1 00:00:14,916 --> 00:00:35,236 Speaker 1: Pushkin hey Slight Changers Maya here. We'll be resuming our 2 00:00:35,316 --> 00:00:38,596 Speaker 1: regularly scheduled programming next week when we hear from Angela 3 00:00:38,676 --> 00:00:42,116 Speaker 1: Duckworth about the science of grit But this week I 4 00:00:42,156 --> 00:00:45,356 Speaker 1: wanted to share a special conversation I recently had with 5 00:00:45,396 --> 00:00:49,076 Speaker 1: one of my favorite Olympians, Gabby Thomas. At the twenty 6 00:00:49,156 --> 00:00:53,116 Speaker 1: twenty one US Olympic Trials, Gabby became the second fastest 7 00:00:53,116 --> 00:00:56,116 Speaker 1: woman ever when she ran the two hundred meters in 8 00:00:56,196 --> 00:00:59,676 Speaker 1: twenty one point six one seconds, and she then went 9 00:00:59,716 --> 00:01:03,396 Speaker 1: on to win two medals at the Tokyo Olympics. When 10 00:01:03,436 --> 00:01:06,156 Speaker 1: I first heard about Gabby's ascent in track and field, 11 00:01:06,516 --> 00:01:09,876 Speaker 1: I assumed her relationship with running was a relative straightforward, 12 00:01:09,876 --> 00:01:13,676 Speaker 1: one passion at an early age match with a singular focus. 13 00:01:14,276 --> 00:01:17,516 Speaker 1: But that wasn't the case. I discovered that Gabby had 14 00:01:17,556 --> 00:01:21,036 Speaker 1: competing interests and as a result, her focus was pulled 15 00:01:21,036 --> 00:01:24,356 Speaker 1: in different directions over the course of her life, especially 16 00:01:24,436 --> 00:01:27,996 Speaker 1: during her time as a Harvard undergrad, and this tension 17 00:01:28,076 --> 00:01:31,676 Speaker 1: has led Gabby to continually question which path she should take. 18 00:01:32,316 --> 00:01:35,836 Speaker 1: At times, She's even considered whether she should quit track altogether. 19 00:01:37,876 --> 00:01:40,236 Speaker 1: And so, because this show is all about how we 20 00:01:40,316 --> 00:01:43,556 Speaker 1: navigate those big inflection moments in our lives. I thought 21 00:01:43,596 --> 00:01:46,036 Speaker 1: we could learn a lot from Gabby's story of change. 22 00:01:47,276 --> 00:01:50,036 Speaker 1: I'm Maya Shunker and this is a slight change of plans, 23 00:01:50,436 --> 00:01:52,676 Speaker 1: a show about who we are and who we've become 24 00:01:53,116 --> 00:02:08,476 Speaker 1: in the face of a big change. So I'd love 25 00:02:08,476 --> 00:02:11,196 Speaker 1: to start by all the way back to your childhood. 26 00:02:11,676 --> 00:02:13,836 Speaker 1: I think one thing a lot of people might not 27 00:02:13,916 --> 00:02:16,796 Speaker 1: know about your story is that growing up you had 28 00:02:16,796 --> 00:02:20,196 Speaker 1: no interest in being an athlete, right you wanted to 29 00:02:20,196 --> 00:02:23,516 Speaker 1: study neurobiology. And I'm wondering if you can tell me 30 00:02:23,556 --> 00:02:26,596 Speaker 1: more about your family and how it led you down 31 00:02:26,596 --> 00:02:31,156 Speaker 1: that path in terms of going into neurobiology, that came 32 00:02:31,236 --> 00:02:35,796 Speaker 1: from very personal experiences within my own family and just 33 00:02:35,876 --> 00:02:41,196 Speaker 1: seeing how my brothers who are neuro atypical and who 34 00:02:41,236 --> 00:02:44,836 Speaker 1: they are and how they navigated life. One of my 35 00:02:44,916 --> 00:02:48,156 Speaker 1: younger brothers has autism. He has Aspergers and he was 36 00:02:48,196 --> 00:02:51,516 Speaker 1: diagnosed at the age of four, I believe, and just 37 00:02:51,556 --> 00:02:54,236 Speaker 1: watching how he navigates the world and how the world 38 00:02:54,276 --> 00:02:57,716 Speaker 1: isn't exactly built for him, but he's so special and 39 00:02:57,796 --> 00:02:59,436 Speaker 1: amazing in his own way. And then I have my 40 00:02:59,476 --> 00:03:02,596 Speaker 1: twin brother who just battled Adhd. I believe he was 41 00:03:02,636 --> 00:03:06,396 Speaker 1: diagnosed at eight and going through that and going through 42 00:03:06,396 --> 00:03:08,916 Speaker 1: the school system and having to deal with that and 43 00:03:09,156 --> 00:03:11,716 Speaker 1: having things not really be adapted towards you, but that 44 00:03:11,756 --> 00:03:13,956 Speaker 1: you know, they have to adapt towards the world that 45 00:03:13,956 --> 00:03:16,436 Speaker 1: they're living in. So at the end of the day, 46 00:03:16,676 --> 00:03:18,356 Speaker 1: at this point, I decided that I wanted to study 47 00:03:18,396 --> 00:03:22,836 Speaker 1: the nervous system and just explore that area. And I'm wondering, Gaddy, 48 00:03:22,956 --> 00:03:26,316 Speaker 1: was there a specific moment in your life where you thought, Okay, 49 00:03:26,316 --> 00:03:29,036 Speaker 1: this is what I have to do with my life. Yeah, 50 00:03:29,036 --> 00:03:31,196 Speaker 1: there was definitely a moment when I was in high school. 