Being fast is one thing, but being famous for it? That’s a whole different kind of race, especially in track and field. Sure, winning medals feels amazing, but when you’re in the spotlight, it’s not just the cameras watching; it’s everyone. And not all of them are cheering. Twanisha “TeeTee” Terry, 26, knows exactly how that game works. She’s not just known for her blazing speed—she’s known for handling the heat, on and off the track. As part of the U.S. women’s 4×100m relay team, Terry helped clinch gold at the Paris Olympics with a smoking 41.78-second finish alongside Melissa Jefferson, Gabby Thomas, and Sha’Carri Richardson.
Twanisha Terry’s resume speaks for itself, but today wasn’t her day. At the 2025 World Athletics Relays in China, she, along with Mikiah Brisco, Caisja Chandler, and Kayla White, raced in the Women’s 4x100m Relay final. They crossed the line in fourth place with a time of 42.38 seconds, meaning they missed out on a spot for the World Championships in Tokyo. Great Britain snagged the gold with a solid 42.21, Spain followed close behind in second at 42.28, and Jamaica took third with 42.33.
Even though Terry has racked up a lot of wins in the past in track and field, this one relay was the game-changer. Fans were quick to share their opinions, and it shows a reality that no matter how many golds you bring home, the internet doesn’t always give you flowers—sometimes, it’ll just hand you a T-shirt. After that bitter loss, Terry faced some online shade.
A track and field fan, aka a user who followed her, started tweeting like he had beef. Terry wasn’t having it. She fired back on X with, “LMAOOOOOO, how do you follow me but tweet like you hate me?” You’re the same grown man who apologized when I called you out on something. Find something safe to do and somebody else to play with. Grown men are on here gossiping more than women. Go outside and build something.” Yeah, she said what she said.
LMAOOOOOO how you follow me, but tweeting like you hate me. You’re the same grown man that apologized when I called you out on something. Find something safe to do and somebody else to play with. Grown men be on here gossiping more than women. Go outside and build something.
— Twanisha Terry, OLY (@TeeTeeTerry_) May 11, 2025
Of course, that lit a spark. Another user, Fonsman, jumped in: “What’s up with athletes hating criticism? This is the only sport where athletes get criticized and respond to fans online. Ignore comments and run!!!” Terry kept it real: “I don’t hate criticism at all because that comes with it. Neither do I sit and respond to all fans. It’s when people get disrespectful and call us our names.”
Fonsman tried to offer advice: “They do that in all sports, TT. Trust me, in other sports the disrespect is worse… They want you to respond. Don’t fall into the trap.” Terry’s final word? “Understood.” Fast on the track. Faster with the clapback. And honestly, have you noticed how track and field folks have been getting bold lately with the disrespect toward track and field athletes? It’s not just shade—it’s turning into a pattern. Just look at what Gabby Thomas called out recently.
To succeed in track and field, athletes need guts, not just speed
Track and field athletes have often faced backlash, but few have handled it with the strength and grace of Gabby Thomas. Last year, after her impressive 200m win at the NYC Grand Prix with a time of 22.42 seconds, she was met with a disrespectful comment from a fan on X. The fan expressed a desire not to see her medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, saying, “Something about Gabby Thomas just makes me not wanna see her medal at the Olympics… I just can’t put my finger on it!”
Rather than letting the negativity get to her, Thomas responded with compassion, saying, “This is so mean. Sending you love and healing.” Fast forward to the Paris Olympics, where she delivered a gold medal performance in the 200m with a time of 21.83 seconds. She returned to the comment with a sense of humor, replying, “I meant to come back to this; I almost forgot .” But that wasn’t the only challenge Thomas faced.
In January 2025, after skeptics questioned her academic credentials, she responded with her wit. A user doubted her intelligence, to which she replied, “You’re probably right darn my Harvard degree.” Having earned her degree in neurobiology and global health from Harvard in 2019 and a master’s in epidemiology from the University of Texas in 2023, Thomas’s academic achievements are undeniable.
Yet, some track and field fans took to social media with racist comments, claiming that she hadn’t earned her spot at Harvard because of her race. As if that wasn’t enough, in March 2025, Thomas faced more online hostility. After sharing a playful TikTok video attempting a popular dance move, a fan insultingly referred to her as a “white woman.“
But true to her resilient nature, Thomas didn’t let it slide. She fired back confidently, stating, “You got the wrong one.” It’s clear that to be a top-tier athlete like Gabby Thomas, you need more than just physical skill—you need to be tough as nails mentally. And Thomas is proving, time and time again, that she has the mental strength to match her Olympic gold.
The post Disrespected by Fans After Bitter Loss American Track and Field Star Vents Frustration with Strong Response appeared first on EssentiallySports.