Gabby Thomas has been one of the biggest names in track and field, yet with the 2025 season in full swing, she remains noticeably absent from the Diamond League circuit. While her competitors are sharpening their speed on the global stage, Thomas has opted for a different route, keeping her competitive schedule under wraps.

The Olympic 200m champion, who played a key role in spearheading the women’s-only track meet in New York City, has officially committed to returning for its second edition at Icahn Stadium on October 10. While names like Dina Asher-Smith and Julien Alfred have been making waves on the track, Thomas has remained on the sidelines. It was last year that she decided to skip the Diamond League for the entire season, as she didn’t want her preparation for the ATHLOS to be affected.

Thomas, who finished second to Brittany Brown in the 200m at last year’s ATHLOS, is no stranger to the high-energy atmosphere the event has created. In a thrilling showdown, Brown edged out Thomas with a time of 22.18 to 22.21, proving just how competitive the field was. Now, as Thomas gears up for her return, the anticipation builds. Can she reclaim the top spot in 2025? She won’t be the only star gracing the track. The event is stacking up to be just as electrifying as its debut year, with Olympic 100m hurdles stars Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and Masai Russell set to reignite their rivalry.

Their 2024 clash was a nail-biter, with Camacho-Quinn taking the win in 12.36 seconds while Russell pushed hard with a 12.44 finish. With both athletes confirmed for October’s edition, fans can expect yet another must-watch duel. On the other hand, Gabby’s most recent public track appearance was merely as a spectator, watching Asher-Smith battle Alfred at the New Balance.

Set to take place some three weeks after the World Athletics Championships at Tokyo, ATHLOS could be the perfect opportunity for the 28-year-old. Meanwhile, Tokyo will prove to a real test as well. But it shouldn’t pose too much of a threat given that the Georgia native has been preparing for a while now for this. Back in November last year, she posted a Get Ready with Me on TikTok, where she showed her preparations for the upcoming World Athletics Championships when she ran for 2.5 miles.

She wrote, “Get ready with me for the longest run of my life: 2.5 miles. I know you might not think that’s long, but I’m a short sprinter, OK…I start training for the 2025 season on Monday; we have World Championships in Tokyo in September, so I figured this would be a good shake-out run.”

Moving on, what is it that truly makes Thomas the athlete she is?

Gabby Thomas’ blueprint for greatness

Gabby Thomas knows that genuine excellence goes beyond nonstop efforts because it requires keeping everything harmonized. She establishes her own approach to success by accepting both ambition and recovery within this philosophy. And her approach to championship performance extends past the struggle because she seeks pure happiness while moving toward her goals.

Gabby’s journey to become an Olympic champion demonstrates this particular way of thinking. Soon after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she won bronze in 200m running and silver in the 4x100m relay, Thomas developed her professional sprinter status. Her Olympic story reached its ultimate completion during the Paris Games. Gabby ruled the 200m final by finishing the race with a time of 21.83 seconds, which trumped both 100m champion Julien Alfred and other competitors.

For Thomas, maintaining that balance isn’t just about managing training loads, it extends into her passion for public health. “Same thing with my work at the health clinic and in public health. It’s just so nice to go do that part of my life and volunteer and then be able to look forward to what I’m doing on the track,” she explained. Her success proves that peak performance isn’t just about pushing harder.

Redefining what it means to be a champion, will her balanced philosophy translate into another dominant performance? Only time will tell.