The Harvard educated daughter of a university lecturer recently completed her Masters in Epidemiology.
World 200m silver medalist and Olympic bronze winner from Tokyo Gabby Thomas of the USA is determined to dethrone dominant Jamaican Shericka Jackson when Paris hosts the Olympic Games for the 3rd time in the games’ history.
The highly ranked American opened her season with a wind aided 22.08s finish in the half-lap dash at Texas relays and a 10.88s 100m performance on the same track.
Having played second fiddle to the Jamaican sprinter in the last four years, the 28-year-old who recently wrapped up her Masters in Epidemiology has placed a golden target on the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.
With the academics commitment done with, Gabby Thomas is fully focused on the track and will likely do a 100m/200m or 200m/400m in Paris with the half lap being her focal race. She lost to Jackson in last year’s World Championships but feels strong enough to dethrone the Jamaican this time round.
“I’m not totally sure yet but I keep toying with the idea of a 200m/400m double but tried 100m/200m last year and it went really well. All in all I’m focusing on the 200m and getting an Olympic gold, so whatever gets me there…” said Thomas after her race in Texas
The Harvard educated 5’9 tall athlete whose father is Jamaican born will anchor down for intense training before launching on the circuit later in the month. “Most professionals will go out later in April so right now I just want to focus on training really well for the next three weeks before going to competitions,”
Thomas revels in a fiercely competitive training group that includes Tamara Clarke and Christina Clement the hurdler among others. She credits the talent in that group for helping her improve and want to do better on the track.
On one hand it’s challenging and scary, getting beat every day in practice is pretty humbling but it pushes me to be a lot better and that is very necessary for me,” she added.
