Gabby Thomas Shares Surprising Incident With Fans Ahead of Preparations for Grand Slam Track Return

Track and field has always been about more than just who’s the fastest. From the moment legendary Flo-Jo hit the track in her iconic one-legged bodysuits and six-inch nails, she flipped the script. She wasn’t just there to win; she was there to show the world that power and beauty can share the same lane. Decades later, athletes like Sha’Carri Richardson and more are carrying that legacy forward. And this time, Gabby Thomas was doing just that. But sometimes, when fashion meets physics, surprising things follow. Such as?

So, Gabby Thomas has come into her own, right? If you look back at her early career, she was dealing with a lot of impostor syndrome and struggling with how she wanted to be seen. She talked about how she was constantly aware of her body and the pressure to look a certain way. As she said to SI.com, “I was definitely very self-aware of my body and my body type,” and she shared how she was stuck between “not wanting to look too masculine and strong and also wanting to maintain a feminine look and also be thin.” But now? Totally different story. Gabby’s all about owning who she is—strength, femininity, and everything in between.

Gabby Thomas is going all out for her track training sessions for the upcoming Grand Slam Track, and in doing so, the Olympic champion ran into a hilarious hurdle, which she with her followers on X. While pushing herself through a sprint, she was running so fast that one of her lashes flew off. Yep, you read that right. She casually dropped the line, “I ran so fast today that unfortunately one of my lashes flew off,” making it clear that sometimes, even your lashes can’t keep up when you’re moving at top speed. Instead of being embarrassed, she turned the whole thing into a fun, relatable moment.

What’s funny is that Gabby Thomas’s not the only one to have had a little beauty malfunction in the world of track. Remember Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in 2022? She had her turquoise wig start slipping mid-race at the World Championships. No panic—she adjusted it on the fly and still made it to the semis. Or what about Blessing Okagbare in 2017? She had a wig fall off during her long jump at the Oslo Diamond League. Calm as ever, she picked it up, put it back on, and kept going. It’s proof that sports and style don’t always mix perfectly, but sometimes those moments make the whole experience even more fun. And now, as Gabby’s gunning for a Grand Slam, we’ve got to ask—can she really do it?

Gabby Thomas is running the show on the Grand Slam Track

Gabby Thomas is on absolute fire right now, and if you haven’t been paying attention, it’s time to catch up. After her triple gold haul at the 2024 Paris Olympics (yep, 200m, 4x100m, AND 4x400m), she’s now tearing it up in Michael Johnson’s new Grand Slam Track (GST) league. She kicked off the season at the Kingston Slam in April, smashing a 22.62 in the 200m for a circuit record and grabbing second in the 400m with a blazing 49.14. That’s 20 points and a cool $100K right there.

Then came the Miami Slam in early May, she placed fourth in the 100m (10.97s) but came back swinging, dropping a 21.95 in the 200m for yet another circuit record. Another 17 points. Another $50K in the bag. Gabby Thomas is making sure everyone knows — she’s not here to play. Now, all eyes are on the next stop: the Philadelphia Slam on June 6–7. She’s set to run both the 200m and 400m, and honestly, with her current form, she’s a heavy favorite in both.

The 200m seems to be her sweet spot, but don’t sleep on her 400m game either. What makes it even more exciting is how she’s balancing elite competition with her signature style and personality. Whether it’s lashes flying off mid-sprint or just her sheer confidence, Gabby’s bringing something fresh to track & field — she’s fast, fierce, and fun.