Gabby Thomas has once again stolen the spotlight! When she rounded out a triple crown in Paris, the world called it a resurgence like none other. And ever since, the accolades have been pouring in. So much so that Thomas has been named among the top 7 end-of-the-year award winners by USATF. No wonder she’s at the Night of Legends in Orlando on her birthday!

But amidst the double celebration—for turning 28 and winning the prestigious Jackie Joyner Kersee Athlete of the Year award—Gabby Thomas had a memorable moment on stage. As she stepped onto the dais, her power-packed winning speech not just reflected her story but also kindled an inspiration among those listening.

Gabby Thomas delivers a bold message

Gabby Thomas attended the 2024 USATF Annual Meeting in Florida, where she was among those felicitated by the track and field community for her athletic excellence this year. And when her moment arrived, she not just lifted the esteemed title but also let out a piece of advice straight from her heart for all the young girls and boys who might be watching her. And that was to, “Believe in yourself.”

Thomas cited her own story as an example.“When I was younger, I had big dreams too. Dreams that oftentimes scared me because I felt like they were too far away. But here’s what I want you to know. You are capable of far more than you can imagine,” she said. Indeed! If only the young Gabby who was chasing a future in medicine had thought that athletics was beyond her, we wouldn’t be celebrating a triple gold medalist today.

Gabby Thomas is no stranger to worldly attacks too. Thus, her vantage point led her to opine, “The world will try to tell you to be realistic or to do things a certain way or that certain things are not meant for you. don’t listen. Your dreams, no matter how big they are, are valid.” Self-belief was truly the core of everything she stood for. And a lot of that was intertwined with the urge to go beyond one’s comfort zone and push even on tough days.

Towards the end, she wrapped up her talk with a line that hit the right nerve. She said, “Rest if you need to, but never stop. And remember, your dreams can inspire others one day. So don’t hold back; be bold, be brave, and dream big.” Now, as Thomas’ followers, we know how much of this resonates with her own life journey! In fact, hadn’t she dreamt big and challenged the odds, perhaps life would have been much different today.

Gabby took back control of her life

When she was little, Gabby Thomas was hardly driven by a love for sprinting. In fact, she was a soccer girl and loved playing softball too. However, her mother took the reins of her life into her own hands and signed her up for the track one day. But did the American phenom weigh herself down with doubts? No.

Gabby Thomas was frustrated for a hot minute, but as the fumes simmered down, she decided to be bold. Thomas said, “I never felt like I had to be the best or I had to do anything that I didn’t want to do.” In fact, there were even days when she knew she was hardly a highly recruited high school athlete or the favorite in the NCAA. But she pushed herself beyond the shroud of demotivation.

Being consistent and disciplined then became the mantra of her life. And whenever she thought she couldn’t do something, she would tell herself, “I’m gonna crush it.” Perhaps, as she holds the 2024 Athlete of the Year award in her hands, she must be thinking that she did! What do you think of her inspirational story? Let us know below!