1 00:00:00,270 --> 00:00:03,720 Speaker 1: Peloton offers a wide variety of running and walking content 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:06,990 Speaker 1: to spice up your workouts, featuring world- class trainers who 3 00:00:06,990 --> 00:00:10,170 Speaker 1: inspire and challenge you. Whether you are hitting the pavement 4 00:00:10,170 --> 00:00:13,020 Speaker 1: with guided workouts on the Peloton app, or pushing it 5 00:00:13,020 --> 00:00:16,950 Speaker 1: on the tread, Peloton is your perfect running companion dedicated 6 00:00:17,010 --> 00:00:20,280 Speaker 1: to enhancing your running routine and helping your achieve your 7 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:24,960 Speaker 1: fitness goals. All access membership separate. Learn more about Peloton 8 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 1: Tread at OnePeloton. com forward slash running. Find the Peloton 9 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:32,460 Speaker 1: app in the Apple, Android and Google app stores today. 10 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:40,769 Speaker 2: Thank you, New York. Today we're reminded of the power 11 00:00:40,770 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 2: of community and the power of coming together. Athletes, on 12 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:46,170 Speaker 2: your mark. 13 00:00:48,300 --> 00:00:51,870 Speaker 3: The first woman to finish for the second straight year 14 00:00:51,870 --> 00:00:55,470 Speaker 3: here in the New York City Marathon is Miki Gorman, a smiling 15 00:00:55,470 --> 00:00:56,700 Speaker 3: Miki Gorman. And why not? 16 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:58,470 Speaker 4: 2: 29:30 the time for Grete Waitz. 17 00:01:00,270 --> 00:01:02,910 Speaker 5: Look at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan as she comes 18 00:01:02,910 --> 00:01:03,630 Speaker 5: to the line. 19 00:01:03,810 --> 00:01:07,830 Speaker 6: Pointing to his chest, pointing to the USA he so proudly 20 00:01:07,830 --> 00:01:16,649 Speaker 6: wears across his chest. A great day for Matt Kaplusky. 21 00:01:16,650 --> 00:01:20,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hi everybody, and welcome back to Set the Pace. This 22 00:01:20,190 --> 00:01:24,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: is our third episode of the day at a very 23 00:01:24,090 --> 00:01:27,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: special live recording we have going on right here at 24 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Citizens Stage at the TCS New York City Marathon 25 00:01:30,810 --> 00:01:34,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: Expo, presented by New Balance. We've got a great crowd 26 00:01:34,050 --> 00:01:36,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: here. My name is Rob Simmelkjaer, I'm the CEO of 27 00:01:36,750 --> 00:01:40,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Roadrunners, and also the co- host of Set 28 00:01:40,110 --> 00:01:43,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: The Pace. And first and foremost, let's bring out my 29 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:47,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: amazing co- host, Becs Gentry of Peloton. 30 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:50,730 Becs Gentry: Hello, hello. 31 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:55,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hello, Becs. Boy, that was such a fun conversation we 32 00:01:55,230 --> 00:01:58,559 Rob Simmelkjaer: just had with George Hirsch, the recipient of the Abebe 33 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: Bikila award. That's the episode that just dropped if you 34 00:02:01,860 --> 00:02:04,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: didn't hear it, it was so special to hear George 35 00:02:04,860 --> 00:02:07,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: tell all these stories about the history of New York 36 00:02:07,740 --> 00:02:10,679 Rob Simmelkjaer: Roadrunners and the marathon. Really special stuff. 37 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,620 Becs Gentry: Really special. Someone who has been involved in not just 38 00:02:13,620 --> 00:02:16,109 Becs Gentry: the sport of running, but the New York City Marathon 39 00:02:16,110 --> 00:02:20,730 Becs Gentry: for decades. And yeah, listeners at home please listen to 40 00:02:20,730 --> 00:02:23,130 Becs Gentry: it because you will laugh, you may cry. I had 41 00:02:23,130 --> 00:02:25,139 Becs Gentry: to hold back a tear or two when he talked 42 00:02:25,139 --> 00:02:27,630 Becs Gentry: about a love story, but you all know that I 43 00:02:27,630 --> 00:02:28,800 Becs Gentry: cry easily, so whatever. 44 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: It was special, and everybody should go listen to that. 45 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:38,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: But now we have another treat in store. Our guest 46 00:02:38,250 --> 00:02:41,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: on Set the Pace today, I think is proof of 47 00:02:41,580 --> 00:02:46,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: the idea that one human being really can have it 48 00:02:46,770 --> 00:02:51,419 Rob Simmelkjaer: all, actually have every possible- 49 00:02:51,419 --> 00:02:51,691 Becs Gentry: Literally, yeah. 50 00:02:51,691 --> 00:02:56,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... skill and talent that a human being could possibly 51 00:02:56,220 --> 00:03:00,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: have somehow all rolled up into one person, Team New 52 00:03:00,990 --> 00:03:05,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: Balance's Gabby Thomas. She's not only a five- time Olympic 53 00:03:05,730 --> 00:03:10,109 Rob Simmelkjaer: medalist, but this year she is serving as Grand Marshal 54 00:03:10,380 --> 00:03:15,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: of the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon. She's known for 55 00:03:15,750 --> 00:03:19,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: her record- breaking speed on the track. In case you 56 00:03:19,830 --> 00:03:23,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: didn't notice this past summer, Gabby went to Paris. 57 00:03:23,220 --> 00:03:23,760 Becs Gentry: Did she? 58 00:03:24,030 --> 00:03:27,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yes. It was like Emily, but a little bit different. 59 00:03:27,750 --> 00:03:30,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: Gabby and Paris had a pretty good time. She won 60 00:03:30,930 --> 00:03:35,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: not one, not two, but three gold medals at the 61 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:39,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: Paris Olympics, cementing her place among the sport's greatest athletes. And 62 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:45,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: by the way, beyond her athletic achievements, Gabby holds degrees 63 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:50,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: in neurobiology and public health, and she's using her platform 64 00:03:50,820 --> 00:03:55,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: to advocate for diversity in stem and healthcare access. Gabby 65 00:03:55,650 --> 00:03:58,621 Rob Simmelkjaer: went to Harvard, Gabby's done some things. And we- 66 00:03:58,621 --> 00:04:00,091 Becs Gentry: Gabby's going to leave. 67 00:04:00,091 --> 00:04:03,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... are so proud to have her as our grand 68 00:04:03,180 --> 00:04:09,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: marshal. Please welcome gold medalist, grand marshal of the 2024 TCS 69 00:04:09,270 --> 00:04:11,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York City Marathon, Gabby Thomas. 70 00:04:20,460 --> 00:04:20,491 Gabby Thomas: Oh my gosh, you guys. Oh my gosh- 71 00:04:20,491 --> 00:04:22,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: So great to have you here. 72 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:26,039 Gabby Thomas: What a hype squad, thank you. I'm backstage listening like, " 73 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:27,029 Gabby Thomas: Oh, my ..." Blushing. 74 00:04:27,300 --> 00:04:29,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: I mean, you don't have to be that good at hype 75 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:31,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: to hype Gabby Thomas- 76 00:04:31,980 --> 00:04:34,050 Becs Gentry: Oh, we're going to slay that. No. Yeah, we could have sit 77 00:04:34,050 --> 00:04:36,360 Becs Gentry: at deadpan and people are still going like, " Huh?" 78 00:04:37,950 --> 00:04:41,279 Rob Simmelkjaer: So Gabby, what you been up to this year? Anything interesting? 79 00:04:41,430 --> 00:04:45,150 Gabby Thomas: Oh my gosh. It's like what haven't I been up to 80 00:04:45,150 --> 00:04:49,860 Gabby Thomas: since the Olympics? My life has actually changed so much 81 00:04:50,610 --> 00:04:54,179 Gabby Thomas: since having those three gold medals, and it's been incredible, 82 00:04:54,180 --> 00:04:57,089 Gabby Thomas: it's been so much fun, it's been humbling. But even 83 00:04:57,210 --> 00:04:58,589 Gabby Thomas: what I really liked that you pointed out in my 84 00:04:58,589 --> 00:05:03,120 Gabby Thomas: intro is my five Olympic medals, because people forget about 85 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:06,120 Gabby Thomas: my bronze and silver so often, and it's been such 86 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:09,450 Gabby Thomas: a different experience coming from the Olympics with three golds. 87 00:05:09,750 --> 00:05:13,020 Gabby Thomas: I mean, my life has completely changed but I love 88 00:05:13,020 --> 00:05:13,950 Gabby Thomas: all my medals equally. 89 00:05:14,820 --> 00:05:17,339 Becs Gentry: That is so nice to hear as well, because I think 90 00:05:17,339 --> 00:05:21,570 Becs Gentry: I've been reading a lot of people's moments and mantras, 91 00:05:21,570 --> 00:05:24,750 Becs Gentry: and the things that they're going to remember for this race. And a 92 00:05:24,750 --> 00:05:29,310 Becs Gentry: lot of it is, was it finish lines, not times? 93 00:05:29,490 --> 00:05:32,490 Becs Gentry: And I think that is, yeah, gold? Amazing. Let's not 94 00:05:32,490 --> 00:05:36,150 Becs Gentry: take that away from you. But silver, bronze, even finishing 95 00:05:36,150 --> 00:05:39,150 Becs Gentry: 10th, 8th, whatever you are in the race, you got there. You did 96 00:05:39,150 --> 00:05:39,239 Becs Gentry: it. 97 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:39,720 Gabby Thomas: Exactly. 