Gabby Thomas Inspires Young Athletes with Powerful Speech at USATF Awards
Gabby Thomas gave an uplifting speech after winning the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Female Athlete of the Year award at the USATF Night of Legends. Her message of dreaming big and never giving up motivated many young athletes in the crowd.
Thomas won the prestigious award for her incredible achievements at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. She won gold in the 200m and helped Team USA win both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. She also played a key role in setting a new American record in the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:15.51.
In addition to her Olympic success, Thomas ran five races in the 200m under 22 seconds, including a world-leading time of 21.78s at the US Olympic Trials.
In her speech, Thomas shared words of encouragement for young athletes, reminding them not to give up on their dreams, no matter how big they seem.
“To the young girls and boys watching, believe in yourself. When I was younger, I had big dreams too. Dreams that scared me because they felt too far away,” she said. “But you are capable of more than you can imagine. The world might tell you to be realistic or to follow a certain path, but don’t listen. Dream big, work hard, and believe in yourself.”
Thomas also encouraged athletes to keep going even on tough days. “Some days you might feel like giving up, and that’s okay. Rest if you need to, but never stop. Your dreams can inspire others, so don’t hold back. Be bold, be brave, and dream big.”
Gabby Thomas plans to build on her successful 2024 season and hopes to win her first individual world title in Tokyo next year.
