Keeping Boyfriend Aside, Gabby Thomas Halts Vacation for Track & Field Decision

“I’m really excited to have a pizza.”

“I’m gonna go home, enjoy some downtime in Austin, Texas, with my dog, with my friends. And then maybe plan a little vacation before we get back to work”

That is how Gabby Thomas had planned her recovery. Yes, that is super important to her. So here she is, sticking to her plans.

The 27-year-old athlete is having a blast showing off her amazing dance moves in a sporty leotard, treating herself to some delicious cheat day goodies, and even taking on a spicy chicken sandwich challenge—all while making her selfies pop.

Now, the Austin, Texas native is enjoying a well-deserved vacation in the Maldives with her longtime boyfriend, Spencer McManes. But, after all, she is a 3x Olympic gold medalist and brought her country the first gold in 200m since Allyson Felix did that in 2012. So how can she stay away from the fitness habits altogether? So, even during her relaxing getaway, she took some time off from spending time with McManes and hit the resort’s fitness center.

Revealing all the details of that, Gabby Thomas shared a fun update on Instagram. Looking stylish in a sports bra and leggings, she captioned her post, “It’s giving ✨ wellness queen ✨.”  So what she was doing there?

As her selfies show, she had some workout flexing her abs. She also tried some Cryotherapy. But the most interesting part was a unique biomechanics fitness test on a machine called the D-Wall. According to the company’s website, “D-WALL makes it possible to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze movement in real time according to precise parameters, for an objective and scientific evaluation.” But Gabby’s results in the test are pretty much shocking. Let’s take a look.

The machine measures Gabby’s body imbalances, strength, power, and overall fitness. But an overall 70 Fit Index score? How does an elite Olympic sprinter like Thomas only score a 70?! Gabby said, “keep in mind I did not warm up lol.” Even if that is counted, other parameters are no less startling!

The strength index of those gold-winning lower limbs is 66! Her upper limbs endurance and strength scored very low at 40 and 44 respectively. We understand that she doesn’t need her upper limbs as much in sprinting, but still, that is not impressive. And Thomas scored in the 60s for her balance and mobility. That’s terrible!

Even Gabby met with an on-site doctor who performed a QEST4 test, which involves holding two brass cylinders that emit electromagnetic signals to gauge the body’s response. This test helps identify areas where her mind and body can develop better adaptive behaviors. Regardless, Gabby then went back to where she should be when on a vacation.

A sumptuous pizza meal by the green waters of the Indian Ocean! And why not? Gabby herself had said previously, “Recovery is so big for me.” So, in her home also, she has the means ready to ensure that and they are one cut up.

Gabby loves using a hyperbaric chamber, a treatment that involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment to speed up the recovery process. “I bought [a hyperbaric chamber] for one of my rooms,” she had said to Well and Good. “You can do it for as long as you want, but the best is if you can do it for one-hour sessions, three to four times a week. That’s kind of sustainable and realistic.,” she had explained. Wait for one more.

Gabby also has a NanoJet bubble machine, which has the same scientific properties as a hyperbaric chamber. “You put it in a bathtub, and the bubbles are so tiny, and there’s so many of them, and it’s just pure oxygen. It’s newer, and there isn’t a ton of research on it, honestly. But I’m just so into this recovery stuff that I’m willing to try anything,” Gabb explained. If equipment is one part of her recovery, another part is surely her taking time off for her healthcare job.

Yes, she volunteers at an Austin, Texas volunteer health care clinic for people without insurance. While some might think that is a distraction to her training for the track and field, gabby thinks it is this very distraction that keeps her sane.

“I think I’m just so grateful to get to do what I love. I think about it all the time, and even after a hard day at the track, when I’m tired and wheezing from practice, I’m just like, ‘I’m so grateful to be doing what I love and to be able to do it for a living,” Gabby had told Olympics.com. All that being said, the support from her boyfriend Spencer and his family is also something she must be cherishing.

The McManes family behind Gabby Thomas

Gabby has been dating Spencer since 2022. Though he made his Instagram account private ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games, his presence is there throughout Gabby’ Instagram as they’ve attended numerous events together from the South by Southwest festival in March 2024 to visiting family in Georgia. A wholesome moment with Spencer was created after Gabby won the 200m gold in Paris.

Gabby ran into McManes’ open arms as he congratulated her on her accomplishment. “For me, being surrounded by people that are uplifting and supportive and empowering really fuels me,” Thomas told NBC Sports. “I’ve always been surrounded by that kind of energy and that sort of support system,” she had further added.

Since moving from Boston to Austin, Texas, in 2019 to train with Tonja Buford-Bailey while pursuing her master’s program, Gabby has focused intently on her athletics and academics. The details of how she met Spencer remain unclear. Not only Spencer, but his family is also one of her biggest cheerleaders, frequently attending her meets to show their support and spending quality time together.

Gabby has close ties with Spencer’s younger brother Carter and younger sisters Mackie and Livvie. Spencer’s’ mom, Lori McManes, frequently posts photos of the two.

After the Olympic Trials in June 2024, Lori posted, sharing her awe of all the hard work the athlete put in. “We are SO PROUD to be TEAM GABBY. That win yesterday was hard!” Lori wrote in the caption. “Incredible talent on the line. We are so happy Gabby will represent our great country on Team USA. Can’t wait to cheer her on IN PARIS!!🇺🇸❤️💙🥇Love you sweet Gabby 😘😘.”

A month later, Lori posted photos from her and her family’s trip to Paris to watch Gabby compete, including their impressive seats close to the finish line of the 200m final. Indeed, recovery is there just beside the tracks for Gabby Thomas!