One of my favorite things about watching sports is bearing witness to the moment that changes everything for an athlete, the moment that you know is going to propel their star power far beyond the confines of their competitions. For Gabby Thomas, that moment was in Paris when she became the Olympic Champion in the 200-meter sprint. And since then? Well, it's been exactly as expected: “My life has changed a lot,” says Gabby.

In the months after securing three gold medals at the Games (one individual and two from the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams, respectively), she’s been thrust into a mainstream fame and notoriety that has solidified her as an undeniable track and field great, yes, but it’s also given her space to indulge interests that have absolutely nothing to do with her day job. And as she’s someone who places a high value on balance and being a well-rounded person, this mix is exactly how she likes it.

Just take a look at her Instagram feed: She’s snapping cute pictures at the U.S. Open. She’s sitting front row at New York Fashion Week. She’s standing next to rappers and supermodels. She’s on the cover of Vogue. She has an exciting Cava partnership. So, yeah. It’s giving range. “The whole thing has just been one big adventure,” she says. “I’m still growing as a person and in my life experiences and I’m really excited to continue to water these other areas of my life that are new.”

But lest you think life post-Paris has been all fun and games for Gabby, try again. She’s already going full force for a “pretty demanding 2025,” she says, which includes training for the U.S. National Championships, the Grand Slam Track League, World Championships, and the brand-new Athlos women’s track league, which was started by Alexis Ohanian (aka Mr. Serena Williams). On top of that, she’s staying up on her regular work at a local health clinic.

When I talk with Gabby over Zoom during the second full week of the New Year (thanks to that aforementioned Cava partnership!), she’s fully settled into this new normal but still relishing this last life-changing year. We chat about the moments that got her here, the ones she’s looking forward to, and literally everything else in between, because well, balance. Keep scrolling read about her baecation to the Maldives, the pressures she faces being a Black female athlete, her fashion and beauty tastes, her current little treat fixation, and so much more.

You’re coming off a thrilling 2024! For the new year, what are three of your “outs” and three of your “ins”?

Oooh, I like that. My first out: fighting my hair. I’m embracing natural beauty and gonna let it do what it does. Energy drinks are out for me, and this is kind of deep, but just overextending myself. That’s out. Then ins are more racing and having fun with my work. I love competing and I want to be able to do what I love more often. And for the last one, I would say more skincare and general beauty regimen. I want to really take care of myself in that way. I’ve been less focused on that, and 2025 is the year to blossom into everything I want to be.

Can you tell me more about the not fighting your hair?

As a female athlete, and especially as a Black female athlete, you have to look a certain way or else you’re susceptible to a lot of criticism, and it almost always comes back to how our hair looks. I’m so cognizant of that, and I’m in a space now where I don’t want to be imprisoned by that mentality. I’ll be so stressed out before a race thinking, Oh my god, my hair is not gonna be perfect. People are gonna say something on the internet. I’ll be straightening it or trying to slick it back. When I go run, I don’t want to worry about if my edges are done, if my hair is straight, or about my marketability because I’m choosing to just exist as I am. We’re seeing a shift in this among Black female athletes, and I’m really proud of that and I want to be a part of that. There’s so much power in showing up as naturally as possible—for myself, but also for the next generation who looks up to us.

I love that you’re thinking about legacy and impact in this way because that message transcends sports. It also makes me think of this continued greatness among the Black women on the relay teams. What does it mean to you to be a part of that?

We had our relay camp just a couple of days before the Olympics started, and during that time, we actually had a Zoom call with [gold medalists] Allyson Felix, Carmelita Jeter, and Tianna Bartoletta. They gave us advice and it was very inspiring because these are women that all four of us had looked up to growing up. Seeing them pass the baton to us—literally, no pun intended—it just meant so much. We had such a short amount of time to get it together, but we went into it having a shared goal and wanting to continue the legacy. It’s a special bond and moment, especially in a sport where most of it is individual.

Were y’all about to celebrate after the win?

Ugh, girl! We were so busy! I still had to compete because I had the 4-x-4 relay, and that is the last day of track and field. And then the other girls, they had to do their 48-hour media tour. So we celebrated...on the track and through our post-race interviews together. *laughs*

Y’all need to properly get a celebration in! A little trip or something!

