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TOKYO, JAPAN August 7: Allyson Felix of the United States with her gold medal after the United States team won the 4x 400m relay final. Allyson Felix is now the most decorated U.S. track athlete in Olympic history. She won her 11th medal just one day after becoming the most-decorated woman in Olympic track history when she won bronze in the 400m during the Track and Field competition at the Olympic Stadium at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games on August 7th, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
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TOKYO, JAPAN August 7: Allyson Felix of the United States with her gold medal after the United States team won the 4x 400m relay final. Allyson Felix is now the most decorated U.S. track athlete in Olympic history. She won her 11th medal just one day after becoming the most-decorated woman in Olympic track history when she won bronze in the 400m during the Track and Field competition at the Olympic Stadium at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games on August 7th, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
One of the most decorated Olympians of all time, Allyson Felix, is the epitome of consistency. Given her track record, she serves as an inspiration to many young athletes across the globe. Even professional athletes strive to achieve the level of success Felix has had in her career. One such athlete is Felix’s compatriot and Olympian, Gabby Thomas.
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During an interview, Thomas talked about her goals, and thoughts for defining this season.
Gabby aims to be like Allyson Felix
Gabby Thomas is a graduate of Harvard University. At the University, she competed in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and triple jump events. In 2018, she was named the Ivy League’s most outstanding track performer. She continued to stick to her athletic roots as Thomas joined the Buford-Bailey Track Club founded by former Olympic bronze medalist Tonja Buford-Bailey.
Having clinched two medals (a silver and a bronze) at the Tokyo Olympics, Thomas marked her arrival at the biggest stage of them all. During a recent interview, Thomas was?asked?about her goals for the ongoing season.
“I want to be one of those athletes, you know, I want to be like an Allyson Felix or Elaine Thompson-Herah, where they are very consistent in how they?re putting out these amazing performances,” said Gabby. Allyson is the most decorated American track and field athlete of all time, while Elaine is the fastest woman alive and the current Olympic gold medalist in the 100m category.
Thomas also said her goals include making the team for the World Championships and winning a medal at the event. Both these achievements would be a first for her. She hopes to remain a top contender in the events she takes part in and delivers on people’s expectations.
Felix’s legendary medal tally
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Born in 1985, the 36-year-old from Los Angeles is a force to be reckoned with. The undisputed queen of the 400m event, Felix has won almost everything there is to win. She is a five-time Olympian, having debuted in 2004. Throughout these five Olympics, Felix grabbed 11 medals, with seven of them being gold. A further three silvers and one bronze make up the rest of the tally.
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KAWASAKI, JAPAN – MAY 06: Allyson Felix of the United States celebrates after winning the Women’s 100m during the Seiko Golden Grand Prix Kawasaki at Todoroki Stadium on May 6, 2012 in Kawasaki, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)
Felix’s World Championship tally is a sight to behold with loads of achievements. Her Outdoor World Championship debut came in 2005, a year after her Olympics debut. And she took part in just one indoor championship in 2010. Felix has won an incredible 19 medals at the events, with 14 gold medal wins. Three silver and two bronze medals add to the tally.
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DIVE DEEPER: Dina Asher-Smith Triumphs Over Gabby Thomas and Shericka Jackson at Diamond League Birmingham
If Gabby can achieve the level of success Felix has, she may become one of the greatest?track and field?athletes of all time. Thomas may even hold an advantage over Felix in the sense that she races in the 100m and 200m events as opposed to running mostly in the 400m event.
