Gabby Thomas wins USATF's highest honour ahead of McLaughlin

Sprint queen Gabby Thomas has been voted as the winner of USATF Jackie Joyner-Kersee award ahead of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

Triple Olympic champion Gabby Thomas has been crowned the American female athlete of the year after being voted the winner of the USATF Jackie Joyner-Kersee award, ahead of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Tara Davis-Woodhall.

Thomas raced to Olympic 200m gold in Paris and then helped Team USA to 4x100m and 4x400m victories, running the third leg in both relays, playing an integral part in the 4x400m team setting an American record of 3:15.51.

The sprint queen also had five sub-22s in the 200m this season, topped by a world-leading 21.78s clocked in the semifinals at the US Olympic Trials.

For her exceptional exploits, now topped by winning the USATF Jackie Joyner-Kersee award, Thomas overcame other strong contenders on the nominee list in McLaughlin-Levrone (400mH), Davis-Woodhall (long jump), Masai Russell (100mH), and Valarie Allman (Discus throw), who also became Olympic champions in Paris.

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McLaughlin-Levrore successfully defended her Olympic 400mH title in a new World Record (WR) – her sixth time breaking the WR and played a vital role in the 4x400m gold medal-winning relay squad.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

Davis-Woodhall finished the season unbeaten and claimed the Diamond League title in addition to her Olympic gold.

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Allman defended her Olympic title in Paris to become USA’s first double champion in the event, while Russell shockingly blazed to the Olympic gold, performed five times under the 12.4s mark and nine times overall inside 12.5s, all wind-legal, over 100mh this season.