Gabby Thomas Relives Race That Started It All in Emotional Social Media Post

Olympics champion Gabby Thomas may be known today as one of the fiercest sprinters on the international stage, but she recently took a step back to reflect on how far she has come.

The 27-year-old American track star delighted fans by sharing an adorable photo from her debut year in the sport—a reminder of humble beginnings that shaped a world-class athlete.

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Thomas, who claimed three medals at the Paris Games and two at the Tokyo Olympics, took to her Instagram story on Saturday, June 7, posting a picture from her first year in track and field.

Dressed in a simple athletic outfit and beaming with youthful enthusiasm, she captioned the photo:

“my first year of track 😭”

She also tagged a friend, adding: "Hi @lenagandev"—a nostalgic nod that hints at the special memories and friendships forged in her early athletic days.

The moment of reflection came on the heels of her performance at the Philadelphia Grand Slam Track event, where she earned second place in the 200m with a strong 22.10s finish.

Though she just missed gold to fellow sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Thomas continued to express positivity and gratitude.

“Not the Slam results I hoped for, but when you race as often as I do, you can’t win ’em all,” she wrote on Instagram after the race.

“On the bright side, this is the best I’ve ever run at this point in the season!! Heading back home to continue training hard. I’m so, so grateful to everyone who continues to support me on my journey—win or lose, rain or shine. I love this sport sm and I’ll see you guys on the track very soon!!!P.S. Philly, you were absolutely incredible!!?)”

Long before becoming an Olympian, Gabby Thomas had little interest in running.

During her time as a pre-teen, her heart was set on playing softball with friends.

It was her mother who played a pivotal role in redirecting her path, signing her up for her first track practice—an act that would unknowingly ignite a storied career.

Those early years were not easy and Thomas has been candid about the frustration she experienced, especially during middle school, when she lacked motivation and didn’t feel connected to the sport.

But as she grew and poured herself into training, her passion followed.

She began to thrive in the competitive world of sprinting, eventually mastering the 100m dash, 200m dash, and the 4x400m relay.