“My twin brother battled ADHD & one of my younger brothers has autism” - When Gabby Thomas shared how her brothers inspired her to study neurobiology

Gabby Thomas had an incredible outing at the Paris Olympics, becoming the only American track and field athlete to win three golds. The sprinter has been just as successful off the track, studying neurobiology, and back in 2021 she opened up about how her siblings inspired her to explore the subject.

Thomas has had an impressive sporting career since her collegiate days and has also experienced academic success along the way. The 28-year-old studied neurobiology and global health as an undergraduate, graduating from Harvard University in 2019. She later went on to pursue a master of public health degree in epidemiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, which she completed in 2023.

In an appearance on the ‘A Slight Change of Plans” podcast in 2021, Gabby Thomas shared that it was her neuro-atypical brothers who had inspired her to pursue neurobiology:

“Just seeing how my brothers who are neuro-atypical and who they are and how they navigated life. One of my younger brothers has autism. He has Asperger's. And he was diagnosed at the age of four, I believe. And just watching how he navigates the world and how the world isn't exactly built for him, but he's so special and amazing in his own way.”

“Then I have my twin brother who just battled ADHD. So I just, I grew up with him and I did everything with him. And we just did everything together. And he was my best friend growing up. And to just see that kind of helplessness from someone who truly is, just feels like a part of me, it was pretty shocking.”

Gabby Thomas on how neurobiology helped her on the track

While Gabby Thomas’ initial interest in neurobiology might have stemmed from her brothers, her choice of the subject inadvertently helped her find success on the track. In a recent interview with World Athletics, the American revealed that a major weapon in her arsenal going into race days was visualization, a skill whose importance she learned through her academic exploits.

“The neuroplasticity aspect really fascinated me, this idea that if you train your brain to do something, that it starts to become second nature. It’s basically muscle memory, and just understanding how your nervous system works, the importance of your endocrine system and how your hormones are affected by certain behaviors. Ultimately, that is what affects your performance in track and field.”

While she may not have followed the typical path that most athletes opt for, Gabby Thomas' decision to balance her athletic and academic careers has certainly paid off. The American is now the proud owner of five Olympic medals and will be gunning for more come the 2028 LA Games.