98 00:05:40,290 --> 00:05:44,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: Gabby, I've got to take you back to Paris. And 99 00:05:45,180 --> 00:05:45,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: you obviously- 100 00:05:45,870 --> 00:05:46,650 Becs Gentry: Rob, she's taken. 101 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:53,549 Rob Simmelkjaer: Not literally. But you did have that success in Tokyo, 102 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: but it was such a different Olympics, it was such 103 00:05:57,210 --> 00:06:01,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: a different time. Tokyo, of course was the Olympics that 104 00:06:01,710 --> 00:06:05,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: was delayed a year because of COVID. There were no 105 00:06:05,370 --> 00:06:09,839 Rob Simmelkjaer: fans in the stands. And so, you got through that 106 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:15,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: with success, and now you had three years to prepare 107 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:18,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: for the Paris Games. I met you last year as 108 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:21,839 Rob Simmelkjaer: you were starting to gear up for Paris. When you 109 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:26,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: got off the plane at Charles de Gaulle airport in 110 00:06:26,730 --> 00:06:33,599 Rob Simmelkjaer: the summer of 2024, did you envision the Olympics that 111 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:36,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: you would have, and the way that it would ultimately 112 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: change your life? Did you see all this coming? 113 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:46,680 Gabby Thomas: Yes. Great question. Yeah, so when I started this journey 114 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:50,100 Gabby Thomas: I moved to Austin, Texas after graduating college in 2019 115 00:06:50,100 --> 00:06:53,820 Gabby Thomas: with the hopes of making an Olympic team someday. I 116 00:06:53,820 --> 00:06:55,950 Gabby Thomas: wasn't sure if I was going to, but I had 117 00:06:55,950 --> 00:06:57,810 Gabby Thomas: that dream and I had that hope. And so, when 118 00:06:57,810 --> 00:07:00,690 Gabby Thomas: I made the Tokyo Olympic team in 2021, that to 119 00:07:00,690 --> 00:07:04,049 Gabby Thomas: me was such an accomplishment. At that point in my 120 00:07:04,050 --> 00:07:06,540 Gabby Thomas: life that was truly like my dreams had all come 121 00:07:06,540 --> 00:07:10,710 Gabby Thomas: true. And I didn't see myself as a medalist, or 122 00:07:10,710 --> 00:07:12,780 Gabby Thomas: even a gold medalist at that time, I just wanted 123 00:07:12,780 --> 00:07:15,900 Gabby Thomas: to say that I was an Olympian. And so, the Tokyo experience 124 00:07:15,900 --> 00:07:18,750 Gabby Thomas: for me was also a dream come true. I mean, 125 00:07:18,750 --> 00:07:21,150 Gabby Thomas: we couldn't have people in the stands, I couldn't have 126 00:07:21,150 --> 00:07:23,400 Gabby Thomas: my friends and family there, but I came out of 127 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,760 Gabby Thomas: the Tokyo Olympics a two time Olympic medalist, which for 128 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,820 Gabby Thomas: me was such a win at the time. And as 129 00:07:29,820 --> 00:07:33,060 Gabby Thomas: I look back, it still is, and I'm so proud of 130 00:07:33,060 --> 00:07:36,360 Gabby Thomas: that experience and I'm so proud of those medals because 131 00:07:36,630 --> 00:07:39,570 Gabby Thomas: of how far I had come in that moment. Now, 132 00:07:40,050 --> 00:07:42,900 Gabby Thomas: after I did achieve that I feel as though my 133 00:07:42,900 --> 00:07:47,340 Gabby Thomas: goalpost had moved. I had higher expectations for myself, I 134 00:07:47,340 --> 00:07:50,250 Gabby Thomas: had higher standards for myself, and I knew what I 135 00:07:50,250 --> 00:07:53,550 Gabby Thomas: was capable of. I knew that if I put my head 136 00:07:53,550 --> 00:07:57,239 Gabby Thomas: down and worked at it every single day consistently and 137 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:01,770 Gabby Thomas: with discipline, that I could achieve even more. And like 138 00:08:01,770 --> 00:08:05,010 Gabby Thomas: you said, I had three years to go back to 139 00:08:05,010 --> 00:08:07,619 Gabby Thomas: Austin, Texas and get ready for the next Olympics, and 140 00:08:07,620 --> 00:08:10,230 Gabby Thomas: get ready for Paris. And when I met you last 141 00:08:10,230 --> 00:08:14,520 Gabby Thomas: year, right as I was starting my training for the 142 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:19,140 Gabby Thomas: Paris 2024 Olympics, I was in a completely different headspace. I had 143 00:08:19,140 --> 00:08:21,930 Gabby Thomas: to tell myself that I was already a winner, that 144 00:08:21,930 --> 00:08:24,690 Gabby Thomas: I was the gold medal favorite, and that I was 145 00:08:24,690 --> 00:08:27,000 Gabby Thomas: going to get the gold medal. And I remember doing 146 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:30,390 Gabby Thomas: interviews, I remember speaking to my friends and family, and 147 00:08:30,780 --> 00:08:32,910 Gabby Thomas: I would say over and over again, " I'm going for 148 00:08:32,910 --> 00:08:36,030 Gabby Thomas: gold." Whether I really believed it or not, whether I 149 00:08:36,059 --> 00:08:38,160 Gabby Thomas: genuinely thought that I was getting that gold medal, it 150 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:40,350 Gabby Thomas: didn't matter. I had said it so many times to 151 00:08:40,350 --> 00:08:43,410 Gabby Thomas: myself and the others, that that was my standard. So, 152 00:08:43,410 --> 00:08:45,210 Gabby Thomas: I went in with a completely different headspace. 153 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:50,429 Becs Gentry: Wow, that visualization is huge, I think. It's definitely something 154 00:08:50,429 --> 00:08:55,080 Becs Gentry: that's gaining much more popularity with everybody, not just Olympic 155 00:08:55,080 --> 00:09:02,880 Becs Gentry: hopefuls, Olympic athletes. Okay, so Harvard, neurobiology, one of the 156 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:06,540 Becs Gentry: many things here. Do you think that your study of 157 00:09:06,540 --> 00:09:11,910 Becs Gentry: the human brain, human sciences has helped you in understanding 158 00:09:11,910 --> 00:09:16,740 Becs Gentry: how the brain and mentality plays a big role in 159 00:09:16,740 --> 00:09:18,450 Becs Gentry: success, not just in sports? 160 00:09:18,510 --> 00:09:22,709 Gabby Thomas: Yeah, absolutely. I think that when I was in college and 161 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:26,670 Gabby Thomas: I decided to study neurobiology, it gave me a deeper 162 00:09:26,670 --> 00:09:32,010 Gabby Thomas: appreciation for how powerful the brain is. And I remember 163 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:36,300 Gabby Thomas: being a freshman in college, and I had a coach 164 00:09:36,300 --> 00:09:39,690 Gabby Thomas: who, when you're a freshman in college I wasn't that 165 00:09:39,690 --> 00:09:43,050 Gabby Thomas: serious. I treated it like intramurals. But I remember my 166 00:09:43,050 --> 00:09:45,360 Gabby Thomas: coach telling me all of these things like, " Oh, you need 167 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:47,850 Gabby Thomas: to get enough sleep. Oh, you need to be really 168 00:09:47,850 --> 00:09:52,260 Gabby Thomas: consistent here. Oh, you need to meditate before you start 169 00:09:52,260 --> 00:09:56,730 Gabby Thomas: practicing." And at first I was thinking, " Okay, yeah." Eye roll, whatever. 170 00:09:56,730 --> 00:09:58,650 Gabby Thomas: Of course you have to do all those things. But 171 00:09:59,010 --> 00:10:04,620 Gabby Thomas: over time, I really appreciated it and understood why it 172 00:10:04,620 --> 00:10:08,730 Gabby Thomas: made a difference. And I took this course, this neuro 173 00:10:08,730 --> 00:10:11,939 Gabby Thomas: course on the power of meditation, and how it actually 174 00:10:11,940 --> 00:10:14,520 Gabby Thomas: changed neural pathways in your brain and how it made 175 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:16,050 Gabby Thomas: a difference. I took a course and I did a 176 00:10:16,050 --> 00:10:21,330 Gabby Thomas: project on neuroplasticity, so I understood how different muscle movements 177 00:10:21,330 --> 00:10:24,660 Gabby Thomas: that you practice and use routinely can actually just make 178 00:10:24,660 --> 00:10:27,209 Gabby Thomas: it easier when you actually go to training every day 179 00:10:27,210 --> 00:10:28,980 Gabby Thomas: and want to do it. So, I did have that 180 00:10:28,980 --> 00:10:31,950 Gabby Thomas: appreciation and I started to study sleep a lot more, 181 00:10:31,950 --> 00:10:34,050 Gabby Thomas: and I got terrified if I didn't get enough sleep 182 00:10:34,050 --> 00:10:36,360 Gabby Thomas: the night before practice, what was going to happen, because 183 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:38,820 Gabby Thomas: I understood it so deeply. And so, yeah, I took 184 00:10:38,820 --> 00:10:42,030 Gabby Thomas: those things very, very seriously. And I do think those 185 00:10:42,030 --> 00:10:44,880 Gabby Thomas: small things made such a big difference, because in our 186 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:47,010 Gabby Thomas: sport it's all about getting an edge. And when we're 187 00:10:47,010 --> 00:10:50,340 Gabby Thomas: thinking about elite performance it's about what you can do, 188 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:52,740 Gabby Thomas: these small differences that you can make to make you 189 00:10:52,740 --> 00:10:55,980 Gabby Thomas: just a little bit better, because the difference between getting 190 00:10:55,980 --> 00:11:00,150 Gabby Thomas: a gold medal and not medaling is like a hair. 191 00:11:00,510 --> 00:11:03,360 Gabby Thomas: So, every small thing matters, at least in the sprint 192 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:06,449 Gabby Thomas: categories. So yeah, I think it definitely had a big 193 00:11:06,450 --> 00:11:08,910 Gabby Thomas: impact on my preparations as an athlete. 