Three-time Olympic champion Gabby Thomas proved her place among the greatest athletes after her triumphant performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Gabby Thomas dominated the women’s 200m final, crossing the finish line in an impressive 21.83 sec to win his first Olympic gold medal in the discipline.
The American athlete also helped Team USA to victories in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, winning a total of three gold medals in the French capital.
Gabby Thomas’ outstanding performances inevitably drew comparisons with the legendary Florence Griffith Joyner, aka Flo-Jo, who set the still-current women’s 100m and 200m world records in 1988. Florence Griffith Joyner’s 200m world record of 21.34 sec has stood for 36 years, becoming an almost mythical landmark in women’s athletics. Despite her remarkable success, Gabby Thomas remains cautious about chasing the elusive world record.
“I think chasing records in our sport is one of the mistakes you can really make”, said Gabby Thomas.
Instead, the American sprinter focuses on excelling in her sport and maintaining a healthy mindset while competing on the world stage. Although the prospect of breaking her illustrious compatriot’s record has captivated the athletics world for decades, Gabby Thomas is clear that her quest for greatness is not driven by the numbers on the clock.
The 27-year-old sprinter, who has steadily improved her performance over the past few years, prefers to focus on unlocking her potential rather than letting the pressure of history get to her.
“The moment you start thinking about records, you put unnecessary pressure on yourself”, explained she. “This strain can impair your performance and make the sport less enjoyable. I want to keep improving and stay at the top, but I’m not racing just to break records”, adds the American athlete.
