Changing coaches a little more than a year ahead of the Olympics isn’t a risk everyone takes. However, that is exactly what the 60m hurdles champion at the 2022 World Indoor Championships did in October 2023. “Loved this city, might come back,” the French athlete wrote in May 2023 and joined Florida-based track and field coach John Coghlan within a few months. However, now she’s been spotted with triple gold medalist Gabby Thomas.

French track and field star and Olympic silver medalist Cyréna Samba-Mayela uploaded images with the girls who train under Gabby Thomas’ coach Tonja Buford-Bailey. The Olympic hurdler-turned-coach helped Thomas earn three golds at Paris 2024 and trains talents such as Tia Jones. Speculation ensued as soon as the track and field community took notice of the post.

“100m hurdles Olympic silver medalist Cyréna Samba-Mayela has been seen at the Tonja Buford-Bailey Track Club! While no new coaching change has been made official, Cyréna was being coached by John Coghlan in Orlando, Florida.” @OwenM wrote in his post on X. Tia Jones’ who originally made the post also added to the intrigue.

“On Tuesdays we wear Purple. Adidas x Stella McCartney + your favorite track women!!” Gabby Thomas’s training partner wrote in the caption. This may have also fueled the speculation hinted in @OwenM’s X post. The two hurdlers uploaded a series of images wearing matching outfits on the track. Meanwhile, Thomas and the Tonja Buford-Bailey Track Club crew appeared on the last slide.

In the slide, all the track club’s members danced in a short clip, with Cyréna Samba-Mayela standing beside the 200m Olympic champion. The 100m hurdles European champion shared the post in her Instagram story but only talked about their outfits. “Fashion on and off the track,” wrote the 24-year-old. Hence, the track and field community continues to speculate if the French athlete is looking to change camps.

Will Cyréna Samba-Mayela officially join Gabby Thomas and Co.?

The two-time World Championship medalist had remained tight-lipped about her presence at the Tonja Buford-Bailey Track Club. However, nothing the hurdler has said in the past indicates a falling out between her and coach John Coghlan. “The training with John is really good, I’m discovering a new way…” the Frenchwoman said according to a report by European Athletics.

“I definitely see more volume in my training. It’s pushing me to my best every day.” Samba-Mayela said three months ahead of the 2024 Summer Games. The 24-year-old showered her Irish coach with even more praise after her Olympic victory. “That’s just amazing like I want to cry thinking about him because he believed in me,” Samba-Mayela said after winning her first Olympic medal.

The track and field recounted how excited John Coghlan sounded during their first phone call. “Apparently he had me in his sights… Our paths were meant to cross,” she told RTÉ Sport. Hence, there’s little evidence that the duo would part ways shortly after Olympic success. On the other hand, the coach whose “master plan” led Gabby Thomas to gold also trains multiple elite athletes.

Besides Thomas and Jones, Team USA’s Tamara Clark, Anavia Battle, Jamaicans Shiann Salmon and Ashanti Moore, and more train under Olympic medalist and coach Tonja Buford-Bailey. However, without any word from the athletes themselves, we won’t know if Cyréna Samba-Mayela is planning to join Gabby Thomas and Co. or if it was just a friendly visit.