194 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:12,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: So Gabby, I was in the stadium in Stade de 195 00:11:12,990 --> 00:11:18,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: France in Paris for the 200- meter final. And one thing that 196 00:11:18,990 --> 00:11:21,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: struck me, and I hadn't been to an Olympics track 197 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:24,569 Rob Simmelkjaer: and field event before, but one thing that struck me 198 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:28,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: is how quickly it all happens. You're there, and there 199 00:11:28,830 --> 00:11:31,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: are all kinds of events going on. There's heats, and 200 00:11:31,500 --> 00:11:35,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: there's field events, and there's relays, and then they announce, " 201 00:11:35,130 --> 00:11:38,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: Okay, it's time for the 200- meter finals for the 202 00:11:38,730 --> 00:11:42,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: women." And y'all come out and there's a little bit 203 00:11:42,090 --> 00:11:46,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: of a warmup, and then it just happens. You get 204 00:11:46,140 --> 00:11:50,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the blocks, and this crowd of 80, 000 people, which 205 00:11:50,220 --> 00:11:55,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: has been making all this noise, suddenly just hushes to 206 00:11:55,440 --> 00:12:01,079 Rob Simmelkjaer: absolute silence as you all get in your blocks and 207 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:06,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: take your marks. And I just cannot imagine, with all 208 00:12:06,420 --> 00:12:10,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: of your neuroscience, and your pathways, and all the things 209 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:15,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: that you've got, what is going through your mind in 210 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:19,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: those blocks at that moment? Can you try to take 211 00:12:19,110 --> 00:12:19,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: me there? 212 00:12:19,950 --> 00:12:26,730 Gabby Thomas: Yes, absolutely. Gosh. I mean, that moment is, thinking about 213 00:12:26,730 --> 00:12:29,220 Gabby Thomas: it now is just so intense, because it's such an 214 00:12:29,220 --> 00:12:34,530 Gabby Thomas: intense and emotionally charged moment. But I prepare for that 215 00:12:34,530 --> 00:12:38,670 Gabby Thomas: moment every day in practice. And so, the entire year 216 00:12:38,670 --> 00:12:41,820 Gabby Thomas: leading up to the 200- meter final at the Olympic 217 00:12:41,820 --> 00:12:44,819 Gabby Thomas: Games, I treat each practice as if it's that 200- 218 00:12:44,820 --> 00:12:47,880 Gabby Thomas: meter final, I treat each rep as if it's that 219 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:51,030 Gabby Thomas: final. I'm thinking, " Okay, this is just one rep on 220 00:12:51,030 --> 00:12:53,640 Gabby Thomas: a random Tuesday in January, but I'm going to treat 221 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:55,530 Gabby Thomas: it like it's the biggest deal, because I need to 222 00:12:55,530 --> 00:12:57,120 Gabby Thomas: be ready and I need to train my mind to 223 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:00,120 Gabby Thomas: be ready for that moment." It might be the 10th rep 224 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:04,170 Gabby Thomas: and I'm exhausted of, I've already done nine 200s that 225 00:13:04,170 --> 00:13:06,150 Gabby Thomas: day and I don't think I can move anymore. I'm thinking, " 226 00:13:06,150 --> 00:13:08,910 Gabby Thomas: No, this is a 200- meter final," I'm treating my training 227 00:13:08,910 --> 00:13:11,490 Gabby Thomas: partners like they're competitors and I get my mind in 228 00:13:11,490 --> 00:13:13,800 Gabby Thomas: it, and I have to get those mental reps in 229 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:16,500 Gabby Thomas: so I am prepared and ready for the actual moment, 230 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:20,760 Gabby Thomas: and the actual moment has to come easier. It just 231 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:22,260 Gabby Thomas: has to, so I need to be ready for that. 232 00:13:23,670 --> 00:13:28,110 Gabby Thomas: In the actual games, what I always say is it 233 00:13:28,110 --> 00:13:31,470 Gabby Thomas: is such a high pressure moment. The best way that 234 00:13:31,470 --> 00:13:34,470 Gabby Thomas: to deal with that is honestly to be able to 235 00:13:34,470 --> 00:13:37,800 Gabby Thomas: dissociate. And I think that I'm able to dissociate and 236 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:41,040 Gabby Thomas: focus my energy on what matters because of meditation. It's 237 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:44,550 Gabby Thomas: because of that mindfulness that I practiced every day for 238 00:13:44,550 --> 00:13:47,730 Gabby Thomas: years prior to that moment. It is so easy to 239 00:13:47,730 --> 00:13:50,429 Gabby Thomas: let that moment consume you. There are so many people 240 00:13:50,429 --> 00:13:54,390 Gabby Thomas: around you. Our sprints are, they're just so quick, they're 241 00:13:54,390 --> 00:13:57,750 Gabby Thomas: over in a second. So, if you are not prepared 242 00:13:57,750 --> 00:13:59,850 Gabby Thomas: and not ready, and you have a poor reaction time 243 00:13:59,850 --> 00:14:01,380 Gabby Thomas: or you make an error in the first couple of 244 00:14:01,380 --> 00:14:05,790 Gabby Thomas: steps, your competitors are already gone. They're gone, and everyone 245 00:14:05,790 --> 00:14:07,860 Gabby Thomas: in that race wants a gold medal and everybody in 246 00:14:07,860 --> 00:14:11,700 Gabby Thomas: that race is incredible. So, the focus and dissociation that 247 00:14:11,700 --> 00:14:13,620 Gabby Thomas: you have to be able to practice in that moment 248 00:14:13,650 --> 00:14:17,850 Gabby Thomas: is critical. And that's what I say. I mean, to 249 00:14:17,850 --> 00:14:20,790 Gabby Thomas: my training partners and younger athletes who want to be 250 00:14:20,790 --> 00:14:23,130 Gabby Thomas: ready, and prepared, and able to focus, I say you 251 00:14:23,130 --> 00:14:25,050 Gabby Thomas: have to train it every day leading up to that 252 00:14:25,050 --> 00:14:26,790 Gabby Thomas: moment. It cannot be that moment where you say, " I 253 00:14:26,790 --> 00:14:29,160 Gabby Thomas: want to dial in and focus." It just can't be 254 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,530 Gabby Thomas: that moment, because there's so much going on and it 255 00:14:31,530 --> 00:14:34,080 Gabby Thomas: is really scary, and there's a lot of pressure. And 256 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:37,560 Gabby Thomas: so, for me in that moment, I knew I was 257 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:39,900 Gabby Thomas: ready. I knew I was ready, and I know there 258 00:14:39,900 --> 00:14:41,220 Gabby Thomas: are a lot of things that are outside of our 259 00:14:41,220 --> 00:14:44,040 Gabby Thomas: control when we're racing, and that's okay. And I was 260 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:47,250 Gabby Thomas: prepared for that, because I don't know what Julien Alfred 261 00:14:47,250 --> 00:14:48,570 Gabby Thomas: in the lane outside of me is going to do, 262 00:14:48,570 --> 00:14:50,100 Gabby Thomas: I don't know what Dina Asher- Smith in the lane 263 00:14:50,100 --> 00:14:51,720 Gabby Thomas: inside of me is going to do, but I know 264 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:53,790 Gabby Thomas: what I'm going to do, and I felt confident in that. 265 00:14:54,660 --> 00:14:58,080 Becs Gentry: Wow, I can't even. I was also in the stadium, 266 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:01,080 Becs Gentry: and it was that quiet would just rock me. 267 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:04,560 Gabby Thomas: You couldn't have told me that there were 80,000 people 268 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:07,950 Gabby Thomas: watching in that moment, because it was me in my lane, 269 00:15:08,100 --> 00:15:10,800 Gabby Thomas: and that was all I could focus on. And it's 270 00:15:11,220 --> 00:15:13,200 Gabby Thomas: so freeing to have that ability. 271 00:15:14,370 --> 00:15:19,980 Becs Gentry: Incredible. As somebody who doesn't meditate, well, I don't traditionally 272 00:15:19,980 --> 00:15:23,340 Becs Gentry: meditate. I run a very long way, very often. It 273 00:15:23,340 --> 00:15:26,370 Becs Gentry: is a meditative state that I get into, I believe. 274 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:29,940 Becs Gentry: A lot of people say no, but well, that's my form 275 00:15:29,940 --> 00:15:36,180 Becs Gentry: of meditation. But just you spoke briefly there about treating, 276 00:15:36,180 --> 00:15:39,330 Becs Gentry: you may have done eight 200s before, nine 200s before, 277 00:15:39,330 --> 00:15:42,690 Becs Gentry: you're treating them all like a race day. That's grueling, 278 00:15:42,750 --> 00:15:47,070 Becs Gentry: that is hard, hard work to perform at that level, 279 00:15:47,100 --> 00:15:51,390 Becs Gentry: and the pressure then. So, taking meditation out of the 280 00:15:51,390 --> 00:15:56,700 Becs Gentry: equation for a moment, what does Gabby Thomas do to 281 00:15:56,970 --> 00:16:02,520 Becs Gentry: ensure that you get through those horrible moments? 