Gabby Thomas Calls Out Disturbing Fan Behavior After Challenging Performance at Grand Slam Track Philadelphia

Gabby Thomas arrived in Philadelphia riding high. Just a month earlier, she pocketed a $100,000 bonus in Kingston with a dominant performance in the long sprints. The Olympic silver medalist looked poised to carry that momentum into the short sprints at the Grand Slam Track’s next stop. But while the results on the track didn’t go her way, it was what happened off the track that left a deeper mark.

Saturday’s 200m final was an elite matchup between Thomas and Olympic champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. Jefferson-Wooden surged late to edge out Thomas, clocking a personal best of 21.99 to Thomas’s 22.10. Though the margin was razor thin, it was still a stinging result for Thomas, who had hoped to follow up her Kingston showing with another win. But the sting of second place quickly faded into something more troubling.

As Thomas made her way around the track post-race, taking pictures and signing autographs, many of them for children, she became the target of aggressive harassment from a man in the crowd. According to Thomas, the fan followed her closely while loudly shouting personal insults. The incident occurred in full view of other spectators, with no immediate intervention.

Thomas later addressed the incident publicly, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to call out both the fan and those who support that kind of behavior online. “This grown man followed me around the track as I took pictures and signed autographs for fans (mostly children), shouting personal insults—anybody who enables him online is gross,” she wrote.

Her statement sparked a wave of support from fellow athletes and fans, many of whom demanded better protections for competitors at public events. Even Alexis Ohanian, too, took to his X to speak against such an incident, as he shared Gabby’s post and commented, “Absolutely pathetic.” While athletes expect criticism and pressure, being publicly harassed while engaging with young fans crosses a line.

One that Thomas made clear should not be normalized. Her post wasn’t just about defending herself; it was a stand against a culture of toxicity that can follow even the most elite athletes from the stadium into everyday moments. Unfortunately, this was not the first time Gabby Thomas had faced a similar traumatic experience.

Gabby Thomas turned to fans for help after unsettling airport encounters

Gabby Thomas sounded the alarm after experiencing repeated and frightening encounters during her travels. The 28-year-old sprinter took to TikTok with a plea for advice, revealing she’s being followed by a group of “three to six” middle-aged men who track her across the country, showing up at airports regardless of destination. “At this point, every time that I travel, I’m afraid that these men… are going to show up and harass me,” Gabby said in her video, visibly shaken.

What makes the situation more disturbing is their uncanny knowledge of her flight details, even when she hasn’t shared them. She shared, “They show up either at the front door of the airport, at the correct concourse, or they show up at my gate, which means they have flight tickets and they get past security.” She’s since changed her email passwords out of concern that her private information might be compromised.

The men, according to Thomas, often approach her carrying stacks of 40 or more photographs, demanding autographs. When she refuses, their demeanor turns hostile. “I don’t know what they’re doing with them — probably reselling them — I don’t care,” she said. Gabby further added, “But they get really aggressive and hostile if I say no.”

A recent encounter involving her boyfriend left her further rattled, prompting her to begin filming the men and taking steps to report the incidents. “These guys are done. Once I figure this out, they won’t be harassing anyone else,” she vowed.