I know. But the victory tours are a lot of fun, too, to celebrate what we accomplished in Paris in front of the world. For me, personally, after I finished all of my races and did my media tour, I went on vacation with my boyfriend to the Maldives and it was the most relaxing, like holistic wellness, retreat. I needed to kind of go off the grid for a little bit.

I saw that on TikTok—we love a baecation! What kind of travel girl are you? Are you the type to get up at 8 a.m. for the excursions?

I am very much a rest and recovery girl, so no. I did water therapy, sound therapy, the spa, met with a wellness advisor—the entire thing was tailored to resting and regrouping, which is just so central to my life and my core beliefs. I was waking up and doing what I felt like doing. I didn’t feel stressed or pressured. I have so much of that in my day-to-day life and I really wanted a break from it. My life is really all about balancing. It’s huge for me.

Why is that so important to you, and especially to have other interests to maintain that balance?

I really think that life should be fueled by joy and purpose, and that’s what’s sustainable for me. It would be so difficult for me to only bring straight intensity every day of my life to track and that be all I thought about. That would overwhelm me. Same thing with my work at the health clinic and in public health. It’s just so nice to go do that part of my life and volunteer, and then be able to look forward to what I’m doing on the track. That’s how I’m able to do it so well at the highest level.

Speaking of other interests, you’ve been more in the fashion and beauty world now. What have you been playing around with in those spaces lately?

My makeup and skincare. I think I’m probably gonna start making some TikToks on it, too. It’s such a different way to express yourself. A big part of my job with running is how we express ourselves on the track and and how we style our uniforms, our hair, and our nails. I’m excited to expand on that and express myself even more and do looks that aren’t just athleisure and tailored to sport.

What does your pre-race GRWM look like?

I typically keep it simple on the track. I’m obsessed with lip gloss and love the Ami Cole lip oils. I also have this new obsession with the Kiss Impress lashes. That’s what I wore in the Olympics and everyone kept asking me what lashes I was wearing because they were, like, invisible. Then just a little blush. I love the Rhode pocket blush. Anything that’s super easy and functional, I’m all about it.

I love those Kiss lashes, too—they're magical, I swear. Okay switching gears: I know your boyfriend was in Paris with you and always has your back, but I’m curious about what support from your friends looks like.

My friends are incredible. I have my training partners who I see every single day. They really are my best friends and like my sisters. We go through so many hardships together and we get it. It’s emotional support and they make me better. Having that type of community every day as I’m training for the Olympics is crucial. I also have my my day-ones from Harvard who helped me get to where I am now before I was even considered a fast sprinter. They all came to Paris, too. I had a great squad. They just understand the life. I miss out on a lot of things being a professional athlete, like the girls’ trips and birthday celebrations, and having that understanding from them is just incredible. My high school friends also came out to Paris. I have this long line of community and support that that means everything to me. I don’t think I could be here without that because they just they keep me sane and balanced.

That’s incredible that they all pulled up to Paris. I’m being so nosy, but I need to know: What are the names of y’all’s group chats?

Oooh! Wait, let’s see. *pulls up phone* Okay, so you know we got multiple group chats. The one with my college girlies who ran track with me, it’s called Track Baddies. Then there’s another one that’s not track—we’re called me Migas. And then I got my training partners—we’re called The Gworls.

Oh my gosh, cute! For training, what's your go-to Cava order to fuel your body?

Right now my favorite Cava bowl is one of the new limited edition menu items, the Falafel Crunch Bowl. I'm obsessed. And if I'm not looking at the limited edition menu, I love to make my own bowl and I put everything in it: greens, the crazy feta, the hummus. And I always get pita chips.

Okay yum. And when you’re not fueling your body, what’s your go-to junk food?

It’s so annoying because it's not for real junk food, but my current fixation is my Ninja Creami. My mom got me one for Christmas, and I have just been nonstop. I have been really into making my own little sorbet. I made the best mango sorbet yesterday with coconut—it was better than ice cream. I’ll also do it with peanut butter and chocolate protein powder, and it’s so freaking good. So that’s what I’m on right now. That’s my vibe.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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