282 00:16:03,030 --> 00:16:06,239 Gabby Thomas: Well, I think one, I love my job. At the 283 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:08,040 Gabby Thomas: end of the day I love going to the track 284 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:10,260 Gabby Thomas: every day, and I love running, I love training, I 285 00:16:10,260 --> 00:16:13,590 Gabby Thomas: love competing, I just love the whole environment of it. I love 286 00:16:13,890 --> 00:16:17,700 Gabby Thomas: getting better, I love pushing myself. So, at the end 287 00:16:17,700 --> 00:16:21,330 Gabby Thomas: of the day holistically I enjoy doing it. But there 288 00:16:21,330 --> 00:16:24,300 Gabby Thomas: are definitely a lot of moments where I don't, and 289 00:16:24,570 --> 00:16:28,050 Gabby Thomas: what I tell myself is that it's really not about 290 00:16:28,050 --> 00:16:32,640 Gabby Thomas: feeling motivated, it's purely about the discipline and it's purely 291 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:37,260 Gabby Thomas: about the consistency. And I believe that I'm a testament 292 00:16:37,260 --> 00:16:40,470 Gabby Thomas: to that just because when I wasn't high school running, 293 00:16:40,470 --> 00:16:42,900 Gabby Thomas: when I was in college running, I was never the 294 00:16:42,900 --> 00:16:45,780 Gabby Thomas: favorite. I was not a highly recruited high school athlete, 295 00:16:45,930 --> 00:16:48,870 Gabby Thomas: and I was not the favorite in the NCAA. But I 296 00:16:48,900 --> 00:16:52,350 Gabby Thomas: think what set me apart was every day I treated 297 00:16:52,350 --> 00:16:55,410 Gabby Thomas: training like that. I was very disciplined, I was the 298 00:16:55,410 --> 00:16:57,360 Gabby Thomas: first one to the track, last one to leave the 299 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:00,750 Gabby Thomas: track. Every rep, every moment of training mattered to me, 300 00:17:00,750 --> 00:17:03,420 Gabby Thomas: and I treated it like it was a big deal, and 301 00:17:03,420 --> 00:17:07,020 Gabby Thomas: that just comes from discipline. And I value discipline in 302 00:17:07,020 --> 00:17:10,109 Gabby Thomas: every area of my life, and it includes track and 303 00:17:10,109 --> 00:17:13,619 Gabby Thomas: field. And so, that's really the difference maker. And if 304 00:17:13,619 --> 00:17:16,320 Gabby Thomas: I'm in practice and I'm not feeling motivated, and I'm thinking, " 305 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:18,090 Gabby Thomas: I don't want to be here today," or, " I don't 306 00:17:18,090 --> 00:17:19,590 Gabby Thomas: have a race for another eight months, what am I 307 00:17:19,590 --> 00:17:23,460 Gabby Thomas: doing?" I just remind myself it's about that consistency. And 308 00:17:24,330 --> 00:17:26,609 Gabby Thomas: if that's not good enough, I mean, I've trained myself 309 00:17:26,609 --> 00:17:29,879 Gabby Thomas: with positive self- talk, so I tell myself I'm going 310 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:33,180 Gabby Thomas: to crush it, I'm great. I tell myself that I'm 311 00:17:33,180 --> 00:17:36,720 Gabby Thomas: training for a gold medal, I'm a gold medalist potential, and 312 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:37,740 Gabby Thomas: that's how I get through it. 313 00:17:38,700 --> 00:17:43,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: So, you come out of the blocks in the 200, and with 314 00:17:43,470 --> 00:17:48,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: my eyes I could see from the word go, you 315 00:17:48,510 --> 00:17:51,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: were on it. You were just on it. You immediately 316 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:55,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: were gaining on the two competitors to your left and 317 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:59,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: right, there wasn't a doubt. And when you came around 318 00:17:59,340 --> 00:18:02,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: to that straight away, all of us, I was there 319 00:18:02,460 --> 00:18:04,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: with a bunch of American fans, I mean, the party 320 00:18:04,890 --> 00:18:09,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: was on. We already knew Gabby Thomas had this thing. 321 00:18:10,140 --> 00:18:15,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: And it's France, so they're rooting for French athletes. There 322 00:18:15,390 --> 00:18:17,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: wasn't a whole lot of energy coming from the crowd 323 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:20,879 Rob Simmelkjaer: for you, but in our section it was all about 324 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:24,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: Gabby Thomas. And so, you go flying across that finish 325 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:27,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: line and you had it. You had it. And so, 326 00:18:30,180 --> 00:18:36,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: all that time preparing for 12, 13 seconds, whatever it was, 327 00:18:36,690 --> 00:18:39,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: what is that moment like to cross a finish line 328 00:18:39,570 --> 00:18:39,811 Rob Simmelkjaer: like that- 329 00:18:39,811 --> 00:18:39,811 Gabby Thomas: Oh my gosh. 330 00:18:39,811 --> 00:18:42,869 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... and see that you had it and know that 331 00:18:42,869 --> 00:18:43,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: you had done it? 332 00:18:45,090 --> 00:18:49,350 Gabby Thomas: Surreal. Truthfully, it was surreal. It was such shock and 333 00:18:49,350 --> 00:18:56,520 Gabby Thomas: disbelief. But before that race, I had visualized that race 334 00:18:56,520 --> 00:19:00,930 Gabby Thomas: so many times in my head already. I had seen 335 00:19:00,930 --> 00:19:04,409 Gabby Thomas: it play out 1, 000 different ways, 1, 000 different times, 336 00:19:04,410 --> 00:19:06,990 Gabby Thomas: all with me winning. I think I had watched that 337 00:19:06,990 --> 00:19:10,950 Gabby Thomas: race in my head at least 100 times leading up 338 00:19:10,950 --> 00:19:12,570 Gabby Thomas: to Paris. And then when I got to Paris, it 339 00:19:12,570 --> 00:19:14,669 Gabby Thomas: was all I thought about. I would wake up, I 340 00:19:14,670 --> 00:19:16,619 Gabby Thomas: would visualize the race, I would go eat my meals, 341 00:19:16,619 --> 00:19:18,119 Gabby Thomas: I would visualize the race, I would go to sleep 342 00:19:18,119 --> 00:19:21,000 Gabby Thomas: and visualize my race. It was obsessive, but it was 343 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:22,470 Gabby Thomas: all I could think about and it's all I wanted 344 00:19:22,470 --> 00:19:24,840 Gabby Thomas: to think about, because I truly believe that that is 345 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:27,960 Gabby Thomas: how I manifest it. If my brain already saw myself 346 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:31,170 Gabby Thomas: winning and understood what that looked like, what that felt 347 00:19:31,170 --> 00:19:33,900 Gabby Thomas: like, then there's no way I couldn't do it. So, 348 00:19:33,900 --> 00:19:36,660 Gabby Thomas: when I showed up to the line to race, it's 349 00:19:36,660 --> 00:19:40,080 Gabby Thomas: like I really believed that was going to happen, because 350 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:42,540 Gabby Thomas: I had the muscle memory. It was in my head, 351 00:19:42,540 --> 00:19:44,310 Gabby Thomas: I had seen it so many times. And so, when 352 00:19:44,310 --> 00:19:48,150 Gabby Thomas: it actually happened, every moment up until that point I 353 00:19:48,150 --> 00:19:50,670 Gabby Thomas: felt like I knew and I was familiar with. But 354 00:19:50,670 --> 00:19:54,359 Gabby Thomas: then when I actually crossed the line, totally different feeling. 355 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:57,900 Gabby Thomas: I mean, it was just shock, and truthfully a lot 356 00:19:57,900 --> 00:20:01,080 Gabby Thomas: of relief, a lot of relief, because I knew that 357 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:02,790 Gabby Thomas: I had worked so hard for it, and I wanted 358 00:20:02,790 --> 00:20:05,550 Gabby Thomas: it so badly, and I'd done everything. And so, I 359 00:20:05,550 --> 00:20:07,230 Gabby Thomas: felt like I could finally relax. 360 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:10,410 Becs Gentry: And I hope you did, even though you had multiple 361 00:20:10,410 --> 00:20:13,830 Becs Gentry: other events to compete in, but when all was said 362 00:20:13,830 --> 00:20:17,400 Becs Gentry: and done. I like to rewind it back a little 363 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:19,800 Becs Gentry: bit as well, and I think your story is one 364 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:25,230 Becs Gentry: of huge female success and inspiration. You've spoken a lot 365 00:20:25,230 --> 00:20:29,790 Becs Gentry: about your mom, who was a professor, and how she 366 00:20:29,820 --> 00:20:34,950 Becs Gentry: was a single mom. She instilled in you from where 367 00:20:34,950 --> 00:20:37,470 Becs Gentry: I sit, and I know you've spoken about this, such 368 00:20:37,470 --> 00:20:43,740 Becs Gentry: an incredibly strong, disciplined female. And what would you say 369 00:20:44,430 --> 00:20:46,950 Becs Gentry: was maybe the biggest thing that you took away as 370 00:20:46,950 --> 00:20:49,859 Becs Gentry: younger Gabby from your mom? 371 00:20:49,890 --> 00:20:53,129 Gabby Thomas: Yeah. So my mom, yeah, she's a professor at the 372 00:20:53,130 --> 00:20:54,570 Gabby Thomas: University of Michigan now. 373 00:20:55,500 --> 00:20:55,619 Becs Gentry: Yay, Ma. 374 00:20:56,190 --> 00:20:58,830 Gabby Thomas: Incredible. And she does incredible work in the school of education, 375 00:20:58,830 --> 00:21:03,659 Gabby Thomas: a lot of anti- racism research and help. But when 376 00:21:03,660 --> 00:21:06,780 Gabby Thomas: I was growing up, my mom was a preschool teacher. 377 00:21:07,170 --> 00:21:08,939 Gabby Thomas: Well, first she was a waitress and then she was 378 00:21:08,940 --> 00:21:09,359 Gabby Thomas: a preschool teacher- 379 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:11,310 Becs Gentry: Was she your preschool teacher? 