“At the end of the day, all I can do is run my race. Keep moving. Get off the blocks, and take the next stride.” This was Gabby Thomas at the Williston Northampton School’s commencement speech. Her words boasted confidence, optimism, and sheer resolve. But this isn’t 2022 anymore. The tracks, as we know them, are changing, and newer talents are taking over. Case in point: this week’s Grand Slam Track meet in Philadelphia, where Melissa Jefferson-Wooden surged past the field to claim another statement win. So, has Gabby’s optimism taken a hit? She has answered.

On the same day as the race finished, Gabby took to X to share her thoughts with the world. Her message wasn’t one of excuses—it was filled with maturity and perspective: “Not the Slam results I hoped for, but when you race as often as I do, you can’t win em all. On the bright side, this is the best I have ever ran at this at this point in the season!! I’m so so grateful to everyone who continues to support me on my journey, win or lose- rain or shine. I love this sport sm and I’ll see you guys on the track very soon!!!” This is the essence of Gabby Thomas—not just the elite sprinter, but the resilient soul behind the spikes. So, what fuels this mental fortitude?

In an interview with Marie Claire from June 3, Gabby pulled back the curtain on the wellness principles she’s learned to live by—ones she wishes she could share with her younger self. “Think about wellness holistically and consider how we can thrive mentally, physically, and emotionally,” she said. As an elite sprinter, wellness encompasses all aspects of my performance: how I recover, how I fuel, how much I sleep, and how much I’m able to incorporate mindfulness and meditation into my day to day.” Even the smallest wins—like a perfectly made cup of coffee or a few extra minutes of peaceful meditation—are victories in her book. “A little goes a long way,” she reflected. And clearly, those little rituals are shaping something much bigger.

Philly didn’t deliver a podium-topping result for Gabby—she finished third in her group—but it delivered something even more powerful: perspective. Even after being heckled by someone in the stands before and after her race, she chose to hold onto the good. “My favorite place to compete has always been London (fans and atmosphere)…but after this weekend, Philly comes close,” she tweeted. “Such a cool stadium and fans coming from all over.” 

That’s Gabby’s superpower—turning the volume down on negativity and tuning in to what truly matters. Wins and losses come and go. But the joy of the sport, the lessons in the process, and the love she shares with her supporters? That’s what keeps her sprinting forward. And in this process, the three-time Olympic champion has been looking away from different kinds of struggles. 

Gabby Thomas has been vocal about her self-esteem issues 

Before she became one of the fastest women on the planet, Gabby Thomas was just a young girl caught in the middle of conflicting ideals—torn between strength and softness, power and poise. Like many girls growing up in a world flooded with unrealistic beauty standards, Gabby wrestled with the pressure to look a certain way. And for a budding sprinter, that pressure could be confusing. 

“I was definitely very self-aware of my body and my body type,” Gabby told SI.com. “I teetered between not wanting to look too masculine and strong and also wanting to maintain a feminine look and also be thin.” It was a balancing act no young athlete should have to master—trying to be fast enough, strong enough, thin enough, and feminine enough all at once.

But everything began to change when Gabby fully embraced track and field—not just as a sport, but as a space where she could rewrite the rules. On the track, her body wasn’t something to shrink or reshape; it was something to celebrate. Her legs were engines. Her muscles, tools. Her strength, a badge of honor. Competing didn’t just build her résumé—it rebuilt her relationship with herself. 

Today, Gabby stands as a beacon for young girls navigating the same maze of self-doubt and social pressure. She doesn’t just run for medals—she runs for representation. For the girls in the stands and on social media who need to know that beauty comes in every shape, especially strong ones. And with every stride, Gabby Thomas continues to shatter stereotypes, reminding the world that true beauty is born in confidence, shaped by resilience, and fueled by purpose.