'I Was Very Self Aware'- Gabby Thomas Opens Up About Struggling With Body Image

Olympic champion Gabby Thomas has revealed her long-running struggle with body image and societal expectations

Thomas who has had a stellar athletic career marked by five Olympic medals, including three golds from the 2024 Paris Games has recently opened about her long-standing battle.

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Speaking in a recent interview Sports Illustrated, Thomas shared how her tall, athletic build, an asset on the track, became a source of internal conflict off it.

Thomas who is 1.78m tall, debuted in the magazine’s swimsuit edition, using the platform to reflect on her journey of self-acceptance.

"I was definitely very self-aware of my body, and my body type," said Thomas, recalling her early days as a sprinter.

"I teetered between not wanting to look too masculine and strong, and also wanting to maintain a feminine look and also be thin."

The Harvard graduate with a degree in Micribiology acknowledged that the pressures of conforming to traditional beauty standards often left her feeling unsure about her identity.

However, Thomas said track and field played a pivotal role in helping her reclaim confidence in her appearance.

"Track helped me get more comfortable in my own skin," she said.

"What I would tell girls now is to not worry about what society thinks about your body. Don't worry about what society tells you your body is for. That's for you to decide, and you can do amazing things with it."

Following her Paris triumph, Thomas has carried her form into the 2025 season with dominant performances in the Grand Slam Track series.

Thomas stormed to victory at the inaugural meet in Kingston, Jamaica, taking home a $100,000 prize, and backed it up with another win worth $50,000 in Miami.

The Olympic champion is looking to utilize the bumper winnings for her dream wedding to long-term boyfriend Spencer McManes whom she recently got engaged to.

Thomas has her sights on the 2025 World Athletics Championships set for September in Tokyo, where she is expected to be a key contender.