Gabby Thomas is making history for winning the women’s 200-meter dash during Saturday’s U.S. Olympic trials.
Thomas clocked in at 21.61 seconds, making her the second-fastest runner of all-time, NBC Sports reported. The 24-year-old ranks right under world-record holder Florence Griffith-Joyner, whose record run of 21.34 seconds remains untouched since her 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul victory.
“21.61 seconds – best to ever do it behind Flo Jo,” Gabby wrote on Instagram. “And I’m an Olympian!!!!! So so so grateful to everybody – especially my coach. Sending love to everyone who has supported me up to this point and to my new supporters. We’re just getting started.”
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Thomas has now secured a spot in the Tokyo Olympic Games that will take place next month.
Thomas beat her best records in all three rounds of the women’s 200 meters at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.
After her grand victory, she said, “I remember sitting in my granny’s house, and my mom told me to turn on Olympic Trials because she saw someone who reminded her of me,” Thomas said about Allyson Felix.
“Her humility and grace, and how good she is at what she does. She’s really the one that has been inspiring. To be on the team with her, makes me want to cry,” she added.
Now, the decorated Harvard grad is taking her career to the next level.
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The inspired track star told the Boston Herald, “I remember when I was a little girl watching [Olympic Trials], it just felt so far out for me,” Thomas said. “Do what you want. Dream big and take what is yours… If I can do it, you can do it.”
“I think it’s really exciting that I have the opportunity to try something that not a lot of people get an opportunity to do very often,” Thomas said of balancing academics and running. “I like it when other women, especially some of the younger athletes, come up and ask me how I’m doing, and it helps make me feel like I’m a role model. It’s really nice.”
