Triple Olympics champion Gabby Thomas has stolen the spotlight from Sha’Carri Richardson as she is now the face of women’s sprinting, thanks to her heroics in Paris.
America and the world have a new track queen and her name is Gabrielle Lisa Thomas.
She simply goes by the name Gabby Thomas and for years now, she has been going under the radar as others hogged the limelight until the Paris Olympics.
Since the 2023 World Championships, Sha’Carri Richardson, who won 100m gold in Budapest, was the face of US track and field but after Paris, the tables have turned.
17:36 - 10.08.2024
Paris 2024: Touching podium image of Sha'Carri Richardson in tears serves as a testament to her Olympic redemption
Sha'Carri Richardson was in tears after winning her first Olympic gold medal at Paris 2024. The emotional moment was surely a testament to her Olympic redemption which started in 2021.
Richardson failed to claim gold in the 100m, settling for silver before anchoring Team USA to 4x100m relay gold, a race that Thomas was part of.
Failure to clinch the 100m gold, and not qualifying for the 200m, were seen as a setback somewhat for Richardson which took the spotlight from her and Thomas has now stolen it and running away with it.
Thomas claimed gold in the 200m, becoming the first American since Allyson Felix in 2012 to grab the title at the Olympics, and then played pivotal roles for Team USA in both 4x100 and 4x400m relay gold medal wins.
19:04 - 09.08.2024
Gabby Thomas explains how she overcame pressure of being favourite to win Olympics gold
Thomas was an overwhelming favourite to win the 200m gold following Shericka Jackson's withdrawal and she has opened up on how she overcame the weight of expectation.
With that, Thomas has become the most talked about athlete and what’s more, she has earned more accolades because of her academic accomplishments, given she has a Masters degree in public health, an inspiration to women around the world.
“I feel like I am a big name now in track and field,” she said after the 200m win. “I feel like I’ve earned my respect — and it took years. But that’s what it takes. I went against some really, really good runners today. And I did it.”
Indeed, Thomas is a big name now and Richardson will have to contend with playing second fiddle as her compatriot hogs the limelight.
15:00 - 13.08.2024
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Brands love sprinters and an Olympics champion who is well educated is a huge draw. Get ready for Gabby Thomas’ face on TV and billboards as well as public events.
While Richardson is the face of Nike, Thomas is the face of New Balance and the competition is going to be intense.
Already, Thomas is the face of Alexis Ohanian’s new women’s track event ATHLOS, whose purse for each winner is $60,000.
10:00 - 11.08.2024
Beatrice Chebet to walk away with biggest pay cheque from Team Kenya athletes at Paris Olympics
Double Olympics champion Beatrice Chebet will earn the highest amount from the Team Kenya contingent in at the Paris 2024 Games thanks to her heroics in 5,000m and 10,000m.
The cheques and deals were not coming because she was yet to win a gold medal but with three in Paris, there is no stopping the 27-year-old Harvard University graduate.