Gabby Thomas couldn’t have asked for a better 2024. Winning three golds at the Paris Olympics, the track and field sensation etched her place among the sport’s elite stars. Right after that, the Harvard graduate joined hands with tennis icon Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian to usher in a new era in women’s sports through the Athlos NYC. Naturally, as the Northampton resident turns a year older, the community can’t stop showing its love to her!

In 2022, Thomas struggled with injuries. With the 33rd Olympics just two years away, she submerged herself in a rigorous training regime to ensure she was in peak physical condition for the task. Moreover, dealing with liver tumor issues, Gabby also noted how she “freaked out” during the Paris preparation. And yet, she managed to rise above the challenges. Justifiably, the fans weren’t missing the chance to hail the neurobiology student on her big day.

The official Athlos NYC Instagram account congratulated Gabby Thomas on her 28th birthday with a jubilant post on December 7. “It’s been 28 years around the sun for the 3x Olympic champion,” reads the caption of the post, as they look to be in the mood to celebrate the day in style. The social media update goes on to list Thomas’ many achievements: “In those years she’s won several major championship titles, was named to Forbes 30 Under 30, and of course helped us launch the inaugural Athlos.”

Thomas is easily one of the most popular faces in the women’s track scene at the moment, and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian wanted that recognition to propel Athlos’ success. Keeping up with her mentality to take on any challenges thrown at her, Gabby used all her resources to make the inaugural edition of the tournament a massive success. Justifiably, her birthday has become a crucial day for the entire community.

Soon, more wishes started flowing in. One fan pointed out how Gabby has dished out incredible performances all year, even outside the Olympic Stage. From the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in February to the London Diamond League, she has clinched the first spot at almost every chance she got, and this fan shared their admiration with a sonorous post. “One of the most consistent sprinters in recent years,” reads the fan’s lauding words. And it wasn’t long before more community members came forward with birthday wishes of their own.

Gabby Thomas gets lauded by her loyal fans

It’s not like Thomas had a smooth road laid in front of her all the way to the top of the Olympic podium. Instead, she and her family had to struggle to get there. With her mother, Jennifer Randall, being an unwavering support system in her life, Thomas has never been shy to thank her mom publicly for helping Olympian fulfill her goals. And now, as she looks at the world from the top, even folks over at World Athletics can’t help but acknowledge what Gabby has achieved. “All hail the queen of Paris 2024,” wrote the official World Athletics’ IG page to nod its hat at the enigmatic sprinter. Another fan noted similar admiration for the 2023 World Championships gold medalist: “Happy birthday queen,” said the fan while wishing her the best for the future.

With his dedication to uplifting women’s sports, Alexis Ohanian is already a popular name in the track community. And he never stopped reminding Thomas about what she needed to do to help him make Athlos a smash hit. But now that the dust has settled, the venture capitalist can also pay tribute to the speedster with a beaming smile. While Thomas finished 4th in the 200m race at the Icahn Stadium in September, that didn’t stop Ohanian from acknowledging her incredible talent. “Happy cake day, Champ!” cheered his comment.

Right now, Thomas has more things to keep her occupied. After Athlos, she enlisted in Michael Johnson’s upcoming Grand Slam Track: a professional track event that would help to make the sport more popular. Naturally, the retired sprinter’s crew is also excited to welcome her aboard. They flocked to the queue, wishing her, “28 and feelin’ great!” while sharing a glowing picture of Gabby. Do you also have a message for Thomas on her special day? Share your thoughts about the sprinter with us in a comment below!