Who is Gabby Thomas' father? All about the Jamaica-born man whom the American sprinter attributes her 'fast roots' to

American sprinter Gabby Thomas had a sensational Paris Olympics 2024, where she bagged three gold medals. Thomas became a triple Olympic champion in the 200m, 4x100m relay, and 4x400m relay events.

On August 7, the 27-year-old Georgia native participated in her second successive Olympics in Paris, where she was faced off against a star-studded lineup of Julien Alfred, the 100m title winner, Dina Asher-Smith, Brittany Brown, and others in the 200m finals. Thomas won the race and upgraded her Tokyo Olympics bronze to gold in Paris with a time of 21.83 seconds.

Following that, she raced in the women's 4x100m relay event on Friday, August 9, where she, along with Sha'Carri Richardson, Twanisha Terry, and Melissa Jefferson, surged through the Stade de France to secure gold. Thomas then took part in her third and last Paris Olympics event: the 4x400m relay. Together with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Shamier Little, and Alexis Holmes, she brought home the eighth consecutive 4x400m relay gold for the United States with a time of 3:15.27.

One of the most successful athletic figures in the United States, Thomas was raised by a single mother. Her parents separated when she was four years old. Here is information about her father, Desmond Thomas, whom she credits for her speed on the track.

Who is Gabby Thomas' father

Gabby Thomas won three golds at the Paris Olympics (IMAGE: Getty)

Gabby's father is Desmond Thomas, who played American football as a defensive back for Duke University in the 1990s. He is originally from Jamaica and is a sports enthusiast.

Where did Desmond Thomas meet Gabby Thomas' mother?

Deomond Thomas and Jennifer Randall first met at a private institute in Durham. Apart from Gabby, they also have a son named Andrew, Gabby's twin brother. Randall moved to Massachusetts in 2007 with her family for a job at the University of Massachusetts. The family later shifted to Atlanta. The runner maintains a healthy relationship with her father.

Thomas attributes part of her sprinting success to her father

Gabby Thomas was incredible on the track in Paris (IMAGE: Getty)

The 27-year-old expressed her admiration for the Jamaican genes she inherited from her father and said (via Stylecaster):

"Everyone knows that I am Jamaican because I do believe that that’s where I get my fast roots from. I’m just not going to sugarcoat it that’s what it is."

When Gabby Thomas won the 200m title at the Paris Olympics, she got a special message from her father.

"Gabby, you inspire the world. Keep doing what you're doing. Ever since you were a little girl we knew it, we knew it. You have something special; share it with the world. Keep shining. You make us all so proud, and we love you. Let's get it; let's go." via Travis Miller's tweet

In a conversation with TIME after Gabby's victory, he also remarked that she did it for her ancestors and culture.