'There Is Always a Fire for Me' - Gabby Thomas Reacts to Melissa Jefferson-Wooden's Rise

Three-time Olympic champion Gabby Thomas has opened up about the influence of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden as she assured fans she will return to the track stronger after an injury-plagued season, outlining ambitious plans for 2026 and beyond.

Speaking to Olympics.com at the Women's Sports Foundation gala in New York City, Gabby Thomas shared her thoughts on her recovery, the rise of her rivals, and the legacy of sprinting legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

After a triumphant trio of gold medals at the Paris Olympic Games, Gabby Thomas found herself spending more time off the track than on it.

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An Achilles tendon injury hampered her season, ultimately forcing her to withdraw from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this past September.

Beyond her own comeback, Gabby Thomas is actively involved in shaping the future of athletics. She has served as an advisor for Athlos, a women-only track and field series, and is excited about its evolution.

"We are rolling out our actual team-based model league in 2026," she explained. "I just see it as being this very positive, disruptive movement in our sport... a way for athletes to make a sustainable living in the sport and to have something to aspire to."

While Gabby Thomas was recovering, her compatriot and Paris 2024 relay teammate Melissa Jefferson-Wooden delivered a stunning performance at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, sweeping the 100m and 200m titles. Gabby Thomas praised the historic achievement.

"I think it was incredibly impressive," she said. "It's never easy to win a singular individual sprint event, much less two."

Rather than feeling daunted, Gabby Thomas sees Melissa Jefferson-Wooden's success as a motivator heading towards future events, including the LA 2028 Olympics.

"There is always a fire for me," Thomas asserted. "When you see your competitors doing something special, it pushes you. Iron sharpens iron. The women in our sport are incredibly talented... I think we're all just making each other better."

"I'll be back," she stated confidently. "I'll have a little bit of a later start next season, which gives me more time to rehab my Achilles. But I'll be doing a normal season, focusing on Athlos towards the end of it and the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest."

Gabby Thomas expressed her enthusiasm for the new initiatives in her sport, saying, "I'm excited to be part of these new and innovative things in our sport."

The recent season also marked the end of an era with the retirement of Jamaican superstar Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, an athlete Gabby Thomas grew up admiring.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a three-time Olympic champion and eight-time medallist, concluded her illustrious career with a 17th World Championship podium finish in the 4x100m relay, 18 years after her first.

"I mean, I grew up watching Shelly," Thomas reflected. "We all knew Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce." She praised the sprinting GOAT for having "pushed the sport forward," acknowledging the immense talent she has competed against since entering the professional ranks.

Gabby Thomas expressed her admiration for a fellow competitor, highlighting the honour of racing alongside her. "And racing against her pushed me to be better," she stated.

Gabby Thomas credited Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce with advancing the sport and drawing significant attention to it.

"She was so loved, and she inspired so many young girls like myself," she continued. "And hopefully we can continue to do the same thing for the next generation of young girls. But I'm so proud of her, and I love where she left the sport."

The impact on young fans serves as a major motivation for Gabby Thomas, a feeling that was reinforced during the Athlos event.

Among those young admirers was Serena Williams' daughter, Olympia, who had the chance to interview Gabby Thomas on the red carpet.