The Grand Slam Track weekend wasn’t just a meet. It was a spectacle. “Superstar athletes, high stakes, and the stories behind it. And that’s it. Stakes, stories, stars,” said Michael Johnson, describing the essence of his revolutionary new league. And in Kingston, Jamaica, that promise was delivered in full. Among many standout athletes, there was Gabby Thomas. Her exploits in Kingston had everyone’s jaws on the floor.
In a whirlwind three-day showdown in Kingston, Jamaica, track took on a thrilling new form, and Gabby Thomas conquered it all. The Olympic champion in women’s 200m displayed impressive versatality by running the 400m distance at Michael Johnson’s league. The famed 400m- known for testing speed and endurance. Yet, the Olympian proved she is built for it all. In the sweltering Kingston heat, Gabby Thomas reigned supreme to secure silver and pocket the whopping $100,000 reward. If you are wondering what is her secret, fret not. The 28-year-old is not the one to gatekeep.
Grand Slam Track took to X, “Before the Long Sprints double, @realtalkwithtee caught up with @itsgabbyt to discuss everything.” The timing couldn’t have been better. Gabby Thomas was about to take on a brutal 200m-400m combo, and yet, her composure said it all. This was an athlete who came to Jamaica not just to run, but to dominate. In the short chat, she peeled back the curtain on her mindset. “You know, I just trust in myself, and I trust in my training.” You don’t line up against Olympic champions and world leaders unless your prep has been elite, and Gabby’s confidence in her process was the foundation.
“I trust in myself, I trust in my training… I’m going to go out there, compete, and put it all on the line 𝙣𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩.”
Before the Long Sprints double, @realtalkwithtee caught up with @itsgabbyt to discuss everything from competing in Kingston to Gabby’s… pic.twitter.com/VksXdJBsQ8
— Grand Slam Track (@GrandSlamTrack) April 23, 2025
“So I’m going to go out there and compete and put it all on the line no matter what. I don’t know how fast it’ll be, but I know I’m going to be trying to win. And that’s all that matters,” Thomas added. After smoking the 200m field, she stepped back onto the track the next day for the 400m. Dropping a personal best of 49.14 seconds, the second-fastest time of her career and one of the best in the world this year. That mentality? Pure gold. And while she didn’t edge out Salwa Eid Naser’s 48.67 world leader, she did hold off Olympic champ Marileidy Paulino and locked in second place.
“I have the grit, and I have the heart.” Across three electrifying days in Jamaica, Gabby racked up 20 points, the highest in her group, and walked away as the inaugural Grand Slam Track champion. With $100K in the bag and a major statement, Gabby Thomas reminded the world exactly why she’s a force to be reckoned with every time she steps on the track.
Gabby Thomas sets her sights on LA 2028
Gabby Thomas is playing the long game. While most athletes are locked in on the 2024 season, Thomas already has her eyes set on the horizon. The 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. “I am definitely training for LA 2028,” she revealed to Swimsuit.si.com. But the road to a home-soil Olympics isn’t just about lacing up spikes and running fast. For Thomas, the true grind is mental. “It takes me about four years to mentally prepare for that,” she admitted. That kind of foresight and commitment speaks volumes about how deeply she invests in every step of her journey.
Reaching that Olympic podium again won’t come easy, and Thomas knows it. The climb is steep, filled with challenges that test more than just physical strength. It’s about crafting resilience brick by brick, season by season. “It takes me about four years to mentally prepare for that.” A quote that encapsulates the intensity of her preparation. Fitness is just one part of the puzzle; building the mental fortitude to withstand the pressure of Olympic expectation is a task on its own.
But if there’s one thing that’s made that journey more fulfilling, it’s Grand Slam Track. From the very first day, Thomas was totally on-board with Michael Johnson’s vision of a league like Grand Slam Track. “I am so excited to be joining Grand Slam Track, and partnering with Michael Johnson to give our sport the platform it deserves.”, the Olympic champion shared with the Citius Mag. After her phenomenal show at the Kingston edition of the GST and with LA 2028 on her vision board, Gabby Thomas is sprinting towards the future, one medal at a time.
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