Amid all the online scuffles, media drama, and trying to prevent Melissa Jefferson-Wooden from winning a hat-trick of Grand Slam Tracks, Gabby Thomas might’ve nearly forgotten something important. She might be forgetting that she is now engaged. And that too with someone who has stood beside her through her highs as well as her low points. Yes, we are talking about none other than her boyfriend-turned-fiancé Spencer McManes. And just while Gabby thought that he was done giving her surprises, the Olympic champ once again stood impressed.

So what was it this time? After all, last time it was a surprise engagement that nearly took Gabby off her feet. Well, this time it was Gabby’s turn as she shared a heartwarming birthday tribute to her fiancé, Spencer McManes, with a cheeky, loving message that gave fans a peek into their joy. Thomas and McManes had announced their engagement just weeks ago in a Vogue exclusive, sealing the moment with all the elegance and grace befitting an Olympic star.

It was a plot twist worthy of a rom-com. The usually predictable McManes managed to pull off a surprise proposal, a feat Thomas admitted caught her completely off guard. “Normally, he’s very bad with surprises—and this was the one surprise I think I’ve ever witnessed him keep,” she laughed, clearly still glowing from the moment. Their story began in 2021 when a shared love of pizza sparked something more on social media.

By 2022, they were officially together. What followed was a year of emotional highs and athletic challenges. And through it all, McManes became more than just a partner; he became Thomas’s teammate off the track. “Last season helped us solidify our relationship,” McManes said, reflecting on how the shared experience brought them even closer.

And when Thomas went on to dominate the Paris 2024 Olympics, winning gold in the 200m, the 4x100m, and the 4x400m relays, McManes was right there, cheering in the stands, her biggest fan in the City of Light. Now, weeks after that whirlwind of athletic triumphs and romantic headlines, Thomas showed her playful and affectionate side on social media as she celebrated McManes’s birthday.

Taking to Instagram, she posted a picture of her fiancé, affectionately calling him “birthday boy” and tagging him with love. She wrote, “Happy birthday, boy @spencermcmanes.” But the sprinter didn’t stop there. She also gave a shoutout to his outfit. And in true Gabby Thomas fashion, she turned a simple compliment into something memorable.

“Also love my man repping @unrivaledbasketball with his T-shirt,” she wrote, adding a dash of charm that only a gold medalist in both sprinting and style could deliver. From the Olympic podium to life’s most intimate celebrations, Gabby Thomas is proving she knows how to win in every arena. With a sparkling ring, a supportive partner, and a heart full of joy, she’s racing forward into her next chapter.  And if her message to McManes is any sign, she’s doing it with all the love, laughter, and personal flair the world has come to adore.

The man behind Gabby Thomas and how he and his family powered her Olympic dream

When Gabby Thomas surged across the finish line to claim Olympic gold in the women’s 200-meter final, the stadium erupted. But one face in the crowd held her gaze a little longer. Spencer McManes, her boyfriend! His quiet presence has played a major role in her journey. From the start of their relationship in 2022, McManes has stood firmly by Thomas’s side, offering steady encouragement through the highs and lows of elite competition.

McManes, a former Yale quarterback and Ivy League graduate, met Thomas in Austin, Texas, where she had relocated to train with renowned coach Tonja Buford-Bailey. The connection quickly deepened beyond shared athletic roots. By the time Thomas lined up in Paris, McManes was more than just a spectator. Spencer was part of her inner circle of unwavering support.

His transition from tech professional to entrepreneur, launching his non-alcoholic seltzer brand Kaviva in 2023, echoed Thomas’s bold pursuit of excellence on the track. And while she hasn’t publicly endorsed his product, it’s clear the couple shares a lifestyle rooted in performance and purpose. What stood out most in Paris was not just McManes’s presence, but the presence of his entire family: his parents, Lori and Skip, and siblings Carter, Mackie, and Livvie.

They all gathered to back Thomas. Their unified support was not lost on her. Reflecting on the significance of that moment,  Gabby told Today, “I don’t think more people have had to come together to help me so much in my entire life.” For Thomas, the victory wasn’t just hers. It belonged to the community that had lifted her there, and McManes and his family were at the heart of it.