51 00:03:31,396 --> 00:03:34,876 Speaker 1: This random morning getting ready for school. My mom, my 52 00:03:34,956 --> 00:03:36,796 Speaker 1: twin brother, and I were all in the kitchen, sitting 53 00:03:36,796 --> 00:03:39,076 Speaker 1: at the kitchen table, just getting ready like we normally do. 54 00:03:39,236 --> 00:03:41,436 Speaker 1: I was fixing a bowl of cereal. My brother was 55 00:03:41,516 --> 00:03:44,276 Speaker 1: just grabbing his backpack getting ready to go, and my 56 00:03:44,356 --> 00:03:46,796 Speaker 1: mom had asked him if he had taken its medication 57 00:03:47,076 --> 00:03:50,676 Speaker 1: for school that day, and he said no, And of course, 58 00:03:50,756 --> 00:03:53,796 Speaker 1: you know, she's thinking, well why not, because this is 59 00:03:54,236 --> 00:03:56,076 Speaker 1: your normal. We should be taking medication so that you 60 00:03:56,076 --> 00:03:58,516 Speaker 1: can go and focus. Then he had mentioned that he 61 00:03:58,836 --> 00:04:00,636 Speaker 1: could not take the side effects anymore. He didn't like 62 00:04:00,716 --> 00:04:03,636 Speaker 1: how it made him feel. And for me, what I 63 00:04:03,676 --> 00:04:06,596 Speaker 1: had noticed in the weeks, even months prior to that 64 00:04:06,676 --> 00:04:10,956 Speaker 1: exact moment, was that my brother was very different from 65 00:04:11,076 --> 00:04:13,236 Speaker 1: the brother that I had grown up with. He was 66 00:04:13,276 --> 00:04:17,596 Speaker 1: just this very very active and fun and silly kid. 67 00:04:18,116 --> 00:04:21,636 Speaker 1: And then you'd notice as he would switch the medication, 68 00:04:21,716 --> 00:04:27,396 Speaker 1: he just seemed so somber and just not quite himself. 69 00:04:27,836 --> 00:04:30,436 Speaker 1: And I think we all noticed it. And my mom 70 00:04:30,516 --> 00:04:32,716 Speaker 1: had gotten to a point where she did not know 71 00:04:32,756 --> 00:04:35,636 Speaker 1: what to do, and the frustration just set in and 72 00:04:35,916 --> 00:04:39,556 Speaker 1: my mom just started crying. I had never seen her 73 00:04:39,556 --> 00:04:42,316 Speaker 1: cry like that, and I think it was very It 74 00:04:42,396 --> 00:04:45,476 Speaker 1: was shocking for me, probably for my twin brother too, 75 00:04:45,476 --> 00:04:48,036 Speaker 1: but definitely very shocking for me to witness that and 76 00:04:48,116 --> 00:04:52,196 Speaker 1: to see that frustration and just not knowing what steps 77 00:04:52,196 --> 00:04:55,396 Speaker 1: to take next. And so I think in that moment, yeah, 78 00:04:55,436 --> 00:04:58,796 Speaker 1: I was very curious about it. I I was wondering, well, 79 00:04:58,796 --> 00:05:00,876 Speaker 1: why is this it? Why is this his only option? 80 00:05:00,996 --> 00:05:03,876 Speaker 1: Why is it that he has to be altering himself 81 00:05:03,876 --> 00:05:06,036 Speaker 1: and who he is? So I was very Yeah, I 82 00:05:06,076 --> 00:05:08,396 Speaker 1: was maybe sixteen at this time, and I decided that 83 00:05:08,436 --> 00:05:11,516 Speaker 1: I wanted to go into neurobiology and study it. Yeah, 84 00:05:11,516 --> 00:05:13,636 Speaker 1: I mean I can imagine as his sister just feeling 85 00:05:13,716 --> 00:05:15,476 Speaker 1: so helpless, like, why is he having to make this 86 00:05:15,556 --> 00:05:19,076 Speaker 1: trade off between feeling like himself and getting his school 87 00:05:19,076 --> 00:05:21,436 Speaker 1: work done? Right? That's not right. And it's also as 88 00:05:21,436 --> 00:05:23,796 Speaker 1: a twin sister, right. So I just I grew up 89 00:05:23,796 --> 00:05:26,716 Speaker 1: with him and I did everything with him, and we 90 00:05:27,156 --> 00:05:29,556 Speaker 1: just did everything together, and he was my best friend 91 00:05:29,636 --> 00:05:34,356 Speaker 1: growing up. And to just see that kind of helplessness 92 00:05:35,636 --> 00:05:37,636 Speaker 1: from someone who truly is just feels like a part 93 00:05:37,636 --> 00:05:42,116 Speaker 1: of me was. It was pretty shocking. Wow, that's so beautiful. 94 00:05:42,156 --> 00:05:44,796 Speaker 1: I mean, you can hear the passion and curiosity in 95 00:05:44,876 --> 00:05:47,596 Speaker 1: your voice even now, you know, just talking about this, 96 00:05:49,276 --> 00:05:51,876 Speaker 1: I'd love to pivot to running for a moment. I 97 00:05:51,956 --> 00:05:56,036 Speaker 1: love the fact that you've been able to occupy these 98 00:05:56,116 --> 00:05:58,836 Speaker 1: two very distinct worlds in your life, you know, track 99 00:05:58,916 --> 00:06:02,596 Speaker 1: and public health, and also there's been so many ebbs 100 00:06:02,596 --> 00:06:05,676 Speaker 1: and flows in your drive and motivation along the way, 101 00:06:05,716 --> 00:06:08,156 Speaker 1: And to me, that's a part of your story that 102 00:06:08,236 --> 00:06:12,956 Speaker 1: feels so relatable. I can't relate to being an incredibly 103 00:06:12,996 --> 00:06:17,196 Speaker 1: fast runner, though. Note please that I was on the 104 00:06:17,236 --> 00:06:20,276 Speaker 1: cross country team in high school and it was notably 105 00:06:20,316 --> 00:06:21,996 Speaker 1: a walk on team, which is the only reason that 106 00:06:21,996 --> 00:06:23,636 Speaker 1: I was on the cross country team in high school 107 00:06:24,076 --> 00:06:27,156 Speaker 1: that I did log in my five case. Anyway, Yeah, 108 00:06:27,196 --> 00:06:29,436 Speaker 1: the part that's that's so relatable to me is that 