When an athlete wins a race, it’s often the athlete who receives all the limelight. Yet, more often than not, those who stand in the shadows are the proudest. Take Gabby Thomas for example. She might be overqualified for an average Olympic athlete. Yet, she might not have scaled the heights of success if not for her coach. Thus, after her impeccable Olympic success, when Thomas replicated the same at Grand Slam Track, her coach could not be happier. 

Tonja Buford-Bailey and Gabby Thomas’ relationship dates back to 2019. Being a 400m athlete herself, Buford-Bailey has helped Thomas improve her game significantly. And that was quite evident when she took to the track in Kingston recently. Running in the 400m, Thomas was outside her comfort zone. After all, her familiar terrain was the 200m. Yet, the Olympic gold medalist kept her cool to get the super important job done. And well, the spot coveted $100k! 

Looking at the achievement, Thomas’ coach could not help but feel proud for her student. Taking to her official Instagram account, Buford-Bailey posted a picture of herself with Thomas grinning from ear to ear. Ecstatic about Thomas’ victory, her coach penned an emotional statement which read, “This smile is my reason why.” Surely, if a coach has a student of Gabby Thomas’ caliber then surely, a smile would be enough. 

Lets look at her past performance, Thomas previously won the 200m race. However, this time around, the Olympian finished as a runner. Finishing behind Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, Thomas clocked 49.14s. Interestingly, this was her new personal best in the category. Thomas’ former best time in 400m was 49.68s way back in 2023. 

Meanwhile, as Thomas rejoices with the $100k prize money, her rapid emergence in the track and field realm is quite extraordinary. And one of the main contributing factors to the same has been Tonja Buford-Bailey’s relentless guidance.

The powerhouse who guided Gabby Thomas to track greatness

Gabby Thomas has always had the speed. But without the guidance of three-time Olympian Tonja Buford-Bailey, she too is doubtful regarding how she would have achieved greatness. When Thomas turned pro in 2019, she moved to Austin to train under Buford-Bailey. And from day 1 her belief in her coach was immediate and unwavering. “You don’t need that fall back right now,” Buford-Bailey told her, referring to Thomas’ degrees from Harvard. “You can use that fall back on the back-end and make this track thing really special”, she added.

Under Buford-Bailey’s watch, Thomas transformed from a promising collegiate sprinter into one of the most dominant 200-meter runners in the world. The training sessions has continued to be intense and focused. Three long hours every morning, followed by targeted lifting twice a week! As Gabby matured, so did her approach. Referencing the 2023 World Championships and Olympic Trials as building blocks her coach shared with her take. Tonja shared, “She’s had all these smaller experiences to get her ready for the big stuff.”

Now a seasoned leader of the training group, Thomas navigates a demanding endorsement schedule without letting it derail her focus. Moreover, she also proved her indomitable worth in Paris. “If they’re coming out to the track and you’re on your feet for four, five hours and you’re doing a [photo] shoot, that’s stuff that gets in the way,” Gabby’s coach noted. But with structure, discipline, and Buford-Bailey’s mentorship, Thomas is indeed well-primed for the upcoming meets. What are your thoughts on the same?