“As an athlete, you always want to keep grinding, but sometimes you simply can’t outwork an injury,” said Gabby Thomas at the start of September, explaining why she had to pull out of the World Athletics Championships. “I haven’t been able to train too much, which is kind of tough because I’m dealing with an Achilles issue,” she added, as her injury continues to trouble her. Her absence from the Tokyo championships was already a blow to the American team, and now, with Thomas sidelined, fears about her participation at Alexis Ohanian’s track and field showcase, Athlos NYC 2025, have sadly been confirmed.

During her hour-long conversation with the hosts of the Welcome To The Party podcast, Gabby Thomas was asked about her Achilles injury and, in a subtle nod to this year’s Athlos, whether she would be competing. The Olympic gold medalist acknowledged that her injuries have been challenging, revealed that she is currently taking a break, but assured fans she plans to make a strong comeback soon. “Like, yeah, Achilles injuries are tough, but I mean, just, you know, be patient with injuries and recovery,” said Thomas.

She further added, “Thankfully, we have a little bit of an off year next year without the Olympics or World Championships, so there’s plenty of time to just get ready for those next year when we roll out the official league.” Thomas has been battling an Achilles injury since May. She initially thought the injury had subsided, but it flared up again in July, casting a shadow over her season. Even at the USATF Championships on August 3, the athlete looked far from her peak.

Even though she clinched a third-place finish in the 200m to secure her Worlds berth. Her fastest 200m time this year—21.95—places her only fourth on the season’s leaderboard, trailing fellow Americans Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, McKenzie Long, and Julien Alfred.

Back in September, when the athlete was asked whether she would be a part of the Athlos as well as the World Championships, she said the same thing, “I just started rehab, so sadly I won’t be running at Athlos, but I will be there and I will be meeting and talking to everybody there since I’m not running. It’s the least I can do. So I’ll be there for sure.”

Gabby Thomas may skip the Athlos New York races, but she will still make her mark as a member of the advisory board alongside Sha’Carri Richardson and Tara Davis-Woodhall. Beyond next year’s indoor season, her focus is firmly on the future. In fact, she appears to be making progress, as her recent Instagram posts suggest she is steadily recovering.

Gabby Thomas makes a bold promise in her viral post

Gabby Thomas officially wrapped up her 2025 season, but she is far from slowing her pace. The Olympic champion might have said goodbye to World Championships and Athletics this year due to injuries, but she is not in the mood to stop. In her recent Instagram video, she swapped sprint spikes for a trending fitness challenge that’s been taking over social media. While teaming up with 400m hurdles ace Bianca Stubler, Thomas was tackling the viral “Impossible Mile” Challenge

So, what’s this “Impossible Mile” Challenge? Well, it’s an endurance test designed by entrepreneur Eric Hinman; it pushes athletes to their limits. The challenge kicks off with 400 meters of burpee broad jumps to build explosive power, moves into 400 meters of walking lunges for leg stability, and follows with 400 meters of bear crawls.  Gabby Thomas and Bianca Stubler tackled the full Impossible Mile, powering through burpees, lunges, and a grueling finish.

Despite an Achilles injury, Thomas completed it in 1 hour and 9 minutes. In the caption, the athlete wrote, “When you remember you have free will, might try this one again once my Achilles is feeling better. Who else would try this??”  Thomas’s leg is showing solid recovery, but when will she make her comeback? Tim has the details.