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Paris Oymmpics sprint queen Gabby Thomas talked on the most important topics as an elite sprinter, delving majorly into self-compassion and dealing with mental pressure. With the 2025 season already done and dusted, three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas is shifting her focus to a quality often overlooked in the high-stakes world of elite athletics: self-compassion. "Self-compassion has been crucial throughout my athletic career," Thomas revealed in an exclusive interview with Her Campus. "If I’m being too hard on myself, it can chip away at my confidence and affect my self-care routines." The renowned American sprint queen and Harvard graduate, represents a unique blend of fierce determination and intellectual rigor. However, she credits the quiet strength of self-compassion as being just as vital to her success as any physical training regimen. "My own self-care is important, like how I speak to myself, getting rest, and prioritizing mental health," Thomas explained. "But it’s also about how I show up for my community and the people around me. Surrounding myself with people and routines that make me feel grounded is a big part of my self-care." While Olympic sprinters are often known for their fierce and disciplined nature, the 28-year-old argues that compassion—for herself and others—is a foundational source of power, not a weakness. Her work as a public health advocate off the track gives her a professional understanding of well-being, which directly informs her personal approach. Thomas is currently channeling her passion for equity into a partnership with Mrs. Meyer’s for their "Lots of Compassion" initiative, which transforms vacant lots into community gardens. "This work is incredibly important and personal for me because my mom has always taught me to leave places better than you found them," she said. "Health and well-being are very important to me, and off the track, I carry that same spirit into my work at my local community health clinic." This professional background also provides Thomas with a unique insight into public perceptions of athletes' mental health. "One of the misconceptions that the public has about athletes is that we are superhumans who don’t experience doubt or get shaken up," she noted. "Truthfully, we feel anxiety and burnout just like everyone else, but perhaps magnified due to the expectations placed on us." Dealing with mental pressure as an elite sprinter Gabby Thomas is no stranger to this immense pressure. She recalled a low point in 2022 while recovering from a torn hamstring that disrupted her season. "I was worried about proving to myself and everyone else that I could come back feeling like myself, or stronger," she shared. "In this moment, I had to lean into self-compassion and remind myself to not focus on what could go wrong, but to focus on how much had gone right." Her strategy involved a gentle shift in mindset rather than an intense physical push. "I reminded myself how much work and resilience it took to get back on the track and that real progress takes time," she said. "I started practicing gratitude journaling and prioritizing rest—ultimately, these self-compassion tools are what helped lead me to winning three Olympic golds just two years later." She further explained: "Not only has compassion been key for me in my academic career, but also in my track career. It helps me reset after setbacks, and also makes me a better teammate." Thomas welcomes the increasingly open dialogue surrounding mental health in sports. "I’m glad these conversations are happening now so that being open about mental health struggles is no longer stigmatized, but rather humanizing," she stated. "Creating more compassion across sports culture is definitely important to me." After a bright start to the 2025 season by winning her trademark 200m event and running a personal best in the 400m at the Grand Slam Track in Kingston, Thomas' season became traumatized with lingering Achilles injury that saw her withdraw from the World Championships in Tokyo. With the disappoitment now behind and full recovery expected for next year, Thomas will be gunning to bounce back stronger and regain her position as one of the world's best sprinters.
