Injuries can make or break an athlete. Some stars defy all odds, while others simply hang up their boots. Because, well, that setback took a massive toll on everything. But the latter never applied to Gabby Thomas. The Atlanta-born 28-year-old suffered an Achilles injury not too long ago. However, walking past that inhibition and coming back strong, not completely 100%, Gabby made sure she found her spot in the National Team.

Meanwhile, Thomas gave her fans a rollercoaster at the 2025 USATF Championships. After clocking 1.02 seconds in the 100m to reach the semis, she bowed out with style to chase 200m glory instead. And oh, did she deliver. She lit up Hayward Field with a 22.19s heat, then danced into Worlds by finishing just behind Jefferson-Wooden’s 21.84 and Battle’s 22.13 in a blazing, star-soaked final.

However, speaking with the media after the race, she highlighted her fight against the injury that’s bothering her training this season. “I haven’t been able to train too much, which is kind of tough because I’m dealing with an Achilles issue. When you have to take a couple of weeks off before the USA’s, that’s never a good feeling,” Gabby Thomas shared. “But I’m confident in what I’m able to do. I’ve had some good races under my belt this season, so I have faith in that. But you always want to go to the USA to be healthy at the end of the day. So it’s rough.”

She further added insights on personal battles. The reporter asked her if she knew when she picked up the Achilles injury, Thomas shared: “It’s something that’s been going on on and off throughout the season. About two weeks ago, I couldn’t even jog on that foot. But it’s not something I wanted to give too much life to. I had a big meet coming up, that being the USA’s, and I don’t want to focus on it. So I just took a week off of training last week, geared back up, got ready.”

Meanwhile, Thomas painted a gritty comeback tale without sugarcoating a thing. She grounded herself just a week before heading out—ditched the spikes, skipped the sprints, and focused fully on rehab in LA with a whole lot of patience. The week of the Eskies was all about healing, but she bounced back fast. Once her feet hit the track again, the fire returned, and the mission was back on.

Even now, she’s playing it smart. The Achilles? Still under watch. But the fitness? Flashing bold and bright. Gabby made her statement loud and clear — she had enough juice to qualify. She watched others rise after a break, and now she’s placing herself in that same elite category. But hey, making the national team? That’s a whole different high—and she’s got something to say about that.

Tell the Tokyo World Championship, Gabby Thomas is coming to take the throne.

Gabby Thomas sparked Eugene on August 3 in full neon glory at the 2025 USA Track and Field Championships. Dressed in a pink two-piece crop top and bike shorts, with her sleek ponytail flying, she claimed third in the 200m and booked her ticket to Tokyo. The fall 2025 World Championships now have one more star ready to make headlines and history.

She took to her Instagram to tell everyone how she felt after qualifying for the World Championship. She wrote: “Just made my fifth US team!!! Not quite the time on the clock I would’ve liked to see, but proud of how I show up. Plenty of time to chop some wood before I see y’all in Tokyo for the 2025 World Championships this fall 🫶🏽,” she wrote on Instagram. Gabby added, “Thank you to everyone who continues to support me on my track & field journey. We’re far from done.”

Call it grit or Gabby magic—she’s got it. From limping through pain to lighting up Eugene in neon fire, Thomas turned every setback into a setup. Her fifth US team badge? Locked in. Tokyo’s on notice. Because Gabby’s coming, axe in hand, ready to chop wood, chase gold, and write the next wild chapter of her unstoppable sprint saga.