When the going gets tough, the tough know they can’t go it alone, and Gabby Thomas really shows us that in action. This 27-year-old star sprinter from Northampton, Massachusetts, made headlines by taking home a gold medal in the women’s 200-meter final at the Paris Games with a time of 21.83 seconds. But let’s face it: her road to success wasn’t all smooth sailing. There was a rough patch when she almost threw in the towel on her Olympic dreams. What kept her going was the support of Jennifer Randall. So, who is this lady who worked tirelessly to support Gabby on her journey to success?

That kind of support really doesn’t come from just anyone; it usually comes from someone who gives their all without expecting anything in return. You typically find that kind of heart in mothers, and Jennifer Randall is a shining example. As Gabby Thomas’ mom, she went above and beyond to help her daughter blossom into a better person and athlete. Jennifer put in a lot of effort because she desired a better future for her family’s well-being and worked as a waitress without losing sight of her dream, as shared by Gabby in an interview.

Thomas’ mom overcame the odds to shape her daughter’s future!

When Gabby was ten years old, her mother made the decision to relocate the family to Massachusetts in order for her to complete her Ph.D. She also took up a teaching position there. Presently, Jennifer is the Dunn Family Endowed Professor of Psychometrics and Test Development at the University of Michigan, School of Education. However, the road to achieving success was not very smooth; they encountered several problems in their process.

Recently, Gabby got to share her story in the YouTube series “Gabby Thomas: On Harvard, Winning Gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and Surviving a Health Scare” on the channel “Why Not Me? With Mike Jackson.” In this conversation, Gabby opened up about her mom’s journey. She said, “My mom is a rock star… it is hard, but my mom grew up dirt poor in Mobile, Alabama. I mean, Jennifer had eight siblings—nine. They didn’t have much and struggled to keep the lights on. For her to get a scholarship at Duke was already incredible in itself.”

Gabby also reflected on the hardships her mother faced, noting, “Sure, you know, hit with a little bit of a hardship—not that my brother and I are hardship, but you know, twins hurdle in life’s journey.” She remembers how Jennifer worked tirelessly to build a better life for them, saying, “This is something I talk about a lot regarding my own journey: watching my mom go from waitressing, working at a daycare, going back to school.” Gabby witnessed her mom work toward her PhD at Emory University while raising her independently.

Gabby fondly recalls how she and her twin brother would sit in on Jennifer’s evening classes when there was no babysitter available, sharing, “We watched her work and do school and also take care of us and drive us to soccer practices and basketball practices, not complaining about it. This was my normal.”

According to Gabby, she knew that her mother had to work hard and struggle so hard so as to make ends meet. She wraps up with an inspiring thought: “There’s never been a question of, ‘Oh, am I going to have to grind to get there?’ That was my normal because that’s what I saw growing up—I saw a single mom doing that with twins.” Is it not wonderful how a mother’s tenacity can influence her children’s attitudes in life? Yes, it is true! For instance, when Gabby felt like quitting sports, her mother was always there to encourage her to continue on.

The surprising secret behind Gabby Thomas’ success in track and field!

Gabby Thomas often credits her mother as the one who taught her the need to work hard academically besides her career as an athlete. To her, Jennifer kept repeating that education is the basis of achieving and unlocking all other successes apart from her achievements on the track. Originally captivated to track by her mother, who is a fan of Allyson Felix, the most decorated female track and field athlete from the United States, Gabby herself came to develop a liking for Felix.

Today, Gabby understands the impact she puts herself in regarding young athletes like McKenzie Long; she wants to be like Gabby, as she was once a fan of Felix. When it came time to choose a college, Gabby felt that Harvard was the perfect fit. “It was a place to celebrate your achievements while staying humble,” she explained.

Gabby embraces her nerdy side, believing that her work in public health is essential for maintaining her mental balance as a professional athlete. She runs a hypertension intervention program, helping patients manage high blood pressure, which allows her to connect with her community and “act like a normal person.”

But there was a time when Gabby was on the verge of leaving track altogether due to the overwhelming pressure of balancing her athletic commitments with her master’s studies in epidemiology. She hit a rough patch, admitting, “I was actually failing.” Gabby humorously recounted how her mother played a pivotal role in her persistence, saying, “My mom forced me into it.” Balancing her academic and athletic life was tough, especially when Gabby preferred playing softball with her friends.

However, Gabby’s mother saw something special in her, often reminding her, “I had a light in me, and that I was going to shine very brightly.” Inspired by her mother, Gabby pushed through the tough times, ultimately choosing a demanding track program that complemented her education.