109 00:06:29,916 --> 00:06:33,156 Speaker 1: you know, we all question at some point or another 110 00:06:33,396 --> 00:06:35,876 Speaker 1: whether we're on the right path or whether we should 111 00:06:35,956 --> 00:06:39,476 Speaker 1: change course. And it was so reassuring for me, and 112 00:06:39,516 --> 00:06:41,756 Speaker 1: I'm sure we'll be so reassuring for so many listeners 113 00:06:42,156 --> 00:06:45,716 Speaker 1: that you fall into this camp too. I so appreciated 114 00:06:45,716 --> 00:06:48,956 Speaker 1: the fact that you've said you didn't actually love running 115 00:06:48,956 --> 00:06:51,316 Speaker 1: at first. And the reason I love that, Gabby, is 116 00:06:51,356 --> 00:06:54,956 Speaker 1: because it runs so counter to the typical romantic story 117 00:06:54,996 --> 00:06:57,396 Speaker 1: you hear from Olympians, right that it was like love 118 00:06:57,436 --> 00:06:59,796 Speaker 1: it first step or love at first jump, for whatever 119 00:06:59,996 --> 00:07:02,716 Speaker 1: whatever you know you hear out there, and so you 120 00:07:02,756 --> 00:07:06,076 Speaker 1: know your story, it just feels kind of normal and 121 00:07:06,116 --> 00:07:09,676 Speaker 1: an interesting way, right. It shows that passion can be cultivated. 122 00:07:09,716 --> 00:07:13,436 Speaker 1: And so just bring me back to your first encounter 123 00:07:13,516 --> 00:07:16,556 Speaker 1: with running. I'm wondering what that exposure was like. Yeah, 124 00:07:16,916 --> 00:07:18,756 Speaker 1: it's actually very funny that you bring that up, because 125 00:07:18,756 --> 00:07:20,236 Speaker 1: a lot of times I do just kind of feel 126 00:07:20,276 --> 00:07:23,356 Speaker 1: like such a phony, being like the only pro track 127 00:07:23,396 --> 00:07:25,796 Speaker 1: athlete who didn't want to go into track and field. 128 00:07:25,836 --> 00:07:27,756 Speaker 1: Whenever I talk about it with people, it's always like, 129 00:07:27,876 --> 00:07:30,596 Speaker 1: what are you talking about? So what are you doing here? 130 00:07:31,076 --> 00:07:33,516 Speaker 1: But you can cultivate it. But yeah, So I got 131 00:07:33,516 --> 00:07:36,796 Speaker 1: into track in middle school. My mom forced me to 132 00:07:36,836 --> 00:07:38,876 Speaker 1: do it, and at the time I didn't want to go, 133 00:07:38,996 --> 00:07:41,196 Speaker 1: and none of my friends were doing it, and I, 134 00:07:41,476 --> 00:07:44,196 Speaker 1: quite frankly, I didn't want to run. Soccer was my 135 00:07:44,236 --> 00:07:46,996 Speaker 1: first love, and they knew I was fast because I 136 00:07:46,996 --> 00:07:48,996 Speaker 1: would run the ball in soccer and that was all 137 00:07:48,996 --> 00:07:50,916 Speaker 1: I knew about running, and I knew I didn't want 138 00:07:50,916 --> 00:07:53,036 Speaker 1: to do it. But I ended up going and being 139 00:07:53,076 --> 00:07:56,436 Speaker 1: on the team and just running really fast. And from 140 00:07:56,476 --> 00:07:58,316 Speaker 1: then on it was almost as if I didn't really 141 00:07:58,316 --> 00:08:00,396 Speaker 1: have a choice but to do track and field because 142 00:08:00,396 --> 00:08:03,236 Speaker 1: I was winning every race that I was put in, 143 00:08:03,916 --> 00:08:06,556 Speaker 1: whether I just varied across the sprints and then even 144 00:08:06,556 --> 00:08:08,876 Speaker 1: the jumps, so I was kind of in this position 145 00:08:08,876 --> 00:08:11,156 Speaker 1: where I felt obligated to do it. Tell me more 146 00:08:11,196 --> 00:08:13,436 Speaker 1: about that, because that is so interesting, right that when 147 00:08:13,516 --> 00:08:17,436 Speaker 1: we see success in ourselves, even if it doesn't align 148 00:08:17,716 --> 00:08:21,276 Speaker 1: with an active passion, we feel compelled in some way, 149 00:08:21,316 --> 00:08:23,196 Speaker 1: like like we owe it to the world or owe 150 00:08:23,196 --> 00:08:24,556 Speaker 1: it to ourselves. I don't know what it is, but 151 00:08:24,756 --> 00:08:27,596 Speaker 1: that's exactly how I felt. Yeah, tell me more about that. 152 00:08:27,596 --> 00:08:29,476 Speaker 1: That's exactly how I felt. I just I felt like 153 00:08:29,676 --> 00:08:31,876 Speaker 1: I just owed it to the world. You have all 154 00:08:31,876 --> 00:08:34,116 Speaker 1: these people who were congratulating me, telling me how proud 155 00:08:34,156 --> 00:08:35,756 Speaker 1: they were of me, and they were so happy to 156 00:08:35,796 --> 00:08:37,756 Speaker 1: have me on the team and have me running. It 157 00:08:37,796 --> 00:08:39,716 Speaker 1: just felt like it I would have been a very 158 00:08:39,796 --> 00:08:42,676 Speaker 1: big disappointment if I did not continue to run. It's 159 00:08:42,716 --> 00:08:46,676 Speaker 1: a very weird feeling. And in hindsight, it's easy to say, Okay, well, 160 00:08:46,676 --> 00:08:49,156 Speaker 1: then why did you continue to do it? But I 161 00:08:49,156 --> 00:08:51,036 Speaker 1: think that's a lot of times that's how we operate, 162 00:08:51,076 --> 00:08:53,556 Speaker 1: and you want to be successful so badly that sometimes 163 00:08:53,596 --> 00:08:56,996 Speaker 1: you're just willing to like