Before the Olympic race, athletes are walking a tightrope of nerves and excitement, ready to seize the moment and turn pressure into performance—it’s do or die! But at the same time, they’re burning the candle at both ends, stressed and feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders! Gabby Thomas felt the same way just before the Paris Olympics, but she did something that helped her stay calm and focused. The result? Not just one gold, not two, but THREE!

Thomas won gold in the women’s 200-meter race, 4×100 meter, and 4×400 meter relays at the same Olympics. This made her the fifth woman in track and field history to achieve this feat—a title last held by Allyson Felix in 2012. But what exactly did she do to keep her nerves in check? Well, she recently opened up about it on the ‘Ali on the Run’ show podcast this November.

Gabby Thomas reveals how she conquered Olympic nerves

Three years ago, during the Tokyo Olympics event in Japan’s capital city of Tokyo, Gabby Thomas clinched the bronze medal in the women’s 200-meter event. However, during the edition of the Olympics held in Paris and hosted in the Stade de France, Gabby Thomas confidently took charge from the beginning. Being cheered on by a massive crowd of 80,000 spectators, she sprinted ahead early on and gracefully secured her first-ever Olympic gold medal. It was apparent that she was determined to achieve victory this time.

As soon as she reached the end of the race, there was a feeling of relief and joy on her face. As she revealed after the race, ““I’m really in disbelief because having an Olympic gold medal is something in my wildest dreams. But at the same time, I know how hard I’ve fought for it,” she said, waving the American flag in celebration.

However, just hours before the race in the Olympic Village in Paris, Gabby revealed the emotional toll it took on her. “I was already so stressed and anxious… I remember just being in my village room, just in my bed, scared by myself laying there.” Despite typically relying on her usual coping mechanisms, she did something unexpected to calm herself down. She shared the secret during an appearance on the “Ali on the Run” podcast on November 5, titled “LIVE in NYC with Gabby Thomas, Presented by New Balance.” What exactly was this action she took to manage her anxiety and shift her attention towards the competition?

To cope with the stress of the competition and soothe herself emotionally, she turned to music as a source of comfort. She repeatedly listened to Billie Eilish’s songs while mentally replaying her race in her mind over and over again. She acknowledged and accepted all her emotions—the pressure, the nerves, the anxiety, and a touch of self-doubt—even though she knew they weren’t justified. She expressed, “Even though I didn’t, I had no reason to feel sorry for myself, but I allowed myself to do that, and it felt very therapeutic.”

When Thomas entered the track and started walking towards it calmly, she felt mentally prepared and focused. To her, this state of serenity was just as vital as training, and she thinks it’s a frequently disregarded aspect of athletics. With this mindset, it seems Gabby Thomas is set to create history again!

Why is Thomas the athlete everyone is watching now?

Fresh from her experience at the Paris Olympics in 2024 and with the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles on the horizon, Gabby Thomas is eagerly looking forward to showcasing her talents on her home turf once again as a three-time Olympic medalist. As she shared with Olympics.com, “It is incredible that the next Olympic Games will be on home soil. I can’t wait to represent our country on home soil. I’ve had a lot of fun here in Paris, but competing for my country in Los Angeles will feel incredible.”

But is her goal only LA28? No, not at all! Well, Thomas is also gearing up for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo! With it, it seems, Gabby’s remarkable accomplishments both on and off the track have truly solidified her status as an icon. But for this much credit goes to her mother.

At one stage, Gabby Thomas nearly quit running track due to the challenges of juggling academics and athletics being too much to handle. But Jennifer Randall was the one who encouraged her daughter not to give up. Since childhood, Gabby had a passion for softball; however, her mother noticed a talent in her for track and field sports. She convinced Gabby to give it a shot, and look where she is now—three-time Olympic gold medalist! And honestly, her journey is just getting started.