‘We’re All One Love’ - Gabby Thomas Embraces Her Jamaican Roots Amid 200m Glory

Gabby Thomas has explained how the Jamaican part of her family including her dfather Desmond (second from back row right) has helped her

‘We’re All One Love’ - Gabby Thomas Embraces Her Jamaican Roots Amid 200m Glory

Mark Kinyanjui 22:53 - 09.05.2025

Gabby Thomas has explained how her Jamaican family supports her through thick and thin despite representing USA.

Gabby Thomas has opened up about the love and support she continues to receive from her Jamaican family—both on and off the track following her second overall place finish in the short sprints at the Miami Grand Slam Track.

A proud representative of Team USA, Thomas also carries the heritage of her Jamaican father, Desmond Thomas, a former Duke University football player who played as a defensive back. This cross-cultural identity has become an undeniable strength in her athletic journey.

“I mean, we’re all one, right?” she told the media after her 200m victory. “I think they accept me as part of the family, and I accept them too. I’ve got some of my Jamaican family in the crowd—they flew up here to support me today. So yeah, we’re all one love.”

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Her words resonate even more given the absence of Jamaica’s sprint powerhouses—Shericka Jackson, Elaine Thompson-Herah, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce—from this year’s competition in Paris. In their absence, Gabby’s golden run gave Jamaican fans a unique connection to the medal table, one she was happy to honor.

Fierce Competitor With Roots That Run Deep

Gabby Thomas Embraces Her Jamaican Roots Amid 200m Glory
Gabby Thomas with her Jamaican father Desmond

Thomas attributes much of her success to a relentless mindset and elite-level preparation.

“I think I’m just a competitor. I think we all are—really fierce competitors—and we all want to win. My work ethic, I believe, is second to none,” she said. “That shows—and it showed in the last Slam, and it’ll show in the next two.”

Her father, Desmond, echoed that sentiment in an interview with the Jamaican Gleaner, crediting both her athletic lineage and heritage:

“She comes from deep roots here, and a tree without roots will die. So she has those strong roots in Jamaica, which helps make her strong.”

Why the 200m is Her Domain

Gabby Thomas Embraces Her Jamaican Roots Amid 200m Glory
Gabby Thomas won three gold medals at the Paris Olympic Games. Photo. Imago

Thomas also explained her deep connection to the 200 meters—an event she has dominated with poise and precision.

“I love the 200. It’s my favorite—I’ve been running it the longest. I’ve got so much experience in it, and I feel really comfortable in that space,” she said. “That’s why I chose to do these Slams—to challenge myself in one of the four as well.”

The Grand Slam Track circuit has added a refreshing dimension to the global athletics calendar—and for American athletes like Thomas, hosting competitions on home soil has proven crucial.

“First of all, for the Americans, it’s an amazing breath of fresh air—we don’t have to travel across an ocean to compete,” she noted. “It definitely helps with rest and recovery, and keeping these times fast. Hopefully, we’ll see more international athletes come join in the fun.”

As Gabby Thomas continues to dazzle on the track, she does so with the strength of two nations behind her—and a message that transcends flags: “We’re all one love.”

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