overlook whatever is making you happy. Actually, 164 00:08:57,516 --> 00:08:59,756 Speaker 1: it is this interesting thing that we do in society 165 00:09:00,036 --> 00:09:02,916 Speaker 1: where you kind of just don't want to waste your talent, right, 166 00:09:03,756 --> 00:09:06,676 Speaker 1: And I had that talent and at the end of 167 00:09:06,716 --> 00:09:08,996 Speaker 1: the day, you know, I do find that people do 168 00:09:09,276 --> 00:09:11,116 Speaker 1: enjoy things that they're good at, and that is a 169 00:09:11,156 --> 00:09:13,556 Speaker 1: true statement. But at the time, I didn't, you know, 170 00:09:13,676 --> 00:09:16,076 Speaker 1: that was fine. I just continued to do it, and 171 00:09:16,076 --> 00:09:17,796 Speaker 1: I just found joy in the little parts of it, 172 00:09:17,996 --> 00:09:19,876 Speaker 1: made some friends on the team, and you know, you 173 00:09:19,916 --> 00:09:22,636 Speaker 1: just find little aspects that you like. But ultimately track 174 00:09:22,796 --> 00:09:25,556 Speaker 1: wasn't I didn't want it to be my thing, and 175 00:09:25,596 --> 00:09:27,956 Speaker 1: then at some point, you know, I kept doing it 176 00:09:28,316 --> 00:09:31,316 Speaker 1: through middle school, and then it was my software year 177 00:09:31,996 --> 00:09:35,076 Speaker 1: in high school when I actually started to enjoy it 178 00:09:35,316 --> 00:09:39,796 Speaker 1: and set goals for myself and actually be pretty motivated 179 00:09:39,836 --> 00:09:42,756 Speaker 1: and determined in the actual sport. What do you think 180 00:09:42,836 --> 00:09:46,356 Speaker 1: changed for you? What led you to suddenly start articulating 181 00:09:46,396 --> 00:09:49,156 Speaker 1: these goals where it turned into a thing you were 182 00:09:49,196 --> 00:09:52,236 Speaker 1: doing begrudgingly to a thing that was actually driving you 183 00:09:52,316 --> 00:09:55,436 Speaker 1: day to day. Well, part of it was like, if 184 00:09:55,476 --> 00:09:57,436 Speaker 1: I'm going to be here every day in the spring, 185 00:09:57,476 --> 00:10:00,276 Speaker 1: then I should probably figure out a way to love it. 186 00:10:00,756 --> 00:10:02,436 Speaker 1: But the biggest part of it was I had a 187 00:10:02,436 --> 00:10:07,236 Speaker 1: coach who was pushing me a lot and actually just 188 00:10:07,276 --> 00:10:11,156 Speaker 1: taught me a lot about working hard and actually getting 189 00:10:11,156 --> 00:10:13,276 Speaker 1: out what you put in, and that's something that I 190 00:10:13,316 --> 00:10:16,076 Speaker 1: had not really experienced before. So it was kind of 191 00:10:16,116 --> 00:10:19,916 Speaker 1: just a mindset shift that was like, you know, it 192 00:10:19,996 --> 00:10:23,636 Speaker 1: actually kind of transcended track and field itself. And it 193 00:10:23,676 --> 00:10:27,116 Speaker 1: more just became something about me growing as a person. 194 00:10:27,716 --> 00:10:30,916 Speaker 1: So it really wasn't about loving the running itself and 195 00:10:31,436 --> 00:10:34,076 Speaker 1: loving running that two hundred meters, but it was more like, Okay, 196 00:10:34,436 --> 00:10:36,076 Speaker 1: if I'm going to do this, I'm going to work 197 00:10:36,076 --> 00:10:37,716 Speaker 1: hard here and then I'm going to see the results. 198 00:10:37,716 --> 00:10:39,676 Speaker 1: And that's that was a rewarding part that I that 199 00:10:39,716 --> 00:10:42,196 Speaker 1: I found to enjoy about it. Were there any role 200 00:10:42,236 --> 00:10:45,476 Speaker 1: models you had in this space, anyone you saw crushing 201 00:10:45,476 --> 00:10:48,716 Speaker 1: it out there that that let you up? Yeah? Well also, 202 00:10:48,716 --> 00:10:51,236 Speaker 1: and Felix was always my role model. I remember when 203 00:10:51,276 --> 00:10:54,716 Speaker 1: I was gosh, I had to be in middle school 204 00:10:54,756 --> 00:10:57,596 Speaker 1: at my grandmother's house and the Olympic trials were on, 205 00:10:57,756 --> 00:10:59,356 Speaker 1: and my mom told me to turn on the TV 206 00:10:59,476 --> 00:11:01,876 Speaker 1: because there was someone on the screen that just reminded 207 00:11:01,916 --> 00:11:05,676 Speaker 1: her of me. She had these long legs and she 208 00:11:05,796 --> 00:11:09,196 Speaker 1: was just absolutely crushing it with grace and poise, And 209 00:11:09,236 --> 00:11:11,676 Speaker 1: at the time I thought nothing about it. I said 210 00:11:11,676 --> 00:11:13,876 Speaker 1: that is great for her, and my mom was like, 211 00:11:14,036 --> 00:11:16,356 Speaker 1: you could be an Olympian one day, and I'm like, okay, 212 00:11:16,476 --> 00:11:20,436 Speaker 1: sounds great. Mom, so happy for Allison, but that's not 213 00:11:21,196 --> 00:11:26,196 Speaker 1: my path. I just never considered it. And after that 214 00:11:26,236 --> 00:11:28,636 Speaker 1: you know, I followed Allison's career a little bit, but again, 215 00:11:28,716 --> 00:11:32,916 Speaker 1: I wasn't following professional track and field that closely. It's 216 00:11:32,956 --> 00:11:35,436 Speaker 1: not something I inspired to do because I didn't know 217 00:11:35,476 --> 00:11:37,636 Speaker 1: that it was