380 00:21:11,310 --> 00:21:15,840 Gabby Thomas: She was my preschool teacher, yeah, in Atlanta, Georgia. And 381 00:21:15,869 --> 00:21:17,910 Gabby Thomas: then she moved up and she was a high school 382 00:21:17,910 --> 00:21:20,730 Gabby Thomas: social studies teacher, and then she went back to school 383 00:21:20,730 --> 00:21:25,080 Gabby Thomas: and now she's a professor. And so, my mom accomplished 384 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:29,189 Gabby Thomas: all of this as a single mother with twins. And 385 00:21:29,220 --> 00:21:32,550 Gabby Thomas: so, I say Drew and I are her ride or 386 00:21:32,550 --> 00:21:35,250 Gabby Thomas: dies. We've seen it all, we've watched her go through 387 00:21:35,250 --> 00:21:38,910 Gabby Thomas: it. It was really hard for her. I mean, we 388 00:21:38,910 --> 00:21:41,820 Gabby Thomas: were living with family members, we were couch- surfing. And 389 00:21:41,820 --> 00:21:44,130 Gabby Thomas: after school, when my mom was in school, I would 390 00:21:44,130 --> 00:21:46,320 Gabby Thomas: go stay with family members and that was just the 391 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:51,060 Gabby Thomas: normal. But I watched that growing up, I watched my 392 00:21:51,060 --> 00:21:54,780 Gabby Thomas: mom work very hard. I watched her come from nothing 393 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:57,210 Gabby Thomas: and just have a dream, and have a plan, and 394 00:21:57,210 --> 00:22:00,030 Gabby Thomas: work for it, and make it happen. She did not 395 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:02,909 Gabby Thomas: complain every day about it, she did not have a 396 00:22:02,910 --> 00:22:05,879 Gabby Thomas: bad attitude about it, that was just her life, and 397 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:07,800 Gabby Thomas: it's what she wanted for herself and she wanted better 398 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:11,070 Gabby Thomas: for us. And so as a young girl, I wasn't 399 00:22:11,070 --> 00:22:14,040 Gabby Thomas: just told to work hard, I was seeing it in 400 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:18,330 Gabby Thomas: action every single day. So, that was my normal. I 401 00:22:18,330 --> 00:22:20,609 Gabby Thomas: didn't know a world where you didn't have a dream 402 00:22:20,609 --> 00:22:23,490 Gabby Thomas: and work your butt off to go achieve it. I 403 00:22:23,490 --> 00:22:25,350 Gabby Thomas: just didn't know a world like that because that's not 404 00:22:25,350 --> 00:22:27,840 Gabby Thomas: the world I was living in, and that's not what 405 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:32,310 Gabby Thomas: my mom showed me. And so for me, that's what 406 00:22:32,310 --> 00:22:34,649 Gabby Thomas: you're supposed to do. You have a dream and you 407 00:22:34,650 --> 00:22:36,600 Gabby Thomas: go for it, and you work hard and you make 408 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:38,939 Gabby Thomas: it happen, and you make it a positive impact on 409 00:22:38,940 --> 00:22:40,889 Gabby Thomas: the world. And that's another thing that my mom showed 410 00:22:40,890 --> 00:22:43,800 Gabby Thomas: me. What she does is just not in vain, she 411 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:46,560 Gabby Thomas: does something to make a powerful impact for others. What 412 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:48,840 Gabby Thomas: she does, it changes the lives of the people around 413 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:50,550 Gabby Thomas: her, and she wants to give back to the community. 414 00:22:50,850 --> 00:22:51,629 Becs Gentry: Which is huge. 415 00:22:51,690 --> 00:22:53,700 Gabby Thomas: So, that's what I know. So, if I would say 416 00:22:53,700 --> 00:22:55,830 Gabby Thomas: anything that my mom has taught me, it's that it 417 00:22:55,830 --> 00:22:58,680 Gabby Thomas: doesn't matter what obstacles are in your way, you can 418 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:01,080 Gabby Thomas: make it happen if you work hard and just put 419 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:04,920 Gabby Thomas: your all into it, and give back to the community. 420 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:09,990 Gabby Thomas: It's very important. I tell everyone that, leave any place 421 00:23:09,990 --> 00:23:13,409 Gabby Thomas: that you are in, leave it better than you found 422 00:23:13,410 --> 00:23:15,480 Gabby Thomas: it. And I watched her do that, and I try to 423 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:16,200 Gabby Thomas: do that myself. 424 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:19,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: Gabby, did she push you? Did she push you when 425 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:23,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: it came to running? Round of applause, love that. Absolutely. 426 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:28,109 Rob Simmelkjaer: I'm a parent, Becs is a parent, Tallulah's a lot 427 00:23:28,109 --> 00:23:30,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: younger than my kids. I've got a 15 and now 428 00:23:30,150 --> 00:23:35,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: an 11- year- old. And as parents, we're oftentimes struggling 429 00:23:35,490 --> 00:23:38,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: with how hard to push a kid to do something, 430 00:23:38,970 --> 00:23:41,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: versus how much to let it come from them. 431 00:23:41,970 --> 00:23:42,541 Becs Gentry: Yes, that's real. 432 00:23:42,541 --> 00:23:46,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: And I'm curious with you, were there times when she 433 00:23:46,260 --> 00:23:50,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: pushed you and said, " Gabby, I can see you're fast. 434 00:23:50,100 --> 00:23:55,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: Okay? You're talented, you have ability here. Don't hang out 435 00:23:55,230 --> 00:23:58,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: at home, get out of bed, don't," whatever it might be, " 436 00:23:58,020 --> 00:24:00,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: play that video game or do whatever your friends are 437 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:02,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: doing, get out and put in the work"? Did that 438 00:24:02,820 --> 00:24:04,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: happen or was it all coming from you? 439 00:24:06,510 --> 00:24:09,000 Gabby Thomas: In retrospect I love thinking about this. So no, my 440 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,639 Gabby Thomas: mom did force me to run track, that is true. 441 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:14,700 Gabby Thomas: So, I had signed up for softball with my friends 442 00:24:14,700 --> 00:24:17,699 Gabby Thomas: because I wanted to go have fun and just be 443 00:24:17,700 --> 00:24:19,650 Gabby Thomas: with my friends, but she knew that I was fast 444 00:24:19,650 --> 00:24:22,200 Gabby Thomas: because I grew up doing recreational sports. I had played 445 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:24,780 Gabby Thomas: soccer. And she said, " No, you're doing track." So, she 446 00:24:24,780 --> 00:24:26,940 Gabby Thomas: actually took it upon herself to take me off the 447 00:24:26,940 --> 00:24:29,250 Gabby Thomas: softball signup sheet and sign me up for track, so 448 00:24:29,250 --> 00:24:33,150 Gabby Thomas: I really had no choice. So, that in itself was 449 00:24:33,150 --> 00:24:37,889 Gabby Thomas: frustrating, but once I started running track, and honestly once 450 00:24:37,890 --> 00:24:42,780 Gabby Thomas: I started doing anything, I never felt this immense pressure 451 00:24:43,020 --> 00:24:46,020 Gabby Thomas: or external pressure from my mom, or my parents, or 452 00:24:46,020 --> 00:24:48,869 Gabby Thomas: really anyone. I never felt like I had to be 453 00:24:48,869 --> 00:24:51,149 Gabby Thomas: the best, or I had to do anything that I 454 00:24:51,150 --> 00:24:54,240 Gabby Thomas: didn't want to do. Once I was there doing it, 455 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:56,880 Gabby Thomas: it was about just giving my all and doing my 456 00:24:56,880 --> 00:25:00,720 Gabby Thomas: best, and that was truly it. Any type of motivation 457 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,510 Gabby Thomas: or goals, it had to come from within, and it 458 00:25:03,510 --> 00:25:05,730 Gabby Thomas: was intrinsic, and it was what I wanted to do. 459 00:25:06,060 --> 00:25:08,760 Gabby Thomas: But I, at no point in my life felt like 460 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:10,740 Gabby Thomas: my mom was pressuring me to do anything. I never 461 00:25:10,740 --> 00:25:13,290 Gabby Thomas: felt like I was being forced to get good grades, 462 00:25:13,290 --> 00:25:14,940 Gabby Thomas: I never felt like I was being forced to do 463 00:25:14,940 --> 00:25:18,060 Gabby Thomas: any type of activity or be a great athlete. It 464 00:25:18,060 --> 00:25:21,090 Gabby Thomas: was laissez- faire in that way, as long as I 465 00:25:21,090 --> 00:25:22,350 Gabby Thomas: was doing my best. 466 00:25:22,351 --> 00:25:24,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: And as long as you ran track. 467 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:25,741 Gabby Thomas: And as long as I ran track. 468 00:25:25,741 --> 00:25:27,270 Becs Gentry: As long as I tried. 469 00:25:27,270 --> 00:25:29,490 Gabby Thomas: As long as I tried. She wanted me to try. 470 00:25:29,790 --> 00:25:31,619 Becs Gentry: She was really not down on the softball thing, right? 471 00:25:31,619 --> 00:25:31,740 Gabby Thomas: Yeah. She was like, "Nope." 472 00:25:31,740 --> 00:25:37,170 Becs Gentry: Uh-uh, hard no. Well, your mom sounds like an absolute legend. 473 00:25:39,150 --> 00:25:39,151 Gabby Thomas: She is. 474 00:25:39,151 --> 00:25:41,760 Becs Gentry: And so, the pressure that you didn't feel at home, which 475 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:46,409 Becs Gentry: is wonderful, and another level of what a great support 476 00:25:46,410 --> 00:25:50,580 Becs Gentry: network you've had from day one, but the pressure now 477 00:25:50,790 --> 00:25:55,649 Becs Gentry: I can imagine has changed in, as you said at the 478 00:25:55,650 --> 00:25:58,080 Becs Gentry: top of the interview, your life has changed so much 479 00:25:58,140 --> 00:26:02,609 Becs Gentry: since Paris. You are one of the fastest women on the 480 00:26:02,609 --> 00:26:08,161 Becs Gentry: planet right now, which is unreal, and incredible, and- 481 00:26:08,161 --> 00:26:08,162 Gabby Thomas: Thank you, thank you. 482 00:26:08,162 --> 00:26:13,379 Becs Gentry: Yeah, and hugely well- deserved. We know how hard she's worked 483 00:26:13,380 --> 00:26:17,459 Becs Gentry: for it. But along with that, in today's society of 484 00:26:17,609 --> 00:26:23,250 Becs Gentry: constant social media, constant events, constant attention, you've openly spoken 485 00:26:23,310 --> 00:26:26,850 Becs Gentry: about the pressure that that has befallen onto your shoulders. 