5 Things You Didn’t Know About Olympic Runner Gabby Thomas

Gabrielle Thomas, an Olympic sprinter born in Atlanta and raised in Northampton, Mass., captured the world’s eyes after her performance in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She’s continuing to make strides as a star on and off the track while balancing her athletic career and her personal life.

Let’s take a look at her track record.

Not only did Thomas attend Harvard University, she graduated with a degree in neurobiology and global health as a student athlete. She also obtained a master’s degree in public health at the University of Texas in 2023.

Along with her athletic ambitions, Thomas plans to leverage her partnership with Lenovo to bring awareness to health access and disparities, particularly within the Black community. She has also been very vocal about the importance of mental health and encourages others to prioritize their well-being.

With her passion for public health, Thomas also aspires to run her own medical facility to prioritize the needs of patients of color. She also understands the importance of having Black doctors to assist Black patients. She would be among a small number of Black people who own a medical facility in the nation.

Thomas began making headlines after she ran the third -astest 200-meter time in history. She clocked in at 21.61 seconds at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials. This year, she won the 200-meter race at the Olympic Trials with 21.81 seconds.

When Thomas was running track while growing up. Allyson Felix inspired her take the sport seriously after running track growing up. Specifically, it was the 2008 Olympic Trials where Felix competed in the 200-meter race that inspired Thomas to follow in Felix’s footsteps.