Olympic gold medallist and Harvard graduate, 27, claims her work in health care helped her prepare for the Games.
August 6, 2024, in Paris, France American athlete Gabrielle Thomas celebrates winning the gold medal in the women's 200-meter final in the athletics competition at the Stade de France.
The 2024 Paris Games women's 200-meter final saw American sprinter Gabby Thomas win her maiden Olympic gold medal on Tuesday; she partially attributes this achievement to her second job.
In addition to her career as an Olympian, the 27-year-old works as a health care provider. She won silver as well as bronze in her inaugural competition in the Tokyo games.
Thomas graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in neurobiology and the University of Texas Health Science Center with an advanced degree in health promotion.
Thomas trained for three to six hours a day in the months before the Games, but she also worked nights at an Austin volunteer health clinic serving the uninsured.
The native of Atlanta, Georgia, told NBC News that one of the main factors in her success as a professional athlete has been her pursuit of a career outside of track.
I basically ran track part-time to get successful in track and field," the woman remarked. "And I believe that having other things in my life that help me achieve my goals and feel fulfilled is really important for my mental health."
Prior to the competition, Thomas told Olympics.com that pursuing a second career helped her focus and unwind after the relentless training schedule.
Thomas told Olympics.com, "I think I'm just so thankful to get to do what I love." "I think about it continuously, and even after a challenging track day, when I'm exhausted and having trouble breathing from practice, I just think, 'I'm so grateful to be able to do what I love for a living.'"
"And then I get to go to the clinic and volunteer and change people's lives," she continued. I therefore feel incredibly content and passionate about everything I do. And all of it truly stems from thankfulness.
Thomas stated that while competing in Los Angeles in 2028 and winning additional gold is her dream, her ultimate objective is to operate a hospital or charity organization to make accessible access to healthcare and information.
She told News channel, "I hope that I'm doing the same thing I'm doing now, which is letting my interests drive me."