486 00:26:26,850 --> 00:26:29,640 Becs Gentry: So, how are you navigating that now? 487 00:26:29,850 --> 00:26:33,600 Gabby Thomas: Yeah, it is definitely a lot of pressure. And when 488 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:38,369 Gabby Thomas: I look back at my Paris 2024 Olympic experience, what 489 00:26:38,369 --> 00:26:41,520 Gabby Thomas: I remember most is how much pressure it was. I 490 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:43,649 Gabby Thomas: think of all these memories in the village and the 491 00:26:43,650 --> 00:26:47,100 Gabby Thomas: racing, but really what I remember and think about when I 492 00:26:47,100 --> 00:26:49,830 Gabby Thomas: think about the Olympics is the pressure. And when I 493 00:26:49,830 --> 00:26:53,850 Gabby Thomas: was in Tokyo, I remember being so excited and elated 494 00:26:53,850 --> 00:26:56,880 Gabby Thomas: to have made the team, and the experience was so much 495 00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:58,560 Gabby Thomas: fun. I look back on it and I think I 496 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:00,750 Gabby Thomas: was just so happy to be there, and racing was 497 00:27:00,750 --> 00:27:03,330 Gabby Thomas: such a privilege, and no matter what happened I have 498 00:27:03,330 --> 00:27:06,570 Gabby Thomas: achieved so much already. And Paris just wasn't like that, 499 00:27:06,570 --> 00:27:09,510 Gabby Thomas: everything had changed so much after those first couple Olympic 500 00:27:09,510 --> 00:27:12,359 Gabby Thomas: medals. And I mean, the way that I deal with 501 00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:16,020 Gabby Thomas: it, because like you said, social media is so prevalent 502 00:27:16,020 --> 00:27:18,119 Gabby Thomas: now and it's so hard to get away from it, 503 00:27:18,510 --> 00:27:21,419 Gabby Thomas: it feels like at times the pressure can be all 504 00:27:21,420 --> 00:27:25,230 Gabby Thomas: consuming and coming from everywhere, is just to focus on 505 00:27:25,230 --> 00:27:27,930 Gabby Thomas: my greater why, and my purpose and why I'm doing 506 00:27:27,930 --> 00:27:32,550 Gabby Thomas: it. And truthfully, I mean that's twofold. On one hand, 507 00:27:32,550 --> 00:27:35,040 Gabby Thomas: I'm doing it for myself because I like to better 508 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:37,859 Gabby Thomas: myself. I love the journey, I love the challenge, I 509 00:27:37,859 --> 00:27:40,440 Gabby Thomas: love showing up every day and just putting the work in 510 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:43,350 Gabby Thomas: I always have. And what got me to this point 511 00:27:43,350 --> 00:27:45,899 Gabby Thomas: was doing that, and my love for the sport, and 512 00:27:45,900 --> 00:27:48,000 Gabby Thomas: my love for being an athlete. And then on the 513 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:51,719 Gabby Thomas: other hand it's like, okay, everyone's watching me. What do 514 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:53,700 Gabby Thomas: I want to put out there? Do I want to 515 00:27:53,700 --> 00:27:56,369 Gabby Thomas: project that the only thing that's important right now is 516 00:27:56,369 --> 00:27:58,889 Gabby Thomas: winning a gold medal, and winning is all that matters, 517 00:27:58,890 --> 00:28:01,770 Gabby Thomas: and is that what I want the younger generation to 518 00:28:01,770 --> 00:28:05,070 Gabby Thomas: watch and get from my performance, and for myself as 519 00:28:05,070 --> 00:28:09,960 Gabby Thomas: an athlete? No. I want to showcase something bigger than 520 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:12,570 Gabby Thomas: just winning gold medals, I want to showcase what it 521 00:28:12,570 --> 00:28:16,230 Gabby Thomas: is to be a female athlete, what it looks like 522 00:28:16,230 --> 00:28:19,140 Gabby Thomas: when you work really hard, how you can use your 523 00:28:19,140 --> 00:28:21,780 Gabby Thomas: platform as an athlete. I want people to see that 524 00:28:21,780 --> 00:28:24,359 Gabby Thomas: part of it. And once I've done that and I 525 00:28:24,359 --> 00:28:26,550 Gabby Thomas: know that I've done my best, I know that I've 526 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:30,600 Gabby Thomas: portrayed myself as an athlete in a positive light and 527 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:33,869 Gabby Thomas: just inspire the younger generation, it doesn't matter what happens 528 00:28:33,869 --> 00:28:35,910 Gabby Thomas: after that. At the end of the day, I've done 529 00:28:35,910 --> 00:28:38,670 Gabby Thomas: what I could and I can have so much pride 530 00:28:38,670 --> 00:28:40,170 Gabby Thomas: in that. And I can go to sleep at night 531 00:28:40,170 --> 00:28:42,660 Gabby Thomas: knowing that I did my best as an athlete, and 532 00:28:42,660 --> 00:28:44,460 Gabby Thomas: that's truly all I can ask for. 533 00:28:44,580 --> 00:28:45,180 Becs Gentry: And human. 534 00:28:45,660 --> 00:28:46,650 Gabby Thomas: And as a human. 535 00:28:47,010 --> 00:28:47,131 Becs Gentry: As a human. 536 00:28:47,131 --> 00:28:50,100 Gabby Thomas: As a human, yes. I love that. Exactly, as a human. 537 00:28:51,060 --> 00:28:54,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: Gabby, we spent some time together out in Los Angeles 538 00:28:54,540 --> 00:28:58,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: at a conference put on by Strava, our partners here. 539 00:28:58,530 --> 00:29:01,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: And I remember a conversation from out there, you told 540 00:29:01,230 --> 00:29:04,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: me something that has stuck with me, and I think 541 00:29:04,260 --> 00:29:07,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: this audience will be shocked and amazed by this. You 542 00:29:07,620 --> 00:29:12,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: told me that in your life you have never run 543 00:29:12,630 --> 00:29:18,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: a mile. You have never run one mile without stopping. 544 00:29:19,350 --> 00:29:22,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: Never run a full mile as a distance, which- 545 00:29:22,470 --> 00:29:24,360 Becs Gentry: There's a track just over there. 546 00:29:24,750 --> 00:29:24,751 Gabby Thomas: Oh, Lord. 547 00:29:24,751 --> 00:29:28,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: Still blows my mind. 548 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:29,430 Becs Gentry: That is incredible. 549 00:29:29,790 --> 00:29:30,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: You are here now- 550 00:29:30,630 --> 00:29:31,500 Becs Gentry: What's the furthest you've run? 551 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:32,820 Gabby Thomas: It's still true today. 552 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:34,290 Becs Gentry: What's the furthest then, non- stop? 553 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:35,160 Gabby Thomas: A mile. 554 00:29:35,370 --> 00:29:36,720 Becs Gentry: That is the furthest you've ever run. 555 00:29:36,930 --> 00:29:38,760 Gabby Thomas: It's the furthest I've run continuously without stopping. 556 00:29:38,940 --> 00:29:40,110 Becs Gentry: I'm really jealous. 557 00:29:41,790 --> 00:29:43,470 Gabby Thomas: I tried to go on a two- mile run last 558 00:29:43,470 --> 00:29:44,880 Gabby Thomas: week, but- 559 00:29:45,030 --> 00:29:45,091 Rob Simmelkjaer: You stopped? 560 00:29:45,091 --> 00:29:46,500 Gabby Thomas: ... it's hot in Texas. 561 00:29:47,430 --> 00:29:47,491 Rob Simmelkjaer: It was too long? 562 00:29:47,491 --> 00:29:48,090 Gabby Thomas: It's too long, it's too hot. 563 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:52,050 Becs Gentry: Justified excuse. I'll take you for a run. 564 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:54,660 Gabby Thomas: I would love that, I would love that. So my 565 00:29:54,660 --> 00:29:57,480 Gabby Thomas: goal this off season, this preseason, is to get my 566 00:29:57,480 --> 00:29:59,610 Gabby Thomas: mile time down. So, I think if I can do 567 00:29:59,610 --> 00:30:04,950 Gabby Thomas: that I'll feel accomplished. So, I think right now my PB is 5: 50. 568 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:06,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: Not bad. 569 00:30:06,420 --> 00:30:07,500 Gabby Thomas: Not bad. 570 00:30:08,130 --> 00:30:08,491 Rob Simmelkjaer: Not bad for someone- 571 00:30:08,491 --> 00:30:08,492 Becs Gentry: 5:15? 572 00:30:08,492 --> 00:30:09,031 Gabby Thomas: 5- 5- 0. 573 00:30:09,031 --> 00:30:09,032 Rob Simmelkjaer: 5-5-0. 574 00:30:09,032 --> 00:30:09,930 Becs Gentry: 5- 5-0. 575 00:30:09,930 --> 00:30:13,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: 5: 50. Not bad at all. And by the way, 576 00:30:14,370 --> 00:30:17,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: I was there for your four by 400 title as 577 00:30:17,790 --> 00:30:21,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: well, your relay, and it was really interesting. You're on 578 00:30:21,690 --> 00:30:24,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: this team obviously with Sydney McLaughlin, one of the great 579 00:30:24,390 --> 00:30:28,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: 400 runners in the world, another New Balance athlete, she's 580 00:30:28,260 --> 00:30:32,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: your anchor runner. But I watched you knowing that you 581 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:35,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: never ran a mile, and when the baton got to 582 00:30:35,610 --> 00:30:39,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: you, Gabby, I'm not going to say you weren't awesome 583 00:30:39,300 --> 00:30:43,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: because you were awesome, but that second 200 I was like, " 584 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:47,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh yeah, I see. I see. She really likes to 585 00:30:47,340 --> 00:30:51,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: go 200." What is that second 200 like for you 586 00:30:51,420 --> 00:30:53,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the four by 400 relay? 587 00:30:53,070 --> 00:30:56,520 Gabby Thomas: It's all grit. It's all grit and mental resilience. That's 588 00:30:56,520 --> 00:30:57,690 Gabby Thomas: what it is at the end of the day. 589 00:30:57,690 --> 00:31:00,270 Becs Gentry: Those reps that she practiced. 590 00:31:00,270 --> 00:31:01,950 Gabby Thomas: Exactly. Exactly. 591 00:31:02,100 --> 00:31:04,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: And it was all you needed with an anchor like 592 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:07,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: Sydney, you didn't need to be the best- 593 00:31:07,110 --> 00:31:09,900 Gabby Thomas: Incredible team, incredible team of women. I think we all 594 00:31:09,900 --> 00:31:12,270 Gabby Thomas: trusted each other, and that's that's what we needed. 595 00:31:12,630 --> 00:31:13,170 Becs Gentry: It showed. 596 00:31:13,470 --> 00:31:16,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: So, as someone who's never run really longer than a 597 00:31:16,740 --> 00:31:20,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: mile, as you look out on this audience and look 598 00:31:20,340 --> 00:31:22,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: out on this sea of people, and you're going to 599 00:31:22,590 --> 00:31:27,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: see more of them on Sunday, 50,000 plus people running 26. 