The world is becoming a weird place to live in. While there is still news of good deeds doing the rounds, unfortunately, the negativity has been enveloping society quite frequently. For example, over the years, women’s safety has become a worldwide issue. But one might think that only common people without fame and recognition face these problems. But that is not the case. And this bit of news remains a stark reminder of the same. And the person who suffered this is none other than Olympian Gabby Thomas.

Five-time Olympic medalist Gabby Thomas has been one of the biggest faces of track and field. Competing in the Paris Olympics, Thomas had a brilliant outing. She won gold medals not only in one but three categories. Initially, she clinched her maiden 200m gold before taking pole positions in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. Surely, such a performance has made her a global icon, with Thomas also pressing for equality of pay in women’s sports. Unfortunately, today’s account is not about one of her shining achievements. 

In a recent TikTok video posted on Thursday, Gabby Thomas narrated an experience that left the entire track and field world in shock. Thomas mentioned that she has been stalked repeatedly by a group of men. And that’s not all. The scary bit is that her stalkers have been following her to airports in different cities! Detailing her chilling experience the Olympic champion stated, “It doesn’t matter what city… They’ve come when I was traveling to and from Chicago, they’ve come when I’m traveling to and from Miami. And they have my flight information.”

Thomas further shed light saying that there were three to six men who would ask her to sign a stack of pictures. When the athlete refused, the men allegedly became “aggressive and hostile,” claiming themselves as resellers. The 28-year-old then went on to point out that her stalkers had zero respect for her privacy. Some people confronted Thomas even on her way to the flight and at the flight gate.

Trying to make her fans understand the gravity of the situation, Thomas said in the video, “What scares me is that they have my flight information even when I don’t even know what time I’m flying out sometimes—I don’t tell anyone my flight information.” Seeking help from her followers, she was advised to take pictures of the stalkers and hand them over to the police or the FBI. Surely, such a chilling revelation made the internet concerned. 

Fans concerned over chilling Gabby Thomas revelation

From the moment Gabby Thomas’ TikTok became viral, fans flocked to the comments section to pour their support for the Olympic champion. As soon as Thikas shared this concerning update, tennis icon Coco Gauff also commented on Thomas’ post and mentioned how she too has been the victim of the same scenario. Gauff added, “This happens to me too. I don’t know how it happens.” The tennis star further tried to unravel the mystery by further stating, “My theory is maybe someone at the airport tips them off.”

One fan was left stunned by hearing such a scenario from Gabby. The track enthusiasts witnessed Thomas rule the track live, and that has undoubtedly made them fans of the star. But despite being a fan, they also added how respecting their boundaries and private space matters the most. Their words read, “That’s so creepy. Gabby is a great athlete and watching her run live was an experience I’ll not forget. But people need to respect her privacy, the boundaries, etc. It is out of order and I hope this gets sorted out for her, either by this gentle reminder she has put out or by the law if it persists.”

One comment compared Gabby Thomas’ stalker situation to an incident involving Maurice Greene, a former Olympic sprinter. During a past Olympics, a pickpocket attempted to steal from athletes wearing expensive jewelry but mistakenly targeted Greene, known for his speed. The thief failed to escape, highlighting the irony of choosing an elite sprinter as a victim.  They added, “People suck. Just leave people alone. Not to make light of it, This does remind a little (because the airport comment) of during one of the Olympics a pickpocket decided to target some dudes with nice jewelry. Moral of the story: don’t target Maurice Greene as a pickpocket and try to get away.”

The fan uses this anecdote to emphasize how some people recklessly target individuals without considering potential consequences, drawing a parallel to Thomas’ stalkers, who persistently invade her privacy despite the risks. 

“Entirely frightening. Especially when they are getting to her gate. Airport security should initiate/participate in an investigation”, read another Reddit comment from a netizen who is genuinely concerned and scared listening to the shocking words from the Olympic medalist. Echoing the same emotions, one concerned social media user added, “Protect her! She’s a legend.”

This recent incident has made it pretty obvious that even big stars like Gabby Thomas are not exempt. But what the sprinter will choose to do in the future is yet to be seen. Fans can only hope that something like this does not affect her upcoming games.