'My coach had me writing essays' - Gabby Thomas on how training track at Havard University shaped her Olympic dreams

Gabby Thomas has explained how Harvard shaped her from becoming a mere Ivy League Star to the dominating sprinting powerhouse she now is.

Gabby Thomas has opened up about her transformation from Ivy League talent to one of the world's top sprinters, crediting her time at Harvard University as the foundation for her remarkable success. 

While she is celebrated now for her Olympic and World Championship performances, Thomas reflects on how her Harvard experience laid the groundwork for her transition to the elite level.

During her three years with Harvard’s track team, Thomas dominated the Ivy League, winning an impressive 22 conference titles across six different events. 

She set school and league records in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and indoor 60 meters, marking her as a standout even within Ivy League athletics. By October 2018, she had turned pro, signing a contract with New Balance and moving to Austin, Texas, to train under renowned coach Tonja Buford-Bailey. 

Her journey from Harvard to professional track hasn’t been just about medals but also about growing into the best version of herself, an evolution she attributes to her time at the university.

“The great thing about the track program at Harvard is that the culture there was just so conducive to growing and being better," she shared recently in an interview on  Why Not Me? with Mike Jackson.

 "I came in without understanding much about sleep, nutrition, or mindset. By the end of my freshman year, I felt like I was an expert.”

Thomas noted that her coach challenged her to push herself mentally and academically. “My coach had me writing essays,” she recalled, emphasizing that track became an entire course in itself. Harvard referred to this as ‘Your Fit Course,’ a philosophy that encouraged student-athletes to approach fitness and training with the same rigor as any academic subject. “I grew so much from that experience.”

Thomas’s competitive journey at Harvard wasn’t without setbacks. She entered with a modest personal best of 24.5 seconds in the 200 meters, a time she remembers some found unimpressive.

 But with grit and determination, she soon brought her times down to the 23-second range, allowing her to shine in Ivy League competitions. That early success motivated her to dream even bigger.

“When I started dominating in the Ivy League, it felt like a big deal,” Thomas admitted, “but I knew the NCAA was another level. Other girls were running 22s, even 21s, so I had a lot of work to do.” Her NCAA debut wasn’t easy—she finished last, an experience she recalls as both humbling and challenging. “At first, I was like, ‘Why can’t I do this when I believe I can?’ And all it took was consistency and discipline. That’s really it.”

Thomas’ determination soon propelled her beyond collegiate challenges. After Harvard, she completed a master’s degree in public health with a focus on epidemiology, all while pursuing her elite track career. 

Her rise on the world stage has been nothing short of extraordinary. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she secured a bronze in the 200m and silver with the U.S. 4x100m relay team. She followed this with a silver in the 200m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest and a gold in the 4x100m relay, setting a championship record of 41.03 seconds.

Thomas reached even greater heights at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she won three gold medals—one in the 200m and two in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, with the latter setting an American record and the second-fastest time in history.

Reflecting on her journey from Ivy League hopeful to world champion, Thomas said, “If I can do it, I definitely believe anyone can do it. If you can come from a small town with very mediocre times and go on to win at the NCAAs and beyond, it just takes so much consistency and the desire to achieve.”