Home/Track & Field

Gabby Thomas has been one of the brightest stars of the track and field realm. Her rise to fame and stardom was further bolstered by her iconic performances in the Paris Olympics. With 3 gold medals to her name, the limelight was hers. But despite all this glory, things weren’t all peachy for the sprinter. In fact, she continued to face issues that one wouldn’t expect an athlete of her caliber to face. As a result of this, she demands that the foundation of the sport be changed. But what led to this radical remark?

Well, all of this stems from the series of undue comments and online hatemongering she has gotten. Take for example, Gabby Thomas’ recent appearance at ‘Unrivaled.’ A newly launched basketball league, exclusively for women, Thomas could not wait to experience the thrill from the stands.  Unfortunately, while she was there for the sport, things didn’t go as smoothly with the fans.

Thomas was heavily criticized by the netizens for wearing an attire that was cited as too revealing. And this was not the end. Tweets came in thick and fast asking why Thomas was attending a basketball game. A fan even cruelly insulted Thomas by posting, “Gabby Thomas doesn’t sound like she’s the brightest out there.” Well, this was something that did not sit well with Thomas. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

She immediately hit back, stating that since she was black, none of her accomplishments or academic success mattered. Now, that is surely a harsh reality that needs to be addressed really soon. Trying to do the same, Thomas interacted with Pop Sugar recently. When asked about the hopes she has for women’s sports, Thomas stated that she wanted some immediate changes.

One of the primary among them was surely equal compensation. “I really want to see a world with equitable compensation and the sports gender pay gap closed. It’s fun to celebrate the strides that we are making today, but we still have a long way to go,” said Thomas. Furthermore, Thomas also wanted more exposure and respect towards the women’s fraternity. 

Closing her statement, Thomas opined, “Alongside equal pay, I’d love to continue to see even more exposure and overall respect for women’s athletics. I want young girls to be able to dream about their future sports opportunities the same way that young boys do.” Surely, looking up to idols like Thomas herself, it is quite expected that young generations will be inspired significantly. Meanwhile, amidst all the noise, the Olympic gold medalist has hinted at her retirement.

Did Gabby Thomas drop a big hint on making LA 2028 her final dance?

Gabby Thomas has her sights set on LA 2028. And the way she has been talking about it has sparked major speculation about her future. With multiple Olympic gold medals already to her name, the American sprint star seems to be eyeing a grand farewell on home soil. While she hasn’t outright declared retirement, her latest remarks strongly suggest that the Los Angeles Games might be the perfect ending to her illustrious career.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

“The gold medals, while they do add pressure, have given me a lot of confidence, have truly showed me what I’m capable of,” Thomas shared. She remains motivated for the next few years, but her words hint at a bigger picture. One where LA 2028 serves as a fitting final chapter. She added, “The fact that LA 2028 is in America, in my home country, I just don’t think it could be wrapped more beautifully for me.” That sentiment alone raises the question. Is she subtly preparing for a farewell on the biggest stage of all?

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Thomas has never fixated on accolades despite her dominance on the track. Thomas admitted, “The medals are truly just objects for me,” reinforcing the idea that her drive extends beyond collecting trophies. Yet, with her legacy already cemented, LA 2028 could be the ultimate conclusion. The ending that she envisions is a perfect moment.

Whether she makes it official or not, all signs have been pointing toward a defining and possibly final Olympic campaign for Gabby Thomas. What are your thoughts on the same?

ADVERTISEMENT

0
  Debate

Debate

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT