When Gabby Thomas crossed the finish line in the 200m at Stade de France, she couldn’t believe she was now an Olympic Champion. The track and field star didn’t just sprint to victory. She had just fulfilled her biggest goal—bagging an Olympic gold medal. The sprinter had never picked this path for herself. In fact, partaking in the sport had never crossed her mind. But as soon as she gave in, the 27-year-old fell in love and has never looked back.

According to her, the goal was six years in the making. But there’s nothing more euphoric than settling for the highest step on the podium. As she finally snagged the title of Olympic Champion, the City of Light shined brighter for her. But this wasn’t the only event she contested. The sprinter ran the 4×100 and 4x400m relays with Team USA. And what do you know? The Olympian added two more golds to her ever-growing collection. However, a recent interaction opened her eyes to something more profound. What was it?

Gabby Thomas spills the beans on her meetup with Simone Biles

The 11x Olympic medalist has paved an incredible path for herself throughout her career. In fact, Simone Biles bagged four more medals after her third berth in Paris. The duo are two of the only three U.S. athletes to sweep three golds in the French capital. Yet Gabby Thomas was starstruck when she met the G.O.A.T. On a November 5 episode of the Ali on the Run Show, the sprinter revealed how she’d always been a fan of the gymnast.

When the host asked how this came about, the Olympian revealed they’d briefly met in Paris. However, sharing the same sponsor, Eli Lilly helped bring them together for the Indiana Fever Game. The 27-year-old previously told NBC that the duo hid next to their locker room to surprise Caitlin Clark after the game. However, their shared experiences in Paris came up while they chatted in the box. “Just talking about the pressure and what life is like after gold,” she confessed.

Gabby Thomas reiterated how the G.O.A.T.’s experience in the sport helped give herself more grace. “She shared with me how to advocate for myself, how it’s okay to say no, how I should be proud of my bronze and silvers.” After stepping away from the mat for two years, Simone Biles shed a light on a crucial topic in sports. An athlete is more than just their accomplishments and sport. This was a harsh reality she had to face not too long ago. As harrowing as that experience was, the gymnast eventually realized that shouldn’t be the focal point.

Witnessing this, the Olympic 200m champion was grateful for her insights. However, the G.O.A.T. dropped a pivotal piece of advice. “Not to let people forget that that’s part of the journey,” the sprinter revealed. She has previously commended the gymnast for changing the course of the sport as well. This only helped her realize one thing: “It really reminded me of how important it is to be that person for other athletes and for the younger generation.” Even though both of them are the same age, she exclaimed how the gymnast taught her a lot through that interaction. But this isn’t the first time she’s felt uncertain.

The sprinter pulls the curtain off the flip side of the sport

There’s nothing better than snagging a victory on the world’s biggest stage. Or so we believe. But that alone is the crux of the problem. Gabby Thomas has stepped atop the podium before, but that’s when things went awry for her. The sprinter felt like the medal and accomplishment had become a part of her identity.

So much so that it almost felt like if she didn’t perform the right way or win, it meant that the sprinter failed, or her world would fall apart. Even though Simone Biles helped ease that fear in her mind, the 27-year-old recently shone a light on another defining factor in the world of sport.

Gabby Thomas reveals how “looks” can certainly influence an athlete’s track and field career. It could impact the kind of attention one receives or even the sponsors one gets. In fact, this had affected the perception several fans had about the sprinter, something she wasn’t too pleased about.

“You know, it’s just this dehumanization,” she exclaimed. The Olympian faced several adversities growing up. However, she confessed how all of this had previously been dismissed by many before. She had fallen into the trap of perfection, training, and associating her success with her accomplishments. But watching Simone Biles’ journey and connecting with her this season helped the 27-year-old realize that there’s nothing more important than putting yourself first.