Gabby Thomas is one of the fastest people in the 2024 Paris Olympics and in the world. An American sprinter competes for gold in the women’s 200 meters final on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
He calls running his “happy place.”
“I feel so excited to run when I see the finish line in my eyes, I have the strength that I know I can get there, stretch my legs and go,” Thomas told NBC after setting the fastest time in the 200-meter. finals on 5 Aug.
The 27-year-old athlete previously competed at the Tokyo Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the women’s 200 meters and a silver in the women’s 4×100 meters.
Thomas is also impressive off the track. He holds a bachelor’s degree in neurobiology from Harvard University and a master’s degree in public health from the University of Texas Health Science Center.
After training three to six hours a day, Thomas volunteers at a clinic in Austin, Texas, for people without health insurance. He leads the hypertension program there and told NBC News that he eventually wants to work in a hospital or nonprofit to expand access to health care.
Here’s what you need to know about the song and dance star, and his life:
He pauses before running:
While some runners may turn to up-tempo music for a pre-race boost, Thomas doesn’t listen to a “playlist” at all before his race.
“I want to be more Zen, I want to relax, and I want to keep my energy up,” he told NBC’s Savannah Sellers.
“Then the second the gun goes off, that’s when I want to feel the power of the pump.”
In order not to be distracted by his competitors or the crowd, he chooses a point on the road and concentrates on it at high speed. He says: “You have to concentrate when you are in that moment.
He likes running
Thomas is considered the game’s top running back. He initially played football and soccer as a teenager, and ran track in high school, but it wasn’t until he was at Harvard that he became a standout athlete.
“It’s very easy to love running,” Thomas told USA Today. “It can be painful at times, but it’s such a fun game. You set goals and pursue them in a clean manner – and when you achieve those goals, it’s an addictive feeling. “
He prioritizes sleep
Thomas told The Washington Post: “As you grow as an athlete, you realize how important sleep is. “Not just being a great athlete, but just being a good person.”
He now gets at least eight hours of sleep every night.
Adequate sleep is essential for high athletic performance, the International Olympic Committee noted in a 2019 statement on mental health in elite athletes.
All healthy adults — whether they’re competing in the Olympics or not — need at least seven hours of sleep a night for good health, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine advises.
He takes care of his mental health
An athlete takes time to recover and rest, and follows his passions without running.
“The way I’ve been successful in athletics and athletics has been a part-time game, and I think it’s very important for mental health,” Thomas told NBC’s Kate Snow. Just having other things in my life that help me accomplish my goals and make me feel fulfilled.
That includes volunteering at an Austin clinic, where she likes to know she’s making a difference in people’s lives.
Thomas also spends time with his dog named Rico. The athlete says he gets a lot of emotional support from his fur companion.
When things don’t go well, it’s easy to feel like I’m worthless. Instead of dwelling on that, I found a friend. Accepting Rico is the best thing I’ve ever done,” Thomas told Women’s Running.
He enjoys low-impact exercise
The runner gives Pilates a place in his routine, embracing the way his body moves during intense core exercises. He describes it as “very difficult,” but also relaxing.
“Pilates is humbling,” Thomas told Women’s Health. “Like an Olympian in that room, when you can’t do a lot of exercise, you realize how many small muscles you don’t use every day.”
Pilates can be done on a mat or reformer machine. When TODAY’s Craig Melvin tried the revolutionary version, he called it “probably the most intense workout” he’s ever done.
Gabby Thomas height
The sprinter is 5 feet, 10 inches tall, according to his official Olympic standing.
How many siblings does Gabby Thomas have?
He has a twin brother, Andrew, and three younger siblings – Desi, Tyler and Kim, depending on his Olympic status.
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