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Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita missed out on a medal in the women’s 200m final by the barest of margins as the USA’s Gabby Thomas stormed to gold to deny St Lucia’s Julien Alfred a sprint double.
Brittany Brown claimed bronze in a dramatic photo finish, finishing 0.02 seconds ahead of Asher-Smith in fourth with Neita a further 0.01 second behind in fifth.
Neita was fourth in the 100m final on Saturday night, 0.04 seconds off the podium, and the margins were even closer for Asher-Smith, who looked to have held off her British team-mate.
But Brown found a late burst over the final 10m and dipped across the line to take bronze in 22.20.
The 27-year-old Thomas wins her first Olympic title after upgrading the silver medal she won in Tokyo three years ago, clocking 21.83.
The American won gold ahead of newly crowned 100m champion Alfred, who defeated Sha’Carri Richardson to win St Lucia’s first Olympic medal. Alfred took silver in 22.20.
Asher-Smith, a former world champion at 200m, was close to bouncing back from the disappointment of failing to reach the 100m final.
Her time in the 200m final was an improvement on her showing in the semi-final but it was not enough.
“I’m happy, I actually just really enjoyed it,” she said. “The crowd was amazing, the track was amazing. I just got told when the gun goes run and whatever happens happens.
“There’s not many time you get told that instruction. I just got told to go for it and I enjoyed it. It was a great race.
“I was just focussed on running. I had no idea where I came. My eyesight is not great so I just wait for the screen before I embarrass myself.
“I’m still really disappointed in the 100m but overall I’m happy because I know I’ve been in a great place all season. That’s why I was disappointed in the 100m.
“I think it’s a great platform to build from. I had some fun in this one. That’s always a plus.”
Neita said: “I gave it everything and didn’t let myself down at all. I’m a medallist one day I’ve just got to wait.”
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