Where Is Gabby Thomas From? Where Does the American Track and Field Star Live?

Gabrielle ‘Gabby’ Thomas and her twin brother Andrew Thomas were born to Jennifer Randall and Desmond Thomas in Atlanta. Born on December 7th, 1996, Thomas and her brother, however, didn’t grow up in Atlanta as their mother had to move to another state. A Ph.D. scholar from Emory University, Jennifer Randall specialized in psychometrics.

After earning her degree, Mrs. Thomas moved to Massachusetts in 2007 to teach at the University of Massachusetts. Unfortunately, the move caused a rift between Randall and her husband, Desmond Thomas. However, the 27-year-old’s father passed on his family’s love for track and field to his daughter.

Although she maintains good relations with her father, Gabby Thomas grew up with her single mother in Massachusetts. However, she pulled off the nearly unheard feat of succeeding academically and in sports. Thomas delved into several sports, including track and field, softball, and soccer. Ultimately, her passion for sprinting won as the Atlanta native started her journey to success in high school.

The Massachusetts-based athletes earned 22 conference titles, including high school and Ivy League records. However, the 2x Olympic medalist found her forte in the 200m individual and 4x100m relay. A reason behind the World Championships gold medalist’s resilience and success in both fields is her mother.

While Gabby Thomas honed her talents, she witnessed Randall leaving no stone unturned to help her daughter. Learning about her mother’s difficult childhood also lit a fire in the Olympian’s heart. “That put that underdog mentality in me,” the world-leading 200m sprinter told The Guardian. However, it was her drive to succeed in academics that brought Thomas to Texas.

Gabby Thomas’s academic journey (so far)

The straight-A student attended Williston Northampton School before getting into Harvard University. The 27-year-old track star earned a degree in Neurobiology and Global Health, all while running track as part of the Ivy League Institute’s athletics program. Between 2017 and 2018, the Harvard Athletics star posted a then-200m PB of 22.32. She also competed in the long jump and triple jump.

After earning her degree at Harvard, the star student finally moved out of Massachusetts. Just like her mother’s academic pursuit had compelled her to leave Atlanta, Thomas moved to Austin, Texas, in 2020. The 2x World Championship medalist enrolled for a master’s degree at the Austin Regional Campus of the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.

The very next year, the epidemiology student qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, where she earned a silver in the 4×100 relay and a bronze in the 200m. However, the fastest epidemiologist in the world isn’t done following in her mother’s footsteps. While Gabby Thomas is vying for Olympic glory at the Stade de France, she hopes to earn a PhD in the future. Will she resume her academic journey in Texas? We don’t know. Yet one thing is for sure: the 27-year-old wishes to keep progressing in sports and academics.