Gabby Thomas Wins Gold in Women’s 200m at Paris Olympics
Gabby Thomas clinched gold in the women’s 200m final at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday night, capturing the hearts of fans worldwide. With a winning time of 21.83 seconds, she became the first American woman since Allyson Felix to win the Olympic 200m, achieving a historic victory at Stade de France.
The night before her race, Thomas opted to stay with her boyfriend, Spencer McManes, in Paris rather than at the Olympic Village. McManes, a former Yale football quarterback and Senior Customer Success Manager at DataGrail, provided a calm environment that allowed Thomas to rest and focus.
Together, they discussed the importance of embracing the moment and recognizing the excitement without letting it turn into anxiety. This approach, along with a ritual breakfast at their favorite Parisian café, helped Thomas stay composed and ready.
On race day, Thomas’s performance was exceptional. She held off Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred of St. Lucia to secure her victory. Her coach, Tonja Buford-Bailey, noticed Thomas’s dominance 80 meters into the race.
“What makes her special is her ability to stay calm and not take things too seriously,” said Buford-Bailey. Thomas’s pre-race ritual of doing burpees to keep her heart rate up underscored her unique approach.
Thomas’s reaction at the finish line- creaming and crying with joy- captured the thrill of her victory.
“I didn’t realize I had won until I crossed the line,” she said. “It’s the most bizarre feeling when you get into a flow and nothing matters but the finish line.”
Raised in Atlanta and later in Western Massachusetts, Thomas initially resisted running track despite her mother’s encouragement. It wasn’t until high school that she started to appreciate the discipline and goal-setting of the sport. At Harvard, balancing academics and athletics, she contemplated quitting but ultimately turned professional in 2019.
She graduated from Harvard with a degree in neurobiology and later earned a master’s degree in epidemiology from the University of Texas Health Science Center.
In Austin, she volunteers at the Volunteer Healthcare Clinic, dedicating seven to ten hours a week to help uninsured patients. She even arranged for her sponsor, New Balance, to donate shoes to hypertension patients at the clinic.
Her boyfriend, Spencer McManes, has been a constant presence, and his family, particularly his mother Lori, are ardent supporters. The couple, who started dating in October 2022, both live in Austin, where Thomas continues her training.
Looking ahead, she is set to compete in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, aiming to add more gold to her collection. Her balanced approach to life- combining her love for track with her dedication to public health- keeps her motivated and grounded.
“I found a love in it. I love chasing goals and dreams. I love moments like this, where everything comes together,” Thomas said.