so excited about like these new up-and-coming artists. It’s exciting covering these songs and then challenging you a bit but I love this. It’s a great generation of artists right now.

CLARKSON: Not at all! Girl, I don’t look like this — (motions to made-up face) — this is not how I woke up! (laughs) I usually am in a mom bun, or a hat and I get away with it. It’s only when I speak — as soon as I open my mouth to speak is when people will go, ‘what?’ And then that’s what gives me away. I have a very talented (hair and makeup) team named Harry and Potter — that’s what I call them (laughs) — and I’m very lucky. I realize that. On “The Voice,” like I remember, any time I’d ever go out with Blake (Shelton) anywhere or John (Legend) they just look like them all the time. They can’t get away with it and they can’t go anywhere. I’m very blessed. I get away with leading a pretty normal average life, and I don’t think a lot of people in the limelight get that. But yeah, the subway’s just faster! So, we’re on it all the time.

FILE - Kelly Clarkson, center, and the team from "The Kelly Clarkson Show" accept the award for outstanding daytime talk series during the 51st Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday, June 7, 2024, at the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

FILE - Kelly Clarkson appears at the 51st Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday, June 7, 2024, at the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Kelly Clarkson arrives at the 51st Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday, June 7, 2024, at the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)