Harvard University graduates have gone on to be presidents, governors and senators. But if Gabby Thomas wins Tuesday's women's 200m in Tokyo, she will have something no Harvard graduate has: a track-and field gold medal from the Olympic Games. Although a Harvard graduate did win a triple jump gold medal back in 1896 he did not graduate.Thomas is a strong contender for the women's 200 m medal. She ran the 200-m race at the U.S Olympic Track & Field Team Trials, June 21.61 seconds. This was the third fastest 200-m sprint ever recorded. She was the second fastest woman to run the race in history. Florence Griffith-Joyner set the world 200-m record in 1988.Gabby Thomas celebrates crossing the finish line in the Women's 200m Final at Hayward Field, June 26, 2021, Eugene, Oregon. Steph ChambersGetty ImagesTo win Olympic gold in Tokyo, you will need to beat a lot of talented athletes. The women's 200 m field is filled with talented sprinters such as Elaine Thompson-Herah from Jamaica, who won the gold medal in 2016 and won the Tokyo 100 m gold in 2017. Namibia's Christine Mboma ran faster than Thomas in their semifinal heat.Thomas is pursuing a master's degree in epidemiology and management at the University of Texas at Austin. He is driven by a passion for improving racial health outcomes and disparities.Thomas is able to balance it all, even though such a busy schedule can seem overwhelming. She said that being in school makes it easier to appreciate the work I do on the track at Trials.Continue reading: Meet 6 Heroes That Helped to Battle COVID-19 before Competing in the Tokyo Olympics & ParalympicsHarvard University - Running and StudyingThomas, who was born in Atlanta, and has a twin brother started running at the suggestion of her mother, Dr. Jennifer Randall. Sports Illustrated reported that Thomas was essentially born to be an athlete.Thomas did not start running seriously until her junior year at Williston Northampton School, Massachusetts, despite her mother's encouragement. She was a star and was invited to Harvard to compete at the 100 m and 200 m, triple jump and long jump. She was the Ivy Leagues Most Outstanding Track Performer for 2017 and 2018, and she won the NCAA 200 m title in 2018. Thomas was a determined and dedicated student, so running was almost an afterthought. She majored in Neurobiology and Global Health at Harvard. Her interest was sparked by an undergraduate course about the Tuskegee Experiment. It changed my life. I think it shaped my Harvard experience. Thomas shared her thoughts on My New Favorite Olympian podcast.Thomas also stated that her interest in neurobiology stems from her twin brother who has ADHD, and her younger brother who has autism. She told The Undefeated that neurobiology was a passion for both my brothers.Training for the OlympicsThomas graduated from Harvard in 2019 and moved to Texas to join Buford-Bailey Track Club in Austin, which was founded by Tonja Buford-Bailey in 1996. She also enrolled in the University of Texas' masters program in epidemiology. Texas was where Thomas really found her groove. According to the Olympics website the Bailey Bunch was one of the few training groups that included Black women and was led by a Black woman coach. This environment allowed Thomas to develop as a runner. She told NBC's On Her Turf that she knew I had to be in a training environment conducive to serious training if I wanted the Olympics.But there was one hurdle. Thomas was diagnosed with a liver tumor in May. Thomas stated on My New Favorite Olympian that I told God I thought I was going to win trials if I was healthy. If it isn't cancer, I will make the team. Thomas did exactly what she promised. She made the Olympic team with impressive style.Thomas still marvels at her performance at the Olympic Trials, even months later. It still shocks me. It is unbelievable that I have put up this much effort. She told The Washington Post that she just wants more for herself now. My dream was to be on the Olympic team. I didn't want to win the Olympic trials or break the meet record. I'm now going to set bigger goals after achieving those.Learn more about the Tokyo OlympicsGet the Brief. Register to get the best stories right now. Enter valid email address. * Your request was unsuccessful and timed out. Please sign up again. Sign up now! An error occurred during your registration. Please try again later. If you don't wish to receive promotional emails from TIME, please check the box. You may unsubscribe at anytime. Signing up means you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policies. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy, Terms of Service and Terms of Service also apply. We are grateful! We have sent you a confirmation email for your security. To confirm your subscription, click the link and you will start receiving our newsletters. Please check your spam folder if you do not receive the confirmation in 10 minutes.Write to us at letters@time.com