600 00:31:27,780 --> 00:31:31,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: 2 miles, what do you think of them? What do you think of 601 00:31:32,070 --> 00:31:35,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: people who go out and run marathons for fun as 602 00:31:35,790 --> 00:31:37,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: their hobby? O 603 00:31:37,560 --> 00:31:43,830 Gabby Thomas: Other than they're nuts. No, I'm kidding. 604 00:31:43,830 --> 00:31:44,790 Becs Gentry: The best way. 605 00:31:45,330 --> 00:31:49,500 Gabby Thomas: I think it's absolutely incredible. It's amazing. I mean, I 606 00:31:49,500 --> 00:31:54,810 Gabby Thomas: am in awe of the mental resilience, the discipline and 607 00:31:54,810 --> 00:31:57,840 Gabby Thomas: the heart that goes into it. I know distance running 608 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:00,630 Gabby Thomas: and sprinting, they are different beasts, but at the core 609 00:32:00,630 --> 00:32:03,060 Gabby Thomas: of it that is what it comes down to. It's 610 00:32:03,060 --> 00:32:05,640 Gabby Thomas: that hard work and getting on the line, and just 611 00:32:05,640 --> 00:32:08,370 Gabby Thomas: making it happen. So, I have the utmost respect for 612 00:32:08,370 --> 00:32:11,580 Gabby Thomas: any athlete who's brave enough, who works hard enough to 613 00:32:11,580 --> 00:32:14,280 Gabby Thomas: commit and put themselves on the line like that. I'm 614 00:32:14,280 --> 00:32:17,730 Gabby Thomas: truly on. I cannot wait to support, and have the 615 00:32:17,730 --> 00:32:20,850 Gabby Thomas: whole city support and be behind you. So, kudos. 616 00:32:20,910 --> 00:32:24,870 Becs Gentry: Yeah. I'm going to warn you, you're going to get 617 00:32:24,870 --> 00:32:26,880 Becs Gentry: really emotional at the end. 618 00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:27,781 Gabby Thomas: I know. I know I am. 619 00:32:27,781 --> 00:32:32,190 Becs Gentry: The finish line is a different finish line. You are a 620 00:32:32,250 --> 00:32:37,290 Becs Gentry: New Balance athlete, you have the amazing team behind you, 621 00:32:37,290 --> 00:32:40,860 Becs Gentry: as well with Sydney as well. How has New Balance 622 00:32:41,250 --> 00:32:47,040 Becs Gentry: helped you flourish in this incredible ... From Tokyo to Paris, and onwards? 623 00:32:47,310 --> 00:32:49,800 Gabby Thomas: New Balance has been a part of my journey since 624 00:32:49,830 --> 00:32:52,080 Gabby Thomas: long before Tokyo as well. So, this has been an 625 00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:56,160 Gabby Thomas: incredible partnership. I wore New Balance at Harvard, so that's 626 00:32:56,160 --> 00:32:57,871 Gabby Thomas: when I first got my start- 627 00:32:57,871 --> 00:32:57,872 Becs Gentry: Casual flex. 628 00:32:57,872 --> 00:32:57,873 Gabby Thomas: Yes. 629 00:32:57,873 --> 00:33:02,370 Becs Gentry: I'd never stopped saying that. Yeah, I wore New Balance at Harvard 630 00:33:02,370 --> 00:33:02,580 Becs Gentry: too. 631 00:33:04,230 --> 00:33:06,180 Gabby Thomas: I was such a baby then, I had no idea 632 00:33:06,180 --> 00:33:08,010 Gabby Thomas: that I would ever be a professional athlete but that's 633 00:33:08,010 --> 00:33:10,410 Gabby Thomas: when my journey with New Balance started. And when they 634 00:33:10,410 --> 00:33:12,780 Gabby Thomas: signed me, I was a junior, I knew nothing about 635 00:33:12,780 --> 00:33:15,090 Gabby Thomas: being a professional athlete or an Olympian. And so, I've 636 00:33:15,090 --> 00:33:18,060 Gabby Thomas: been on this entire process with them and they have 637 00:33:18,060 --> 00:33:23,400 Gabby Thomas: been nothing but incredibly supportive. They've supported me through school, 638 00:33:23,910 --> 00:33:26,580 Gabby Thomas: they supported me in every endeavor in my work with 639 00:33:26,970 --> 00:33:29,700 Gabby Thomas: the Volunteer Healthcare Clinic in Austin, Texas. So, they see 640 00:33:29,700 --> 00:33:32,670 Gabby Thomas: me as not just an athlete, but also just as 641 00:33:32,670 --> 00:33:36,750 Gabby Thomas: a human being beyond athletics. They support my community work, 642 00:33:36,750 --> 00:33:38,880 Gabby Thomas: they support me as a person, and they definitely support 643 00:33:38,880 --> 00:33:41,280 Gabby Thomas: me as an athlete. So, I couldn't be more proud 644 00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:42,960 Gabby Thomas: of being a part of the New Balance family. 645 00:33:45,630 --> 00:33:50,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: Absolutely, applause to that. You have now this platform, and 646 00:33:50,520 --> 00:33:53,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: this is what winning Olympic gold medals does, is it 647 00:33:53,940 --> 00:33:57,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: gives you a platform that you can use for so 648 00:33:57,000 --> 00:34:00,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: many things with partners like New Balance and others. So, 649 00:34:01,050 --> 00:34:04,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: what do you want to do with this platform? You 650 00:34:04,170 --> 00:34:08,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: mentioned the work you're doing with healthcare in Texas, you've 651 00:34:08,850 --> 00:34:13,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: also been a big advocate of diversity in STEM fields, 652 00:34:13,380 --> 00:34:17,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: and between you and your mother, academics is so important 653 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:20,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: to you. What do you most want to achieve with the 654 00:34:20,640 --> 00:34:24,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: platform that you've created for yourself on the track? 655 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:27,210 Gabby Thomas: Well, having this platform has been incredible because it does 656 00:34:27,210 --> 00:34:31,020 Gabby Thomas: give me the opportunity to raise awareness and start conversations 657 00:34:31,050 --> 00:34:33,840 Gabby Thomas: about things that I've always been passionate about. So, before 658 00:34:33,840 --> 00:34:36,029 Gabby Thomas: I became a professional athlete, I wanted to go into 659 00:34:36,030 --> 00:34:38,940 Gabby Thomas: healthcare, and I wanted to go into the nonprofit space 660 00:34:38,940 --> 00:34:41,520 Gabby Thomas: and one day run my own hospital, and address health 661 00:34:41,520 --> 00:34:46,560 Gabby Thomas: disparities as it pertains to race. So, there are just so many 662 00:34:47,130 --> 00:34:51,600 Gabby Thomas: racial disparities in healthcare that exist today that I wanted 663 00:34:51,600 --> 00:34:53,430 Gabby Thomas: to go in and combat. And so, being able to 664 00:34:53,430 --> 00:34:55,980 Gabby Thomas: have my platform to talk about those issues, to share 665 00:34:55,980 --> 00:34:58,860 Gabby Thomas: with people what I do in epidemiology, what I do 666 00:34:58,860 --> 00:35:01,890 Gabby Thomas: at the Healthcare Clinic in Austin, which is provide healthcare 667 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:04,259 Gabby Thomas: to people who don't have access otherwise, or people who 668 00:35:04,260 --> 00:35:07,830 Gabby Thomas: don't have health insurance, these are really important things to 669 00:35:07,830 --> 00:35:11,670 Gabby Thomas: talk about. And I also think encouraging other people to 670 00:35:11,700 --> 00:35:14,489 Gabby Thomas: go after things that they're passionate about as well. Encouraging 671 00:35:14,489 --> 00:35:17,550 Gabby Thomas: people to make space in their lives for giving back 672 00:35:17,550 --> 00:35:19,530 Gabby Thomas: to the community. I think these are just really important 673 00:35:19,530 --> 00:35:24,000 Gabby Thomas: things to bring to the forefront. When people are watching 674 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:25,620 Gabby Thomas: us as athletes, they might just see us on the 675 00:35:25,620 --> 00:35:28,350 Gabby Thomas: track and be inspired to win, but I want them 676 00:35:28,350 --> 00:35:31,380 Gabby Thomas: to also think about things more than that. I want 677 00:35:31,380 --> 00:35:33,750 Gabby Thomas: them to see that they can also go after their 678 00:35:33,750 --> 00:35:37,050 Gabby Thomas: dreams, have big ambitions, and also give back to the 679 00:35:37,050 --> 00:35:39,989 Gabby Thomas: community and do whatever they want to do. I mean, 680 00:35:39,989 --> 00:35:45,180 Gabby Thomas: you don't have to be pigeonholed into one thing. You're 681 00:35:45,180 --> 00:35:48,000 Gabby Thomas: able to do whatever you want to do, so many 682 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:49,468 Gabby Thomas: things as well as you want to do them. 683 00:35:50,580 --> 00:35:54,180 Becs Gentry: So on top of that, I mean, incredible what you're 684 00:35:54,180 --> 00:35:58,290 Becs Gentry: doing first of all, and thank you. But on top 685 00:35:58,290 --> 00:36:01,350 Becs Gentry: of that, you've spoken quite publicly as well about women 686 00:36:01,350 --> 00:36:06,570 Becs Gentry: in sport as well as women's healthcare. And I think 687 00:36:06,570 --> 00:36:10,469 Becs Gentry: those are two things right now that are top of 688 00:36:10,469 --> 00:36:12,750 Becs Gentry: a lot of people's minds in the U. S., and 689 00:36:12,750 --> 00:36:17,130 Becs Gentry: the world over to be honest. You recently competed at 690 00:36:17,130 --> 00:36:20,400 Becs Gentry: Athlos, which was the first of its kind, if anyone 691 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:22,260 Becs Gentry: doesn't know about it was an incredible event held here 692 00:36:22,290 --> 00:36:24,719 Becs Gentry: in New York at Icahn Stadium, and it was a 693 00:36:24,719 --> 00:36:28,140 Becs Gentry: first of its kind to support women in the sport. 694 00:36:29,640 --> 00:36:33,390 Becs Gentry: And you said it was bigger than you, it was 695 00:36:33,390 --> 00:36:37,800 Becs Gentry: bigger than us as just female athletes. And now's my 696 00:36:37,800 --> 00:36:40,020 Becs Gentry: turn to flex, I was able to be trackside to 697 00:36:40,020 --> 00:36:40,890 Becs Gentry: watch you that night. 698 00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:42,451 Gabby Thomas: I love that. 699 00:36:42,451 --> 00:36:48,750 Becs Gentry: Cheer for you. But the celebration that happened then is part 700 00:36:48,810 --> 00:36:52,950 Becs Gentry: of the waves that you and other fellow female athletes 701 00:36:52,980 --> 00:36:57,000 Becs Gentry: are causing right now in the world to help raise 702 00:36:57,420 --> 00:37:04,110 Becs Gentry: the cost of sport for women. So to you, alongside 703 00:37:04,110 --> 00:37:08,580 Becs Gentry: the healthcare, how are you helping the women in sport 704 00:37:08,610 --> 00:37:09,480 Becs Gentry: with the healthcare? 