"In evening classes, she couldn't find a babysitter so we had to sit with her" - Gabby Thomas on how her mother raised her while doing a PhD

Gabby Thomas shared that her mother Jennifer Randall raised her while doing a PhD in Education at Emory University. The Olympic champion claimed her mother's 'hustle' mentality has impacted her throughout her career.

Thomas was born in 1997 to mother Randall, an American citizen, and father Desmond Thomas, who was originally from Jamaica. However, her parents got divorced, and Thomas and her siblings moved with their mother to Massachusetts.

Randall enrolled at Emory University for a PhD in education while simultaneously teaching as well. However, there were times when she couldn't find a babysitter for her children to attend her evening classes, Thomas recalled in the podcast 'Why not me? with Mike Jackson.'

"Watching my mom go from waitressing, working at a daycare, going back to school, she continued school at Emory and got her PhD in education, and my brother and I were part of that. We watched all of it. We were there in her evening classes when she couldn't find a baby sitter and we had to sit in class with her," Gabby Thomas said [4:20 onwards].

The 27-year-old also added:

"We watched her work and do school and also take care of us and drive us to soccer practices and basketball practices and not complain about it. It was kind of like this was a normal, I'm gonna hustle because this is my dream and I want better for myself and I want better for you all."

Thomas further stated that it had a lasting impact on her life, making her never shy away from any challenge. Along with winning multiple Olympic and world medals, Thomas has studied neurobiology and global health at Harvard, has a master's in epidemiology at the University of Texas, and she also volunteers at a healthcare clinic. The 27-year-old also has a PhD in her plans, or at least her mother wants her to do it.

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"It really showed me what true work ethic was" - Gabby Thomas on her mother's impact on her life

Athlos NYC - Gabby Thomas during a photo shoot (Source: Getty)

Speaking in an interview with Olympics.com in June 2024, Gabby Thomas revealed that watching her mother 'hustle' through life while growing up showed her that anything was possible.

"It really showed me what true work ethic was, and it showed me that you can achieve your dreams through hard work... [through that] and anything is possible," she said.

Speaking of her mother's aspirations for her to pursue a PhD, the 27-year-old said:

"I think we're gonna put that on hold for a little while. And focus on my Olympic dreams right now."

Thomas did achieve her Olympic dreams in Paris, winning a staggering three gold medals.