something that I actually could do, especially 218 00:11:37,716 --> 00:11:40,596 Speaker 1: for someone who just didn't do you know, club track 219 00:11:41,036 --> 00:11:43,276 Speaker 1: or any like club sports like that. So I never 220 00:11:43,316 --> 00:11:45,996 Speaker 1: paid that much attention to it. Yeah, I also didn't 221 00:11:45,996 --> 00:11:48,476 Speaker 1: pay much attention to my cross country skills similar similar 222 00:11:49,076 --> 00:11:50,556 Speaker 1: you know, not it had nothing to do with lack 223 00:11:50,596 --> 00:11:53,316 Speaker 1: of ability or you know, slow times or anything like that. 224 00:11:54,516 --> 00:11:57,436 Speaker 1: So you have this great coach, you're performing well in 225 00:11:57,516 --> 00:11:59,836 Speaker 1: high school, but then there is this moment where you 226 00:11:59,876 --> 00:12:03,636 Speaker 1: considered quitting running altogether when you were just graduating from 227 00:12:03,716 --> 00:12:07,116 Speaker 1: high school. What is it that led you to continue 228 00:12:07,156 --> 00:12:09,516 Speaker 1: on at that moment in time. So there was a 229 00:12:09,556 --> 00:12:12,196 Speaker 1: lot of that back and forth throughout my entire college 230 00:12:12,236 --> 00:12:14,796 Speaker 1: career where I was thinking, is track and field right 231 00:12:14,796 --> 00:12:16,276 Speaker 1: for me? Is this the path that I want to 232 00:12:16,316 --> 00:12:19,676 Speaker 1: go down? Is it you know, taking opportunities for me? 233 00:12:19,716 --> 00:12:22,476 Speaker 1: At this point? You know, what where am I going 234 00:12:22,516 --> 00:12:24,396 Speaker 1: to go from here? And there are so many things 235 00:12:24,396 --> 00:12:28,276 Speaker 1: that I wanted to accomplish, especially after landing at Harvard University. 236 00:12:28,316 --> 00:12:30,796 Speaker 1: I thought, you know, there are just so many things 237 00:12:30,796 --> 00:12:33,036 Speaker 1: I can study that will take a lot of time. 238 00:12:33,716 --> 00:12:35,436 Speaker 1: If I want to do labs, that will take a 239 00:12:35,436 --> 00:12:37,316 Speaker 1: lot of time. If I want to study abroad, that 240 00:12:37,316 --> 00:12:38,556 Speaker 1: will take a lot of time, And I don't know 241 00:12:38,596 --> 00:12:41,116 Speaker 1: if I can do both. I was taking this course 242 00:12:41,116 --> 00:12:43,436 Speaker 1: sick and Tired of being sick and tired, and it 243 00:12:43,556 --> 00:12:47,756 Speaker 1: sparked an interest in me in sociology and biology. And 244 00:12:47,916 --> 00:12:49,876 Speaker 1: there were other things on campus that I wanted to 245 00:12:49,916 --> 00:12:52,356 Speaker 1: be a part of, other organizations and extracurriculars that I 246 00:12:52,396 --> 00:12:54,876 Speaker 1: wanted to be a part of, a lot of social 247 00:12:54,916 --> 00:12:56,356 Speaker 1: things that I wanted to be a part of, because 248 00:12:56,356 --> 00:12:58,276 Speaker 1: that's also the fun part of Harvard is like meeting 249 00:12:58,316 --> 00:13:02,196 Speaker 1: all of these really fascinating and interesting people. And it 250 00:13:02,276 --> 00:13:04,756 Speaker 1: was finding that balance. It was very very hard for 251 00:13:04,796 --> 00:13:06,636 Speaker 1: me to do. Yeah, I'm wondering if we can talk 252 00:13:06,676 --> 00:13:09,836 Speaker 1: a little bit more about this really critical class you 253 00:13:09,836 --> 00:13:12,556 Speaker 1: took at Harvard Um, which which seems to have led 254 00:13:12,556 --> 00:13:14,876 Speaker 1: you to double down on your commitment to working in 255 00:13:14,916 --> 00:13:17,716 Speaker 1: the public health space. Can you tell me more about 256 00:13:17,716 --> 00:13:20,156 Speaker 1: the class? Yeah, so sick and Tired of being sick 257 00:13:20,156 --> 00:13:22,636 Speaker 1: and tired? Was this freshman seminar that I took in 258 00:13:22,676 --> 00:13:26,916 Speaker 1: the fall, and it was about health disparities and racism 259 00:13:26,956 --> 00:13:30,556 Speaker 1: in medicine, something that I had never been familiar with. 260 00:13:31,236 --> 00:13:33,436 Speaker 1: We're not taught that in school. We're not taught that 261 00:13:33,476 --> 00:13:36,156 Speaker 1: in high school, especially not in the white communities that 262 00:13:36,236 --> 00:13:39,076 Speaker 1: you know, I was growing up in. It was when 263 00:13:39,116 --> 00:13:42,716 Speaker 1: we were learning about the Tuskegees of syphilist study and 264 00:13:42,756 --> 00:13:46,476 Speaker 1: we were learning about Henrietta Lacks, and these two stories 265 00:13:46,476 --> 00:13:50,436 Speaker 1: were just great examples of how black bodies are are 266 00:13:50,476 --> 00:13:54,636 Speaker 1: disregarded in medicine. And it was just very, very mind 267 00:13:54,636 --> 00:13:58,076 Speaker 1: blowing and very impactful. I want to talk about this 268 00:13:58,116 --> 00:14:01,396 Speaker 1: moment I read about where you're you're you're taking this class. 