"I had to believe that I wasn’t asking stupid questions" - Gabby Thomas opens up on facing difficulties in studying during her high school days

American track and field athlete Gabby Thomas recently opened up about facing difficulties in studying during her high school days. The 27-year-old who made headlines for winning the 200m finals at the US Olympic Trials is currently working at a health clinic in Texas. Thomas will be gracing the upcoming 2024 Olympics in Paris.

A two-time Olympics medalist, Thomas won the silver and bronze medals in the 4x100m relay and 200m races, respectively. Last year, the athlete swayed the sports world by winning the gold medal in the 4x100m relay race and the silver medal in the 200m race at the World Athletics Championships.

Thomas is a graduate in neurobiology from Harvard University. Although she works at a volunteer health care clinic presently, her journey has not been an easy one.

Before getting enrolled at Harvard University, she studied at The Williston Northampton School, a private boarding school. In a recent interview with SI.com, the athlete opened up about the difficulties she faced adjusting to the high school environment. Gabby Thomas recalled:

"I had to tell myself and really believe in my heart that I did belong. When I decided to study neurobiology, I’m in classes with people who - I can’t even tell you how insanely smart and ingenious those people are, but I just sat in those classes and contributed and asked questions, and I had to believe that I wasn’t asking stupid questions, or else I wasn’t going to make it.”

The two-time Olympic medallist failed in her freshman year in life science. It meant Thomas had to repeat the semester or opt for a different major. However, her professor convinced her and worked with her to repeat the semester so that she would graduate on time.

---

Gabby Thomas discusses her belief in practicing volunteer work

During the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix championship in February, Thomas expressed her belief in performing volunteer work at Healthcare Clinic in Austin.

Gabby Thomas at 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field - Day 9 - Getty Images

The athlete revealed that she handled cases of patients in which she had to ensure proper medication and appointment facilities. She told letsrundotcom:

"Volunteer work is really important to me. It's really important to give back to the communities I live in, and that I occupy, Austin being the main one since I live and train there. So, I work at a healthcare clinic that provides healthcare resources and services to people who don't have health insurance, and I think that’s huge.”

Gabby Thomas has also pursued a master’s degree in epidemiology at the Austin regional campus of the University of Texas Health Science Centre.