Back in August, Gabby Thomas finally had her moment at the 2024 Paris Olympics, snagging her first-ever gold medal in the 200 meters. It was a long time coming—she had a bronze in Tokyo and a silver at last year’s world champs—but this time, she was unstoppable, crossing the finish line in 21.83 seconds. Julien Alfred, who had just made history for Saint Lucia by winning their first Olympic medal in the 100 meters, took silver, while Brittany Brown grabbed bronze for Team USA. Gabby’s win was more than just a medal; it was her proving to herself—and everyone else—that she’s the best in the world.

But Gabby Thomas didn’t just stop at Olympic glory. In September, she helped launch Athlos, a women-only track event created by Alexis Ohanian, and it was a total vibe. She competed in the 200 meters there and came in second behind Brittany Brown in a super close race. Gabby couldn’t have been happier with how it all turned out. She was so pumped about the energy, the athletes showing up after such a long season, and the way Athlos showed the world what women’s sports can be. She’s already looking ahead, ready to make it even bigger and better in the future.

And if that wasn’t enough, Gabby capped off her dream year by being named to the Forbes Under 30 list! Of course, she shared the big news on X, and Alexis Ohanian chimed in, calling it “deserved” (because duh, it is). Oh, and by the way, she’s the first American track athlete in 12 years to win three golds in a single Olympics. All this love from Alexis came despite the ongoing tension between him and Gabby’s new league, making the moment even sweeter.

Gabby Thomas ditches Athlos for GST

On November 26, the track and field world lit up as Gabby Thomas officially signed with the Grand Slam Track (GST) league of Micheal Johnson. Her move was monumental, given her role as the face of Alexis Ohanian’s Athlos NYC—the first-ever women-only track event that had captured fans’ attention earlier this year. Gabby’s statement made her intent clear: “Coming off of the Olympics, I want to continue testing myself and competing at the highest level against the fastest women in the world. Grand Slam Track allows us that chance in 2025. Michael’s vision is incredibly exciting.” But her jump to GST, a league that Ohanian had openly criticized for limiting athlete freedom, raised eyebrows.

Adding fuel to the fire, GST’s rules require athletes to get permission to compete in other meets, a stipulation Ohanian labeled “not very athlete-friendly.” The drama hit social media when track commentator Erin Brown asked Ohanian on X why he let Athlos NYC’s star join the “opps.” Ohanian fired back, saying, “No one owns an athlete,” and doubled down on Athlos NYC’s mission to empower competitors. Gabby’s decision shows a tricky middle ground: while GST’s rules clash with Ohanian’s ideals, the league’s exemption for major events like the Olympics offers enough flexibility for athletes like Gabby Thomas to explore new challenges.