269 00:14:01,956 --> 00:14:03,996 Speaker 1: It's getting you all sorts of new insights about the 270 00:14:04,036 --> 00:14:07,756 Speaker 1: depths of medical racism that plague our country's history and 271 00:14:07,796 --> 00:14:10,516 Speaker 1: also our country's present. And then you speak to your 272 00:14:10,516 --> 00:14:13,316 Speaker 1: mom about it. Yeah. So my mom is actually a 273 00:14:13,396 --> 00:14:16,156 Speaker 1: rockstar in her own right. So she is an education 274 00:14:16,316 --> 00:14:19,876 Speaker 1: and her whole objective in life is to fight racism 275 00:14:19,876 --> 00:14:22,516 Speaker 1: and education, right, and so she's always been one to 276 00:14:22,756 --> 00:14:25,516 Speaker 1: just fight racial injustice. And but she's never kind of 277 00:14:25,996 --> 00:14:29,476 Speaker 1: we never had that conversation right about my career. Um, 278 00:14:29,516 --> 00:14:31,356 Speaker 1: and she's never forced any type of career on me. 279 00:14:31,636 --> 00:14:33,396 Speaker 1: So I think when I called her and told her 280 00:14:33,716 --> 00:14:36,116 Speaker 1: about what I was studying and I felt like this 281 00:14:36,316 --> 00:14:39,396 Speaker 1: fiery passion about it, she was like, yes, like this 282 00:14:39,476 --> 00:14:41,396 Speaker 1: is what you know. We owe it to the world 283 00:14:41,556 --> 00:14:44,076 Speaker 1: to fight these injustices. And she told me, you know 284 00:14:44,116 --> 00:14:48,316 Speaker 1: that I'm put in this position and it's not a coincidence, 285 00:14:48,956 --> 00:14:50,596 Speaker 1: and that this is what I was meant to do, 286 00:14:50,796 --> 00:14:53,596 Speaker 1: and that it's my responsibility just as a black woman, 287 00:14:53,716 --> 00:14:57,156 Speaker 1: with this opportunity and with this platform, to to go 288 00:14:57,196 --> 00:14:59,516 Speaker 1: into it and fight injustice. And so that that's something 289 00:14:59,556 --> 00:15:02,476 Speaker 1: that really stuck with me and inspired me because she 290 00:15:02,956 --> 00:15:04,676 Speaker 1: she did the same thing. And you know, when I 291 00:15:04,676 --> 00:15:07,476 Speaker 1: look back and I think where my mother came came from. 292 00:15:07,516 --> 00:15:12,636 Speaker 1: She came from just complete poverty and mobile Alabama and 293 00:15:12,836 --> 00:15:17,996 Speaker 1: worked her way through school being you know, just finishing 294 00:15:17,996 --> 00:15:21,116 Speaker 1: and going through undergrad to grad school to PhD and 295 00:15:21,276 --> 00:15:24,556 Speaker 1: using her experience and her mastery and her opportunity to 296 00:15:24,596 --> 00:15:27,516 Speaker 1: pay it forward and to fight for people who are 297 00:15:27,556 --> 00:15:31,196 Speaker 1: underserved in the world. So yeah, absolutely, my mom inspired 298 00:15:31,276 --> 00:15:32,876 Speaker 1: me so much to just pay it forward and fight 299 00:15:32,916 --> 00:15:36,956 Speaker 1: the injustices that I'm that I witness So Harvard Gaddy 300 00:15:37,196 --> 00:15:40,156 Speaker 1: is falling in love with public health and you know, 301 00:15:40,236 --> 00:15:44,036 Speaker 1: aspiring public health official who's helping to bridge racial gaps 302 00:15:44,036 --> 00:15:48,316 Speaker 1: in the system, racial inequity, and yet this track thing 303 00:15:48,596 --> 00:15:51,436 Speaker 1: keeps happening to you. It sounds like right, and it's 304 00:15:51,556 --> 00:15:54,516 Speaker 1: it's just so fascinating for me to have learned more 305 00:15:54,516 --> 00:15:57,956 Speaker 1: about you, because it just it feels like running was 306 00:15:57,996 --> 00:16:01,436 Speaker 1: this continual thing that you just kept falling into. Right, 307 00:16:01,476 --> 00:16:05,516 Speaker 1: It's it's like this afterthought, but eventually it's just hard 308 00:16:05,596 --> 00:16:10,196 Speaker 1: for you to deny just how remarkable your potential is. 309 00:16:10,716 --> 00:16:13,076 Speaker 1: Right is that? Is that? Am I accurate in capturing 310 00:16:14,396 --> 00:16:18,396 Speaker 1: one percent? What it was? So? Yeah, my freshman year track, 311 00:16:19,356 --> 00:16:22,036 Speaker 1: it wasn't afterthought and I hated that, and it was 312 00:16:22,756 --> 00:16:25,876 Speaker 1: something that I was incredibly insecure about just being on 313 00:16:25,916 --> 00:16:29,156 Speaker 1: the team. And you know, there's this culture of just 314 00:16:29,396 --> 00:16:33,116 Speaker 1: being very intense and being all in and very committed, 315 00:16:33,516 --> 00:16:35,796 Speaker 1: and I was going through the motions of that because 316 00:16:35,916 --> 00:16:37,756 Speaker 1: you know, I was doing that. I was showing up 317 00:16:37,796 --> 00:16:40,076 Speaker 1: every day on time when I went to the track, 318 00:16:40,116 --> 00:16:43,356 Speaker 1: I put my one hundred percent all into it. But 319 00:16:43,836 --> 00:16:45,996 Speaker 1: it was so hard for me right to actually make 320 00:16:46,076 --> 00:16:49,756 Speaker 1: that a mental priority the way that other things were 321 00:16:49,796 --> 00:16:52,836 Speaker 1: for me, especially just growing up with education being the 322 00:16:52,956 --> 00:16:57,036 Speaker 1: number one priority and that always was, and the sports 323 00:16:57,036 --> 00:16:59,676 Speaker 1: were always just something that you did after school. And 324 00:16:59,796 --> 00:17:06,636 Speaker 1: so my freshman year, after I finished it, it became 325 00:17:06,676 --> 00:17:10,276 Speaker 1: even harder because I was doing resource at Boston Children's 326 00:17:10,316 --> 00:17:14,116 Speaker 1: Hospital on rut syndrome, which is a form of autism, 327 00:17:14,156 --> 00:17:15,716 Speaker 1: and I wanted to get my foot in the door 328 00:17:15,916 --> 00:17:18,796 Speaker 1: right in research and the neurobiology, and I wanted to 329 00:17:18,836 --> 00:17:21,196 Speaker 1: have that experience because I was afraid that if I didn't, 330 00:17:21,236 --> 00:17:23,436 Speaker 1: that I might fall behind. I might fall behind all 331 00:17:23,476 --> 00:17:26,316 Speaker 1: of my peers who were doing and pursuing their passions. 