Is there anything that Gabby Thomas cannot do? Apart from being the Olympic gold medalist, Thomas is also an accomplished professional. Having earned a master’s degree from the University of Texas in public health, Thomas has taken on voluntary work. She is currently involved with a hypertension intervention program at a local clinic in Austin. Sounds quite marvelous, right? And if this was not interesting enough, Thomas has now done something that has riled up the track and field realm significantly.
Gabby Thomas has been one of the biggest stars competing in the 100m and 200m categories. However, coming into the Grand Slam Track, Thomas signed in the long-sprint category. In quite an expected manner, Gabby Thomas dominated proceedings and took the victory in the first installment earlier this month, back in Jamaica. But as the multi-million-dollar caravan headed towards Miami, Thomas dropped a shocker. So much so that the Slam history is about to change!
In a recent announcement, Gabby Thomas announced her participation in the 100m and 200m short sprint categories. While this will be an entirely new challenge for Thomas, this update hints at a tantalizing duel coming up. For the first time in Slam history, two Slam champions will be crossing paths. Back in Jamaica, it was Melissa Jefferson who took the victory in both the 100m and 200m disciplines.
The first time ever a Slam Champion faces against another Slam Champion https://t.co/bkgBvZAaaA
— Grand Slam Track (@GrandSlamTrack) April 24, 2025
However, apart from the two Slam champions clashing, the short-sprint category will see a stacked lineup. With the likes of Daryll Neita, Tamari Davis, Brittany Brown, Jacious Sears, and more lining up, the races will surely be a banger. However, with Thomas coming down to the short sprint, there has been a gaping hole left in the long sprint category.
Naturally, fans expressed their concerns about who will be leading the division from now on. Thankfully, the replacement has already arrived. And it’s quite a strong one.
Isabella Whittaker blazed into history with a record-breaking 400m and clutch relay finish
Isabella Whittaker’s ascension to the pinnacle of collegiate track and field has been nothing short of electric. The Arkansas standout shattered the American and collegiate indoor records in the 400 meters with a blazing 49.24-second performance at the 2025 NCAA Division I Indoor Championships—becoming the second-fastest woman in history over the distance.
Just an hour later, she returned to anchor the Razorbacks’ 4×400 relay squad to victory, sealing a dramatic duel against Olympian Aaliyah Butler with a 49.71 split and delivering her team a season’s best and facility record. The performance came just months after Whittaker was named one of nine finalists for the 2024 NCAA Woman of the Year Award, a historic honor for both Penn, where she began her collegiate career, and the Ivy League.
Now competing for Arkansas in her final season, Isabella has not only rewritten record books but also stamped her name among legends. “I just want to hold on to this feeling forever,” she said after her sensational double. Having missed the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championships due to injury, Whittaker’s comeback couldn’t have been more emphatic. She left Virginia Beach with two national titles and a legacy cemented in both Penn and Arkansas history.
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