Gabby Thomas, a Harvard University alumna, is the epitome of Black girl magic after winning the bronze medal and competing against the fastest woman on earth in the women’s 200-meter final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The 24-year-old sprinter ran the 200-meter dash in 21.87 seconds, trailing behind Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah who won gold with a time of 21.53 seconds. Namibia’s Christine Mboma took home the silver medal and finished the race in 21.81 seconds, NBC 5 reported.
“It means a lot, because I really worked for that one. I fought tooth and nail for those last 30 meters. I did my best. I gave my best effort,” Thomas said after finishing the event, The Washington Post reported.
Prior to securing the bronze medal, Thomas graduated from Harvard with a degree in neurobiology and is currently working towards her master’s degree in public health with a concentration on epidemiology at the University of Texas.
The bronze medalist took to Instagram on Tuesday to thank family, friends and fans for their support and stated that she was “still in shock.”
“Wow. If a year ago you would’ve told me that I’d be leaving my first Olympic Games with a medal, I would’ve thought you were crazy. I am SO grateful for this. Even though I’ve spent the last two years preparing, I’m still in shock,” Thomas said.
Many, including Team USA took to Twitter to declare Thomas a superhero.
Wonder. Woman. ????????@ItsGabrielleT brings home the 200m bronze. #TokyoOlympics
pic.twitter.com/LQ5vCvLA3v— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 3, 2021
The sprinter said that it has always been a dream of hers to represent the United States in the Olympics.
Just over a month ago, she had no idea if she was going to be able to participate in the Tokyo Games, but the bronze medalist won the women’s 200 meters final during the Olympic trials in Oregon, earning a spot on the U.S. team, CBS reported.
"It's such a long journey, and so many days and hours of mental and physical preparation. And it just all came together in that one moment," she said.
Although the sprinter didn’t win the gold this time, she told The Washington Post that she hopes to do so in the future.
“I also want more for myself, and I want to come with the gold at some point,” she said. “So definitely looking forward to the next few years and being a different athlete.”