332 00:17:26,876 --> 00:17:29,196 Speaker 1: But at the same time, that was an Olympic Trials year, 333 00:17:29,516 --> 00:17:33,396 Speaker 1: and I was running so fast that season, and the 334 00:17:33,476 --> 00:17:36,116 Speaker 1: season just kept going. I had to go to regionals, 335 00:17:36,116 --> 00:17:37,716 Speaker 1: and then I had to go to Nationals, and then 336 00:17:37,756 --> 00:17:41,436 Speaker 1: next with the Olympic Trials, and so that summer I 337 00:17:41,476 --> 00:17:45,996 Speaker 1: was balancing working my research job and then also doing 338 00:17:46,476 --> 00:17:49,876 Speaker 1: track and field, and at the end and also working 339 00:17:49,916 --> 00:17:52,036 Speaker 1: at the dry cleaners because I had to make money, 340 00:17:52,356 --> 00:17:55,316 Speaker 1: and so it was it was very stressful summer for me, 341 00:17:55,396 --> 00:17:56,996 Speaker 1: and I felt like I was being pulled in every 342 00:17:56,996 --> 00:17:59,436 Speaker 1: direction and also just trying to be a human and 343 00:17:59,516 --> 00:18:02,316 Speaker 1: live my life and have that balance. And so I 344 00:18:02,396 --> 00:18:04,516 Speaker 1: think what ended up making me a little bit resentful 345 00:18:04,596 --> 00:18:07,956 Speaker 1: of track and field during that freshman summer was that 346 00:18:08,116 --> 00:18:11,076 Speaker 1: I was not able to put in the hours that 347 00:18:11,156 --> 00:18:13,996 Speaker 1: I wanted to at my research opportunity. And I felt 348 00:18:13,996 --> 00:18:16,476 Speaker 1: like I was losing so much of that opportunity on 349 00:18:16,636 --> 00:18:19,356 Speaker 1: this end of my life because I had to be 350 00:18:19,396 --> 00:18:21,476 Speaker 1: all in for track and field. You know, once you 351 00:18:21,596 --> 00:18:24,916 Speaker 1: travel to a meet, you can't halfway travel. Your body 352 00:18:24,996 --> 00:18:26,996 Speaker 1: is fully there and you're present there, and that's what 353 00:18:27,076 --> 00:18:28,796 Speaker 1: you have to do. And I couldn't be present at 354 00:18:28,796 --> 00:18:31,396 Speaker 1: my lab and it frustrated me, and it made me 355 00:18:31,516 --> 00:18:35,356 Speaker 1: very very nervous and insecure about just what I was 356 00:18:35,356 --> 00:18:38,276 Speaker 1: going to do outside of the track world, and that 357 00:18:38,796 --> 00:18:42,716 Speaker 1: definitely carried into my sophomore year. It was an Olympic 358 00:18:42,796 --> 00:18:45,636 Speaker 1: year that was really twenty sixteen, And the thing about 359 00:18:45,676 --> 00:18:48,316 Speaker 1: the trials in twenty sixteen is that they actually went 360 00:18:48,476 --> 00:18:50,236 Speaker 1: really well for me. I got to sixth placed in 361 00:18:50,236 --> 00:18:53,036 Speaker 1: the final and the two hundred and had ran alongside 362 00:18:53,076 --> 00:18:58,116 Speaker 1: Alison Felix, right, which is this amazing and wild dream 363 00:18:58,196 --> 00:19:00,796 Speaker 1: that I couldn't believe what was happening, but somehow I 364 00:19:00,876 --> 00:19:05,516 Speaker 1: was still resentful about it, Reno, And I've never actually 365 00:19:05,556 --> 00:19:08,556 Speaker 1: admitted that out loud anywhere to anyone except for right now, 366 00:19:08,876 --> 00:19:13,036 Speaker 1: but that's how I felt. Look, Gadby, I love your candor, 367 00:19:13,196 --> 00:19:16,356 Speaker 1: and I totally understand why it's been so hard to 368 00:19:16,396 --> 00:19:20,076 Speaker 1: admit that, because when we admit that we feel resentful 369 00:19:20,196 --> 00:19:23,356 Speaker 1: about something, we worry that in turn will face the critique. 370 00:19:23,916 --> 00:19:26,796 Speaker 1: Shouldn't she just be grateful that she's been given all 371 00:19:26,836 --> 00:19:30,156 Speaker 1: these gifts, as though we're not entitled to feel the 372 00:19:30,196 --> 00:19:32,276 Speaker 1: things that we feel as we move about in this world, 373 00:19:32,356 --> 00:19:34,916 Speaker 1: which you absolutely are allowed to do. And so I 374 00:19:34,956 --> 00:19:36,796 Speaker 1: think sharing that actually is going to make a lot 375 00:19:36,836 --> 00:19:40,196 Speaker 1: of people feel more comfortable admitting that to themselves, because 376 00:19:40,876 --> 00:19:42,996 Speaker 1: a lot of us are out in the world trying 377 00:19:43,036 --> 00:19:46,036 Speaker 1: to meet other people's expectations, feeling like we owe