When Gabby Thomas crossed the finish line in the 200-meter final at the Paris Olympic Games, her tears of joy were a testament to the long and arduous journey she had endured to reach that golden moment. 

Thomas, who became the fastest woman on the track that day, couldn’t hold back her emotions as she realized her dream had finally come true.

Historically, only three women have ever run faster than her in this event, placing Thomas among the elite in sprinting. Her path to victory was made slightly easier when Jamaican rival Shericka Jackson withdrew from the 200m race on August 5, but for Gabby, all that mattered was the finish line. 

US sprinting legend Sanya Richards-Ross has been handed a major role at women’s-only track event set to be graces by Faith Kipyegon, Mary Moraa, Gabby Thomas among others this month.

She had set her sights on gold from the start and came into the finals as the fastest qualifier, clocking 21.86 seconds in the semi-finals.

After crossing the finish line, Thomas broke down in tears, overcome with emotion. Her teammate McKenzie Long, who finished seventh in the race, quickly came to console her. 

But it wasn’t long before Gabby wrapped herself in the American flag and began searching the stands for her loved ones, including her mother and boyfriend, whom she embraced warmly to celebrate her monumental achievement.

This victory meant more to Thomas than just an Olympic gold—it was a personal triumph over a potentially life-threatening diagnosis that nearly derailed her career. 

Thomas, who clinched three gold medals at the Paris Olympic games, has explained why she is still wary of Shericka Jackson's return next season.

In 2021, while preparing for the U.S. Olympic Trials, Thomas faced a terrifying moment when an MRI of her lower back, intended to diagnose lingering hamstring pain, revealed a tumor on her liver. The uncertainty surrounding the tumor’s nature and the looming possibility of cancer weighed heavily on her.

“The more I started talking to doctors, the more they started saying the word ‘cancer,’” she recalled. The fear of a major health scare put her Olympic dreams in jeopardy. But despite the unknowns, Thomas continued her training, though she admitted the mental toll was immense.

“It felt crazy mentally,” she said, recalling the stress of pushing forward while waiting for more information about her condition. Fortunately, further testing revealed that the tumor was benign, and Thomas was cleared to compete. With a renewed sense of purpose, she made a promise to herself: “If I’m healthy, I’m going to go out and win Trials.”

And that’s exactly what she did. At the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, Thomas delivered a stunning performance, securing her spot for Tokyo with a time of 21.61 seconds. “I was like, I’m just happy to be here. I’m going to kick a** because I’m healthy. Maybe that was part of it. Part of my relief showed in how I raced,” she told

A simulation has pitted Lionel Messi in an 100 meter race against Cristiano Ronaldo to determine who is actually faster against the other.

Her gold medal in the 200m final in Paris was a culmination of that journey. She had overcome adversity, fulfilled her promise, and now stood on top of the Olympic podium. The two additional gold medals she won in the women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relay events were the icing on the cake.

For Gabby Thomas, the Paris Olympics will forever be remembered as a defining moment in her career—not just for her victories on the track, but for the perseverance and resilience that brought her there.

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