Jennifer Randall watched from the sands as Gabby Thomas pulled away on the final stretch of the 200m sprint. She couldn’t control her emotions as Thomas built on the lead and comfortably won Olympic gold after years of dedication. It was the culmination of decades of struggle and hardship that the shingle mother took on with a smile.

“Oh, my goodness. I can go on and on about my mom and her support so I grew up with them.” Thomas said while watching the footage. That’s when The Daily Show’s Desi Lydic asked how instrumental Randall has been through her journey. The professor at the University of Michigan doesn’t like watching her daughter race. Yet it’s her mindset that’s been the key to Thomas’ success.

“My mom has believed in me since I since I’ve been born,” Gabby Thomas told The Daily Show host. Recounting Randall’s struggles as a “single mother,” she credited the professor’s never-give-up attitude to shaping her competitive spirit. “She started as a waitress and then worked her way and now as a professor…” the relay gold medalist revealed.

The 5x Olympics medalist also recalled what Jennifer Randall told her when she was around 10. “I had a light in me, and that I was going to shine very brightly, and that it was my purpose to do so and give it back to the world. And I will never forget that conversation,” said Thomas. Nearly two decades down the line, Thomas’ role model’s prediction remains true.

Jennifer Randall, one of the leading scholars in psychometrics gets too nervous to watch her daughter race most of the time. Yet, it’s her resilience in the face of hardship that gave Thomas the “underdog mentality,” and confidence. In a practice that may sound reminiscent of what Noah Lyles would do, Thomas spoke about how she channels her confidence.

Gabby Thomas visualizes success

During her appearance on The Daily Show, Gabby Thomas explained how she prepared ahead of the 200m finals. For the confidence and self-belief Thomas inherited from Randall, there’s far more to winning an Olympic medal than self-belief. Thomas explained that, unlike her mother, she couldn’t afford to be nervous before a race, and explained how she prepared.

“I do a lot of meditation exercises, I did my visualizations… I did my positive self-talk,” said the neurobiologist. In revealing her pre-race rituals, Gabby Thomas also revealed how her methods match with 100m gold medalist Noah Lyles. While may be more outspoken than the 3x gold medalist, they both visualize their success before stepping into the field. The perfect example of the champion’s mindset.

The 3x Olympic gold medalist didn’t have an easy childhood. Growing up in a “low-income” household deprived the Harvard graduate of many privileges. Yet, seeing her mother succeed in the face of challenges inspired Gabby Thomas to do the same.