Olympic Champion Builds Momentum With Budapest Victory Ahead of U.S. Championships
Olympic champion Gabby Thomas secured another major victory Tuesday, winning the women’s 200-meter race at the Gyulai István Memorial in Budapest as American runners swept the podium.
According to Olympics.com, Thomas crossed the finish line in 21.83 seconds at the Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix, narrowly defeating fellow Team USA sprinter Kayla White, who placed second in 21.92 seconds. Anavia Battle completed the American sweep with a third-place finish in 22.21 seconds.
The Budapest victory continued a strong stretch for Thomas, who finished third at the Monaco Diamond League the previous week with a time of 21.84 seconds.
Her performance comes shortly before the U.S. Track & Field Championships, which are scheduled to begin July 23 in New York City. The national meet will help determine which athletes represent Team USA during the season’s biggest international competitions.
Budapest served as the final event of the 2026 World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series. The women’s 200-meter field also included Barbados sprinter Sada Williams, who placed fourth while preparing for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Gabby Thomas Praises Competitive Field
Thomas said the quality of the Budapest field made the victory especially meaningful.
“It was a really strong and impressive field, so winning against that level of competition feels great,” Thomas said following the race.
The Olympic champion said she had arrived in Hungary shortly before competing but still felt confident in her current condition.
“I’m really happy with where I am at this stage of the season,” Thomas said. “This is the best I’ve ever looked in the middle of a season throughout my career.”
Thomas believes faster performances could follow as she moves deeper into the season. With another sub-22-second finish and an all-American podium behind her, she will enter the U.S. Championships carrying considerable momentum in her pursuit of another international title.
