In maybe the clearest demonstration of her perception that this was her time, Anning was introduced with a British flag that includes her identify after touchdown the most important prize of her profession.
It’s only the start of Anning’s maiden season as a full-time skilled athlete and, having graduated from the College of Arkansas final yr, her consideration is now absolutely mounted on pursuing main honours.
In an impressive breakout 2024 season, the London-born athlete ran 49.29 secs to smash the British 400m file and end fifth on her Olympic debut in Paris.
In falling simply 0.31 seconds in need of the rostrum in her first main particular person ultimate, and leaving the French capital with two relay medals, the Briton had already proved her thrilling potential on the game’s greatest stage.
Anning established herself as a gold medal contender with a powerful win in her warmth on the European indoors, earlier than her disqualification for a lane infringement noticed her depart the sector in tears.
However she bounced again to assist the ladies’s 4x400m relay group obtain silver in Apeldoorn – and once more right here, in a person capability, to triumph with gold in charming style.
Anning underlined her title credentials with an announcement 400m qualification on Friday, setting the quickest time within the heats by clocking 50.79 secs to arrange her shot at a primary particular person worldwide medal.
Simply 0.13 seconds separated Anning, Holmes and the 21-year-old Jaeger for season’s finest occasions earlier than Nanjing, and the ultimate might hardly have seen Anning prevail in a dramatic end.