705 00:37:09,750 --> 00:37:14,340 Gabby Thomas: Athlos was such an exciting track event, especially for us 706 00:37:14,340 --> 00:37:17,940 Gabby Thomas: competing. It was unlike anything we had seen in track 707 00:37:17,940 --> 00:37:22,080 Gabby Thomas: before, just in terms of the whole event, the spectacle, 708 00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:24,989 Gabby Thomas: how much fun it was, the experience was just so 709 00:37:24,989 --> 00:37:28,200 Gabby Thomas: different. And it was the largest prize purse in women's 710 00:37:28,200 --> 00:37:31,350 Gabby Thomas: track and field history. So, that was a really exciting 711 00:37:31,350 --> 00:37:33,509 Gabby Thomas: thing to be a part of and to spearhead, and 712 00:37:33,510 --> 00:37:36,180 Gabby Thomas: to be in the decision room just making those calls, 713 00:37:36,180 --> 00:37:38,700 Gabby Thomas: and sharing our experience, and what we would like to 714 00:37:38,700 --> 00:37:41,339 Gabby Thomas: see differently. And when I say it was bigger than 715 00:37:41,340 --> 00:37:47,670 Gabby Thomas: us, I mean that was one large step towards the 716 00:37:47,670 --> 00:37:51,180 Gabby Thomas: progress that we're seeing in women's sports right now. It's 717 00:37:51,180 --> 00:37:56,730 Gabby Thomas: showing the world and showing the younger girls truly that 718 00:37:56,910 --> 00:38:02,160 Gabby Thomas: they are represented, and that can find success, and they 719 00:38:02,160 --> 00:38:05,399 Gabby Thomas: can see themselves in us. And if they really want 720 00:38:05,400 --> 00:38:08,040 Gabby Thomas: to, they can also be professional athletes, but they can 721 00:38:08,040 --> 00:38:09,960 Gabby Thomas: do whatever they want to do if they work for 722 00:38:09,960 --> 00:38:12,420 Gabby Thomas: it and they're working to make a difference. Athlos was 723 00:38:12,420 --> 00:38:16,230 Gabby Thomas: a meet for the athletes by the athletes, and for 724 00:38:16,230 --> 00:38:20,040 Gabby Thomas: us to be a part of that and to take 725 00:38:20,040 --> 00:38:25,170 Gabby Thomas: that step into improving women's sports and improving the representation 726 00:38:25,350 --> 00:38:28,260 Gabby Thomas: of women's sports, and just raising the bar for women 727 00:38:28,260 --> 00:38:30,480 Gabby Thomas: sports in terms of how much we're getting paid in 728 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:34,890 Gabby Thomas: terms of who's watching it, and in terms of just 729 00:38:34,890 --> 00:38:37,290 Gabby Thomas: the quality of the event, I mean, to be a 730 00:38:37,290 --> 00:38:41,910 Gabby Thomas: part of that is just so huge. Everyone saw it, 731 00:38:41,910 --> 00:38:44,160 Gabby Thomas: and we need to make sure that everyone keeps looking 732 00:38:44,160 --> 00:38:46,560 Gabby Thomas: and we're taking up that space. And so, that's what 733 00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:49,080 Gabby Thomas: I mean by it was bigger than us. Now, that's 734 00:38:49,080 --> 00:38:51,060 Gabby Thomas: something that will go down in history and we're not 735 00:38:51,060 --> 00:38:53,969 Gabby Thomas: done yet. So, the younger generation will continue to watch 736 00:38:53,969 --> 00:38:55,291 Gabby Thomas: it, and they'll feel empowered by that. 737 00:38:55,291 --> 00:38:58,590 Becs Gentry: Yeah. And it was a spectacle, having been lucky enough 738 00:38:58,590 --> 00:39:05,130 Becs Gentry: to be there it was groundbreaking to see just event 739 00:39:05,130 --> 00:39:09,750 Becs Gentry: after event, just women, just getting the fun, the crowd, the party, 740 00:39:10,800 --> 00:39:15,600 Becs Gentry: the energy that was reverberating around it before and after 741 00:39:16,380 --> 00:39:20,070 Becs Gentry: was huge. So as you say, we're just scratching the 742 00:39:20,070 --> 00:39:26,640 Becs Gentry: surface. And I think this year, Paris 2024 has highlighted 743 00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:30,660 Becs Gentry: a lot of the disparity for women in the sport, 744 00:39:30,660 --> 00:39:33,870 Becs Gentry: but you are one of a handful of the women 745 00:39:33,870 --> 00:39:36,540 Becs Gentry: that have stood up and said, " Hey, look at us. 746 00:39:36,540 --> 00:39:40,710 Becs Gentry: Look at how we are navigating this world." And also 747 00:39:40,710 --> 00:39:45,630 Becs Gentry: doing all the other unreal things that you do as well. Inspiration, 748 00:39:45,840 --> 00:39:46,890 Becs Gentry: taking the roof off. 749 00:39:47,640 --> 00:39:51,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: So Gabby, the Olympics will come to the United States 750 00:39:51,390 --> 00:39:57,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: in 2028, Los Angeles. Any thoughts about that at this 751 00:39:57,510 --> 00:39:58,529 Rob Simmelkjaer: point? Is that- 752 00:39:58,560 --> 00:39:58,681 Gabby Thomas: Oh, yeah. 753 00:39:58,681 --> 00:40:00,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... on your calendar? 754 00:40:00,420 --> 00:40:04,050 Gabby Thomas: We're starting the mental training today, yes. We have started 755 00:40:04,050 --> 00:40:06,570 Gabby Thomas: to prepare for the L. A. 2028 Olympics, absolutely. 756 00:40:06,600 --> 00:40:09,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's happening. It's happening. And do you think you'll be 757 00:40:09,330 --> 00:40:11,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: running the same mix of events in L.A.? Is it 200? What are you 758 00:40:11,190 --> 00:40:11,191 Rob Simmelkjaer: thinking? 759 00:40:11,190 --> 00:40:16,110 Gabby Thomas: That is a good question. That I don't know, I could not 760 00:40:16,110 --> 00:40:16,560 Gabby Thomas: tell you. 761 00:40:16,890 --> 00:40:17,850 Becs Gentry: Maybe the mile? 762 00:40:18,239 --> 00:40:22,080 Gabby Thomas: Oh, maybe the mile. That was a good one. Yeah, we'll have to see. 763 00:40:24,360 --> 00:40:28,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: And my last question for you, we have Jenny Simpson, 764 00:40:28,440 --> 00:40:31,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: who was one of the great American milers of her 765 00:40:31,500 --> 00:40:35,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: generation, and she's running the marathon here in New York 766 00:40:35,489 --> 00:40:39,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: this year. She has made that effort of stretching herself 767 00:40:39,480 --> 00:40:42,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: out and getting to the marathon distance. I was talking 768 00:40:42,690 --> 00:40:45,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: to her earlier today, she told me it was harder 769 00:40:45,840 --> 00:40:48,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: than she thought it would be, but she's been doing 770 00:40:48,630 --> 00:40:52,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: it. Gabby, can you ever envision a day when we'll 771 00:40:52,620 --> 00:40:56,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: be welcoming you here to the expo of the TCS 772 00:40:56,670 --> 00:40:59,609 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York City Marathon? Not as grand marshal, but as 773 00:40:59,610 --> 00:41:00,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: a runner? 774 00:41:00,540 --> 00:41:03,540 Gabby Thomas: Oh my gosh, I would love to say yes to that. 775 00:41:04,469 --> 00:41:07,380 Gabby Thomas: I don't know how y'all do it, I just don't know. 776 00:41:07,500 --> 00:41:10,050 Gabby Thomas: I don't know, maybe one day, but for now I 777 00:41:10,050 --> 00:41:12,480 Gabby Thomas: cannot imagine it. I'm going to focus on the sprints. 778 00:41:12,540 --> 00:41:15,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: What's your message to all the 50, 000 plus who will 779 00:41:16,290 --> 00:41:18,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: show up at the starting line on Sunday? 780 00:41:18,840 --> 00:41:21,930 Gabby Thomas: I would say every step you take is just a 781 00:41:21,930 --> 00:41:26,820 Gabby Thomas: step towards chasing your goals, and showing up to the 782 00:41:26,820 --> 00:41:30,600 Gabby Thomas: line is such an accomplishment. Stay focused, have fun, and 783 00:41:30,600 --> 00:41:33,270 Gabby Thomas: just know that the entire city of New York is 784 00:41:33,270 --> 00:41:33,930 Gabby Thomas: behind you. 785 00:41:35,279 --> 00:41:35,640 Becs Gentry: That is true. 786 00:41:35,669 --> 00:41:36,629 Rob Simmelkjaer: Amen to that. Absolutely. 787 00:41:38,580 --> 00:41:40,259 Becs Gentry: I'm going to hold onto the fact that there was 788 00:41:40,260 --> 00:41:41,341 Becs Gentry: a yes in the sentence that she said. 789 00:41:41,341 --> 00:41:43,651 Rob Simmelkjaer: There was. It was not a hard no. 790 00:41:43,651 --> 00:41:44,730 Becs Gentry: It wasn't a hard no. 791 00:41:45,930 --> 00:41:49,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: Absolutely. Our pro athletes team, they're out there, we're making 792 00:41:49,710 --> 00:41:50,101 Rob Simmelkjaer: a note of that. 793 00:41:50,101 --> 00:41:50,102 Gabby Thomas: Yes. 794 00:41:50,102 --> 00:41:50,672 Rob Simmelkjaer: It'll be 2029- 795 00:41:51,030 --> 00:41:52,980 Becs Gentry: Yeah, New Balance are sending you the long running shoes. 796 00:41:53,460 --> 00:41:56,219 Gabby Thomas: Oh God. 797 00:41:56,460 --> 00:42:00,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: Gabby, such an honor to have you here, to have you 798 00:42:00,900 --> 00:42:03,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: be a part of our event this year as grand 799 00:42:03,570 --> 00:42:06,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: marshal, to have you as a guest on Set the 800 00:42:06,150 --> 00:42:11,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: Pace. Congratulations on everything you've done, everything you will do 801 00:42:11,370 --> 00:42:14,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: because we know you're going to keep going, and just 802 00:42:14,580 --> 00:42:16,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: all the best to you. Thank you so much for 803 00:42:16,140 --> 00:42:16,501 Rob Simmelkjaer: being with us. 804 00:42:16,500 --> 00:42:17,850 Gabby Thomas: Thank you, thank you, thank you. 805 00:42:18,120 --> 00:42:23,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: Gabby Thomas, our grand marshal and Olympic gold medalist here 806 00:42:23,850 --> 00:42:27,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: on a very special episode of Set the Pace. Thank 807 00:42:27,330 --> 00:42:30,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: you all for joining us out there in podcast land 808 00:42:30,390 --> 00:42:33,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: here in the expo, and we will see you all 809 00:42:33,690 --> 00:42:36,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: at the starting line of the TCS New York City 810 00:42:36,630 --> 00:42:37,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: Marathon. 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