In a sport where mishaps and exclusions have become the norm, the sidelining of popular athletes has become a spot of bother when major events draw near. Seasoned Olympic veteran Michael Johnson was hurled into the vortex lately because of a slip-up in mentioning Gabby Thomas’ name in an X post. Was this a simple Freudian slip or is there a more nebulous system teeming with the track world? Ardent Gabby Thomas fans were all up in arms about this.

Gabby Thomas has been an underrated gem for U.S. track and field. She is putting her best foot forward at the 2024 World Athletics Relays, earning a Paris berth for the women’s 4x100m event. In addition, coming off a personal best of 21.60 in Eugene 2023, Thomas is looking forward to the 200m event in the Summer Games, calling it a “very intense and historic race.” That’s not all she’s been doing lately.

Looking beyond the Olympics, Gabby recently joined hands with Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian as he launched his all-woman track and field extravaganza, the 776 Invitational. Considering how visible Thomas has been both on and off the track recently, the online community questioned Michael Johnson as to why he left her out of his list of track and field hopefuls. Especially given his decades of athletic knowledge – over and above his four Olympic golds and eight World Championship golds.

Notorious for his gift of the gab, the 56-year-old caused a stir when he tweeted, “Track is in pretty good hands the next few years! NOW: Noah, Sydney, Sha’Carri, Karston, Shericka, Grant, Athing, Faith, Jakob. NEXT: Letsile, Rhasidat, Julian, Erryon, Yared. Who am I missing?” But where was Gabby Thomas? That was the question on almost everyone’s minds.

A remarkable athlete, Thomas wowed everyone in Tokyo in 2021 by winning a silver medal in the 4x100m relay and a bronze in the 200m event. She battled a hamstring injury in 2022 but made a comeback at the 2023 World Athletics Championships to win a silver medal in 200m. Her time of 21.60s was the fourth-fastest in history. She finished the competition with a gold medal in the 4x100m relay.

With the Paris Olympics getting ever closer, all eyes are on Thomas to add the elusive Olympic gold to her collection. In fact, that’s all she’s got her eyes focused on, too. “It’s a matter of what I feel most comfortable and confident doing. But my goal is to focus on the 200, and to get the gold in the 200 meters.” Not only on the tracks, Gabby lent her spirit beyond personal achievements as well. Her standing by Alexis Ohanian signified a greater cause.

“I am excited to partner with forward-thinking organizations like 776 that share our vision for advancing women’s track,” Thomas explained. “Through this investment, we hope to not only provide athletes with the resources and visibility they need to have enduring careers but also to inspire fans worldwide with a reinvented format to experience the best of our sport.” In a similar spirit, Gabby Thomas’ fans united on X, cheering her on after Michael Johnson’s miss.

Gabby Thomas “may feel slighted” by the omission, but her fans definitely were

Considering the enormous pressure modern-day athletes have conquered, it remains an affront to Gabby Thomas if this were done intentionally. Fans were quick to take note of this. Hence, one commenter replied to Johnson, sharing the names of various World Champions, podium winners, record-setters, and even medal prospects to broaden the track horizons.

“Actually, you’re missing a lot! Now: Gardiner, Miller Uibo, Dos-Santos, Kerley, Fraser-Pryce, Thompson-Herrah, Gabby Thomas. Future: Favour Ofili, Tamari Davis,” they wrote. The user brought up often overlooked and pertinent names instead of the conventional stars that Johnson picked out. Another reason why fans didn’t appreciate the omission of Thomas’ name was last week’s World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas.

There, Gabby Thomas won two gold medals for the United States in the women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relays. She ran an incredible 10.23 s on the second leg in the 4x100m relay final, helping Team USA set the championship record, clocking 41.85s. In the event’s history, this win was the country’s third gold. Again, at the women’s 4x400m relay, she produced a strong second leg and finished in 49.58 seconds. The team finished in 3:21.70 s, which set a new world record and second gold. This made more fans correct Johnson. “Now: Gabby Thomas,” wrote one, while another asserted, “GABBY.”

Another fan shared a new perspective by suggesting a pre-planned roster for the Olympics-headed women’s athletics team. They even encouraged the podium being shared with Team Great Britain.

Speaking of Femke, another user shared this sentiment, answering Johnson’s question with, “Clearly Femke and Gabby Thomas. But Abby Steiner and Britton Wilson could make comebacks, as Thomas did. Still very young.” Is Michael Johnson tongue-tied with the horde of comments he’s received? Well, as fans replied to his list – and weren’t too happy with it – one believed it was an “honest mistake.”

They wrote, “Gabby Thomas knows she’s one of the best, and although she may feel slighted, she should realize it was probably an honest mistake and that he failed to mention quite a few of the best.” That said, the roster for Team USA will be determined by the U.S. Olympic Trials from June 21-30. The winners will be the crème de la crème, with Gabby Thomas at the forefront of it all. And this we can take to the bank.