“I haven’t always been a star,” Gabby Thomas explained in a recent interview with Sky Sports. “Every time I enter a new space, I’m challenging myself and putting myself in a space that I’m not comfortable with.” Thomas’s words resonate with every aspiring Olympic champion. Reflecting on her experience and injury at the Tokyo Olympics, Thomas admitted the tension of competing with a liver tumor affected her performance. Back then, she didn’t feel suited for gold. The Tokyo silver medalist is now determined to secure Olympic gold in 2024.

Armed with a neurobiology degree, Thomas is back in the Olympics with a fierce attitude. Her bold claims show how much she craves gold now. The 27-year-old athlete’s confidence comes from time and experience. Fans know her ready-to-win attitude will help her bag her first Olympic gold. In her recent interview on time.com on 3 August 2021, Gabby Thomas shared, “I would be lying if I said I didn’t expect a gold for myself.” Clearly, time has changed the queen of races. “The pressure to qualify is even more so than the pressure to win gold at the actual Olympics,” Thomas says. She won the 200m in Eugene, clocking the two fastest times of the year—21.78 seconds in the semifinal and 21.81 in the final.

She says, with the qualification stress behind her, “I feel like I took a really deep breath.” But Thomas insists she hasn’t let her guard down. She won 200m silver at last year’s world championships in Budapest, adding to her Olympic bronze. Only gold in Paris could complete her podium trifecta. She further continued, “I would be disappointed if I didn’t get that. But it’s really about the gold coming to me, and me doing everything I can to make that happen.” Fast-rising American sprinter Gabby Thomas is confident and excited for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games. She recently surged to victory in the 200 meters at the London Diamond League on Saturday. Thomas wants everyone to know how she feels seconds before an Olympic final.

Adrenaline floods her body like a burst dam while her mind tries to clear before the starter’s pistol. It’s an internal conflict: “fight before flight.” Thomas, set to represent the USA in the 200m in Paris, managed to beat British favorites Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita. When Thomas talks about her performance, she focuses on tiny details that can make her even faster. Her body angle, the way her feet strike the ground, and especially her drive phase before hitting the bend. “I am very type A and into analyzing how I run,” she says. 

Could that Flo-Jo world record finally be broken after 36 years at the Paris Olympics? Especially with the lightning-fast track at the Stade de France and advances in super spike technology? Thomas nods. Thomas’s recent performance reflects her meticulous Olympic preparation. After her London victory, she shared her mindset and strategy, “For me, it is just figuring out how to win. It is whoever wants it more. I ran really gritty and that is what happened today.”

She also noted the challenge of running in a headband and praised the event, “This crowd is incredible, it’s got to be my favorite Diamond League… it’s so well run. I’m so happy to be here, this was a great experience.” Thomas has stood out in the 200 meters this year, running a blistering 21.78 seconds at the USATF trials, the fastest time in the field. Her recent victory solidifies her as a top gold contender. With Paris approaching, will her renewed focus help her outpace her rivals and secure the gold?

Gabby Thomas’s gold medal ambitions and her top rivals for Olympic gold

Back then, in the Tokyo Olympics, the debater thought mere bronze could do for her. She reflected on her feelings after the Tokyo Olympics, “When I came back from the Tokyo Olympics with a bronze medal and a silver, I was very happy with that. I would have been happy ending my career there”. Now, while reflecting on her approach, it disappoints the sprinter. But the struggle to get to the final platform is really hard even for the champions as Thomas adds, “The pressure to qualify is even more so than the pressure to win gold at the actual Olympics”. She further says, “It’s really about the gold coming to me, and me doing everything I can to make that happen.”

Her bold claims before the competition reflect her evolving vision and growing confidence in winning gold. The silver-studded athlete will participate in the women’s 200m race on August 4. If she qualifies, Gabby will compete in the finals on August 6. However, her quest for gold will not go unchallenged. Thomas will face the speed of Shericka Jackson, the fifth-fastest woman of all time. The Jamaican sprinter currently holds the second fastest time in the 200m, at 21.41 seconds.

McKenzie Long, the winner of three NCAA 2024 titles in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m, is another strong competitor for her. Sha’Carri Richardson, Elaine Thompson-Herah, and Christine Mboma are also potential rivals in the Paris Olympics 2024. Therefore, the 2023 USATF champion will need to run exceptionally hard to secure Olympic gold. However, Thomas seems confident and eager to show her fans the results of her hard work since her last Olympic appearance. She says, “The support that I’ve had over the years of this journey has been incredible. It’s really kept me going and kept me motivated.”

Her recent involvement in the healthcare sector helps her to release the excess stress from the track. Reflecting on her changed perspectives, Gabby says, “I feel like an entirely new athlete. I’m excited to show you guys what I’ve been working on.” She also thanked her fans for their constant support.  Will the competitive drive of the 200-m silver Olympian of Tokyo ensure a gold this time? Well, we will have to wait until August 4, 2024 for that. In the meantime, let us know what you think.