Gabby Thomas set the outstanding record of sprinting halfway around the Hayward Field Oval in just 21.6 seconds: she is now the second-fastest woman to ever run that distance behind Florence Griffith Joyner.
Thomas is not only a remarkable sprinter, but she also graduated from Harvard University with a neurobiology degree. She continues her education with the University of Texas, focusing on public health and epidemiology. Thomas speaks on her passion to “reduce health care disparities and outcomes,” a huge part of what contributes to her studies.
One of the classes she decided to take during her first semester was “Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired: Health Disparities and African Americans” taught by Professor Evelynn Hammonds. Thomas states that this class helped her question and understand “the reality of what’s going on in the country.” Thomas showcases clear passion for health care differences between racial groups: she continued to research and selected an independent study with Hammonds where she "compared the way addicts in mostly Black communities tended to be cast in news reports as criminals with the way media treated addicts in White, rural areas as victims” during the crack epidemic of the 1980s and opioid one of the 2000s. She hopes that her education and further studies can provide her the proper tools for accomplishing justice in her field.
But, Thomas states to not only have chosen Texas for “its academic offerings but also its proximity to the training group she joined with clear intent… The Buford Bailey Track Club.” This club is led by three-time Olymian Tonja Biford-Bailey and is one of the only “training groups of black women,” empowering Thomas through shared experience and skill amongst both her team and coach.
Gabby Thomas, on Tuesday August 3rd, finished third in the final behind Thompson-Herah and Mboma. But Thomas is not done yet, she states she accomplished her dream of making the Olympic team and is now ready to set higher goals. And we will be rooting for her!
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