'I Have To Put Myself in Those Positions'- Gabby Thomas Reveals Struggles That Shaped Track Career

Gabby Thomas, the reigning Olympic 200m champion, has opened up about a key internal struggle that has quietly shaped her rise to the pinnacle of track and field.

Despite her glittering career, including five Olympic medals, three of which she won at the 2024 Paris Games, Thomas recently revealed a personal battle with imposter syndrome that began during her time at Harvard University.

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In a candid conversation on USATF’s Journey to Gold podcast, Thomas reflected on the discomfort of feeling like she didn’t belong among her high-achieving peers at Harvard.

“Anytime you put yourself in a situation where you're just in a room full of people who actually are at a more advanced place than you, you're going to feel some degree of imposter syndrome. But I think that means you're doing it right,” she shared.

The three-time Olymic champion emphasized that her focus was never on chasing medals or a professional track career, it was always about personal growth.

Thomas' decision to study neurobiology and compete for Harvard was rooted in a desire to better herself in every area of life, not just athletics.

“That’s a big part of just what made me so successful: I didn’t put that extra pressure on myself. It was just, let’s see how I can be the best athlete, student, and version of myself that I can be,” she said.

Now firmly in her prime, Thomas has begun her 2025 season with remarkable momentum.

The Olympic champion claimed victory in her signature 200m event at both the Kingston Slam in Jamaica, where she became one of the inaugural champions, and the Miami Slam.

Thomas is also set to appear in the second edition of Athlos, the all-women’s track event that debuted in New York following the Paris Olympics.

Her season is expected to culminate with an appearance at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where she will aim to further solidify her dominance in the 200m.