“I was not even close to being an Olympian myself" - Gabby Thomas weighs in on brutal training sessions to make Paris dream come true

Gabby Thomas has opened up about working extremely hard to make her Olympic dream come true as she heads to Paris for the coveted quadrennial Games. The American athlete put forward a stunning performance in the women's 200m finals at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials to seal a spot in the Olympic Team.

Gabby Thomas began her 2024 season at the Texas Relays in March and went on to participate in several outdoor track meets as she gained momentum for the Olympic year. After a disappointing sixth-place finish in the 200m at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix, she made her comeback weeks later to clinch the title at the NYC Grand Prix.

Thomas emerged victorious against top athletes like Sha'Carri Richardson and McKinzie Long in the 200m at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials to finish first after clocking 21.81s. She recently spoke to Sports Illustrated about working very hard to make her Olympic dream come true.

Thomas revealed that she was not even close to becoming an Olympian while she was a student-athlete at Harvard. To make it to the pinnacle stage, she decided to pursue her post-graduate degree in Austin, Texas by enrolling in an elite running program.

Moreover, Gabby Thomas said it took over two years of rigorous hard work and planning to elevate her performance to top standards.

“I was not even close to being an Olympian myself. But I forced myself to go train with them, and I forced myself to get my butt kicked in practice every day for two years, so that when the time came, I was ready to make the Olympic team,” she said.

The American athlete's mother instilled in her the mentality to work hard and chase her dream.

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Gabby Thomas opens up on sealing a spot in the U.S. Olympic Team

2024 Team USA Media Summit - Portraits | Getty Images

In a post-race interview, Gabby Thomas spoke about her incredible performance at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. The American athlete revealed that she was confident about performing well in the finals.

"This is incredible! I knew that I needed to get today done. There was no gold medal without making the team. I'm just ecstatic," she said.

Having won the bronze medal in the 200m at the Tokyo Olympics, Thomas will be competing for her first-ever Olympic Gold Medal in Paris. Jamaica's Shericka Jackson, who is currently in top form, will be her biggest competitor at the quadrennial Games.