Michelle Collins used her position in lane six to the greatest advantage, powering to a world-leading 22.18 for the gold medal. It was a time not seen since 1995.
The 32-year-old American, who had dropped down from her usual 400 Metres speciality for speed training during the indoor season, capped off a splendid weekend which saw her move to the number-three position among history’s one-lap indoor runners.
European indoor and outdoor champion Muriel Hurtis of France, running just to Collins’ inside, appeared to be making a move on the American as the pair moved into the final curve. But off the turn and into the final straightaway, Collins was uncatchable.
Hurtis’ silver-medal time was 22.54, as Russian champion Anastasiya Kapachinskaya (22.80) just nudged out defending champion Juliet Campbell of Jamaica (22.81) for the bronze.
Note:
In July 2004, the US Anti-Doping Agency announced that it was seeking a lifetime ban for Collins for drug use. Evidence revealed by the federal investigation into the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) – a Northern California nutrition company – allegedly showed that Collins was a client. She denied the claims and intended to take her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but in the summer of 2005 Collins accepted a four-year suspension from July 16, 2004 plus disqualification of all her results from February 1, 2002. So after more than two years, Hurtis was declared the 200m champion of 2003.