'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Gabby Thomas penned a heartfelt note for tennis legend Billie Jean King after listening to her inspiring words at the 2024 FWNN awards. The two-time Olympian enjoyed remarkable success in her 2024 season, winning an incredible three medals at the Paris Olympics.
King presented the Person of the Year Award to Adidas CEO Bjorn Gulden while Thomas presented the Company of The Year award to New Balance at the event. The duo also spent time with each other, with King 'sharing inspiring words' for female athletes.
Following the event, King said she was honored to attend the award ceremony and spend time with Thomas and American track and field legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
"It was an honor to attend the 38th annual @FootwearNews Achievement Awards to present the Person of the Year Award to @adidas CEO Bjorn Gulden. I enjoyed spending time with so many last night, including Olympians @itsgabbyt and Jackie Joyner-Kersee," she wrote on X.
Trending
Thanking the tennis legend back in a post on X, Gabby Thomas wrote:
"Thank you @BillieJeanKing for sharing such inspiring words to everyone in the room- but especially to us female athletes. Leaving my sport (and beyond) better than I found it is a legacy I aspire to have," she wrote.
Thomas enjoyed remarkable success during the 2024 season, becoming the first American track and field athlete to win three gold medals at Olympic Games in 12 years. She won medals in women's 200m, 4x100m relay, and 4x400m relay at the Paris Olympics.
She also partnered with tennis legend Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian to launch the first-ever women's track league, Athlos NYC. The league debuted on September 26 in New York, with the 27-year-old placing second in the 200m behind Olympic bronze medalist Brittany Brown.
"We had so much fun" - Gabby Thomas shared her experience of competing at Athlos NYC
Gabby Thomas played an instrumental role in the launch of Athlos NYC, helping and guiding founder Alexis Ohanian, who didn't know a thing about track and field before. The league debuted in September and was warmly received by athletes and fans alike.
Sharing her experience of competing in the league during an appearance on 'Ali on The Run' show, Thomas claimed she and other sprinters felt never-known-before appreciation at the event.
“It was so well thought out and we felt so appreciated and we had so much fun. And it was a celebration of not just our racing, but like us as athletes and our culture and just women in sport. And I've just never felt so seen and like understood and celebrated. So I think that that was the best post-race celebration for me.”
While the 27-year-old will continue competing in the league in the coming years, she has also signed with Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track for the 2025 season. The two-time Olympian will likely compete in the short sprints category of 100m and 200m.
