Harvard grad Gabby Thomas (Neuro ‘19) won three gold Olympic medals at the Paris Olympics this month. She chased down her first gold for her individual performance in the 200-meter dash in Paris on August 6 with a winning time of 21.83 seconds. Thomas won the bronze medal for the same race in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and the silver medal in the 2023 World Championships. Later in the week, Thomas won gold as part of the 4 x 100 meter relay team and then again in the 4 x 400 meter relay making her the fifth woman to win three gold medals in the same Olympics in track and field.
As a Harvard student, Thomas set eight all-time Harvard records in women’s track, six in individual events, and two as part of a relay.
At Harvard, Thomas concentrated in Neuroscience with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. She later earned a public health master’s degree from the University of Texas, Austin, and eyes a PhD in the future, too.
“It was thrilling to watch Gabby take the gold and be celebrated by the world this Olympics,” says Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies in Neuroscience Ryan Draft, who was Thomas’ advisor. “To see a person excel at the highest level in academics and athletics is truly unbelievable. We in Neuroscience are proud, and we can’t wait to follow her next victory in sports and her budding career.”
While training for the 2024 Olympics during the day, in the evenings Thomas volunteered at an Austin healthcare clinic for individuals lacking insurance. According to an interview with Olympics.com Thomas credits her volunteer work with sharpening her focus and helping her decompress from the grind of training. “And then I get to go to the clinic and volunteer and make a difference in people’s lives. So I feel so fulfilled, and I feel so passionate about everything I do. And [that all] really just comes from gratitude.” Thomas’ long-term career goal off the track is to run a hospital or nonprofit to democratize information and access to health care.
