Gabby Thomas Withdraws from Tokyo: Olympian's Injury Battle and Inspiring Outlook
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Gabby Thomas Withdraws from Tokyo: Olympian's Injury Battle and Inspiring Outlook
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About this listen
Fresh off a dazzling triple gold performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Gabby Thomas has been thrust into headlines again, but this time for all the reasons athletes dread. The biggest story of the week is her withdrawal from the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, originally set to headline the Team USA sprint roster after a nail-biting third-place finish in the 200 meters at the US Championships just last month. According to the Times of India and confirmed in her own words on social media, Thomas has been quietly battling a persistent Achilles tendon injury since May, which only worsened in July, and despite her tremendous grit at the trials, the injury has now sidelined her from the global stage. In her public statement, Gabby reassured fans and fellow athletes alike, saying it is “OK to be human and take care of myself,” and adding, “sometimes you simply can’t outwork an injury. Sometimes it’s about patience and making the right decision for the long term.”
As news of her withdrawal spread, Gabby took to Instagram to rally behind Team USA, enthusiastically sharing the official sprinting roster on her story with a heartfelt message cheering on her teammates, including Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Brittany Brown. She also expressed her surprise and gratitude at the flood of supportive messages from both fans and sponsors, saying their love for the sport “means so much” and promising, “I can’t wait to get back to myself and racing the best in the world. See you guys soon.”
With her exit, USATF promptly filled her coveted spot with McKenzie Long, who had narrowly missed direct qualification with an identical time to Thomas at nationals and holds a world-leading 21.93 mark this summer.
Off the track, Gabby has been forthright about her recovery journey, sharing openly with followers that she’s drawing inspiration from the Andre Agassi memoir “Open,” recommending it to anyone facing setbacks—a relatable touch that’s only endeared her to fans. On the business and social media front, the sprinter remains positive and visible, but there have been no fresh endorsements or commercial announcements linked to her in recent days. Meanwhile, the track world is left buzzing at the lingering “what if” of Tokyo without the reigning 200m Olympic champion on the blocks. Speculation about her return will surely grow, but in her own words, all bets are on a comeback in 2026.
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