Remember how less than two weeks ago, track and field legend Michael Johnson tweeted a list of athletes, writing, “Track is in pretty good hands the next few years!” Notably, he left out Gabby Thomas’ name. While that may have been an honest slip, Thomas’ fans ensured Johnson knew he’d left her out. However, after her performance at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix, losing to one of Johnson’s ‘hopefuls,’ Thomas may have felt like she didn’t belong. At least, the version of her that was on display in LA.

The first female athlete featured on Michael Johnson’s list was Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and at the meet, she proved why she was on that list. For someone specializing in the 400m hurdles, the superstar astounded the audience by setting a new personal best of 22.07s. However, many eyes were trained on Gabby Thomas’ rather disappointing run. With a time of 22.68s, the two-time Olympic medallist crossed the line in sixth.

Given Thomas’ success in the 2024 Olympics season, this performance alarmed supporters. Not only did Thomas show an incredible performance at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in the 300m race – where she completed the distance in 35.75s and won the event – but she also helped Team USA taste gold glory at the World Athletics Relays – 4x400m and 4x100m. Considering that, it was surprising to see her form at the LA Grand Prix, something she felt, too. In fact, the 27-year-old explained why it happened.

Addressing the issues head-on on her X-handle, Thomas wrote, “Obviously didn’t look like myself today, it happens every season when I compete in the middle of this training block, but I committed to the meet long ago, and I just can’t pull out when fans look forward to seeing us compete. I’m okay, everything is going according to plan 🫶🏽💕” Thomas’s post highlighted the odds athletes encounter in juggling rigorous training practices with competing obligations. And her plan, as she’s suggested before, is to take home the 200m gold in Paris.

Having never gotten her hands on the gold in the Olympics, Gabby Thomas is determined to turn this around this year. In an interview, she revealed, “It’s a matter of what I feel most comfortable and confident doing. But my goal is to focus on the 200 and to get the gold in the 200 meters.” To achieve that, though, she’ll first have to make the team at the US Olympic Trials from June 21 to June 30 in Hayward Field. Considering it’s in a month, Thomas explained the difficulty level of the Trials.

“It’s a hard team to make. It’s cutthroat,” she said, continuing, “[Qualification] is late. It’s close to the Olympics. So we have all season to think about that qualification process. In my opinion, it’s the fairest way to do it, but it’s definitely a mental battle.” But, even if she gets through it, the fierce competition for that elusive gold doesn’t end there. In fact, it would just be the beginning of the grandest one.

Her opponents in Paris will likely have names ranging from compatriot Sha’Carri Richardson to Jamaican icon Shericka Jackson, the reigning 200m World Champion, holding the second-fastest time ever. To add to the list, Sydney Laughlin-Levrone looks like she’ll be there, too. Elaine Thompson-Herah and Christine Mboma will possibly be there to increase the stakes further.

That said, even with the recent losses, Gabby Thomas still has an outstanding record. She has proven to be a fierce competitor, taking home two golds from the Nassau World Relays this year, besides one gold and one silver from the World Championships in Budapest last year. Her Olympic bronze and silver medals from the Tokyo Games are proof of exceptional standing. So, with all these dazzling stats, how does she look at approaching the Olympics?

Gabby Thomas’ mindset for the Paris Olympics

With only 68 days remaining for the Paris Olympics, Gabby Thomas is preparing optimistically, even after suffering an obstacle at the Los Angeles Grand Prix. Recalling her training, she said, “It’ll be my second Olympics, and I feel really good, physically and mentally.” At the Grand Prix’s 100m event, Thomas finished fourth with a time of 11.42s. Now, Gabby is focused on making her medal cabinet with the ultimate glory- the gold.

“It’s really all the outward talk and chatter that you hear that makes you want that gold medal… If I can go and replicate that in Paris, I’ll be really happy. Hopefully, that ends up with a gold medal.” Thomas, very clearly and simply, stated her thoughts in a recent interview. But that “if” in her Paris Olympic dreams is not a small one, considering the “cutthroat” competition at the US Trials.

Taking all of this together, Gabby Thomas believes the 200m race will be fierce and could break records. In an ambitious statement, she stated that Florence Griffith Joyner’s 1988 world record of 21.34s “has got to go.” Here is probably the material for another ripple in track and field. Noah Lyles has already created one, claiming to break Usain Bolt’s record in the men’s event. Now, Thomas seems to have stirred the pot in women’s events as well. The route to Paris is indeed getting exciting!