the 378 00:19:46,076 --> 00:19:49,396 Speaker 1: world something, but maybe it's not the right choice for us. 379 00:19:49,396 --> 00:19:52,836 Speaker 1: And sometimes the first step is just saying this mental 380 00:19:52,836 --> 00:19:56,716 Speaker 1: calculation just isn't working for me, you know, yeah it wasn't. 381 00:19:57,116 --> 00:19:59,316 Speaker 1: I was at a crossroads at this point where I 382 00:19:59,316 --> 00:20:02,356 Speaker 1: had to decide what mattered to me and what was 383 00:20:02,396 --> 00:20:05,796 Speaker 1: my priority? And oh man, so I decided to just 384 00:20:05,916 --> 00:20:08,676 Speaker 1: take a trip to Senegal for her for eight weeks 385 00:20:09,396 --> 00:20:13,556 Speaker 1: and completely reset and not worry about any of it. 386 00:20:13,596 --> 00:20:15,956 Speaker 1: And the Senegal I studied the culture and the religion. 387 00:20:15,996 --> 00:20:18,076 Speaker 1: Then I had a fun cohort of people, and I 388 00:20:18,116 --> 00:20:21,596 Speaker 1: didn't train on a track for a single second. I 389 00:20:21,636 --> 00:20:24,596 Speaker 1: didn't do any neurobiology work for a single second. And 390 00:20:24,716 --> 00:20:27,836 Speaker 1: I just did what I wanted to do. And I 391 00:20:27,876 --> 00:20:31,596 Speaker 1: came back and was actually I had a very clear 392 00:20:31,636 --> 00:20:33,556 Speaker 1: mind and had a very clear headspace of what I 393 00:20:33,596 --> 00:20:36,596 Speaker 1: wanted to do. Huh say more about that, How did 394 00:20:36,596 --> 00:20:40,516 Speaker 1: it bring you clarity having this reset moment or that 395 00:20:40,676 --> 00:20:43,996 Speaker 1: this brief respite from the stresses of your daily life. 396 00:20:44,556 --> 00:20:46,196 Speaker 1: I didn't expect it to be like that. So I 397 00:20:46,196 --> 00:20:48,316 Speaker 1: didn't take the trip thinking, oh, I'm just going to 398 00:20:48,396 --> 00:20:49,836 Speaker 1: reset and figure out what I want to do in 399 00:20:49,836 --> 00:20:52,356 Speaker 1: my life. I think just stepping away from that and 400 00:20:52,716 --> 00:20:55,996 Speaker 1: having the freedom and the liberation to just think for 401 00:20:56,076 --> 00:21:00,396 Speaker 1: myself and be myself and be it so far away, 402 00:21:00,476 --> 00:21:02,916 Speaker 1: the thousands of thousands of miles from any of the 403 00:21:02,956 --> 00:21:07,196 Speaker 1: pressure that was being put on me back home. It 404 00:21:07,276 --> 00:21:11,276 Speaker 1: was not having access to social media for the majority 405 00:21:11,316 --> 00:21:13,716 Speaker 1: of the time, so not even being able to contact 406 00:21:13,756 --> 00:21:16,836 Speaker 1: people who were asking me to do something or encouraging 407 00:21:16,836 --> 00:21:19,516 Speaker 1: me to do something one way or another. I was 408 00:21:19,596 --> 00:21:25,076 Speaker 1: just completely myself and everything was just completely simplified. So 409 00:21:25,396 --> 00:21:29,556 Speaker 1: it shifted my perspective. I came back and I thought, 410 00:21:29,876 --> 00:21:32,476 Speaker 1: why not just do exactly what I want to do? 411 00:21:32,916 --> 00:21:34,956 Speaker 1: And I knew what I wanted what I didn't want 412 00:21:34,956 --> 00:21:36,556 Speaker 1: to do when I got back there. I knew that 413 00:21:36,596 --> 00:21:38,756 Speaker 1: I didn't want to stress myself out trying to strike 414 00:21:38,796 --> 00:21:42,436 Speaker 1: this balance between between school and track. I just had 415 00:21:42,676 --> 00:21:45,796 Speaker 1: kind of let all that anxiety go and all that 416 00:21:45,836 --> 00:21:49,436 Speaker 1: pressure go, at least for that time. And so my 417 00:21:49,916 --> 00:21:54,516 Speaker 1: junior year, I somehow it all just kind of fell 418 00:21:54,556 --> 00:21:59,276 Speaker 1: together in the classroom. I started taking these fun sociology 419 00:21:59,316 --> 00:22:03,636 Speaker 1: courses that complimented by biology courses, and track and field 420 00:22:03,756 --> 00:22:06,636 Speaker 1: just went very well from me that year, and that 421 00:22:06,716 --> 00:22:09,796 Speaker 1: ended up being my breakout year where I broke the 422 00:22:09,836 --> 00:22:13,316 Speaker 1: collidate record and won the NCAA Championship, which was just 423 00:22:13,396 --> 00:22:16,876 Speaker 1: ironic because I had not even finished my sophomore season. 424 00:22:17,436 --> 00:22:19,676 Speaker 1: So I think a lot of people were just incredibly 425 00:22:19,676 --> 00:22:21,956 Speaker 1: shocked that I would come back after that and not 426 00:22:22,036 --> 00:22:24,276 Speaker 1: having trained all summer just to go do that. But 427 00:22:24,436 --> 00:22:26,756 Speaker 1: it was just it was a mindset shift. It was 428 00:22:26,916 --> 00:22:29,276 Speaker 1: it was it just clicked. Everything came together in my 429 00:22:29,356 --> 00:22:32,076 Speaker 1: junior year and I was just so much happier. And 430 00:22:32,156 --> 00:22:34,516 Speaker 1: you enjoyed running your junior year? Is that right to 431 00:22:34,516 --> 00:22:38,116 Speaker 1: say I enjoyed it? Yes? And I enjoyed running. I 432 00:22:38,276 --> 00:22:40,356 Speaker 1: enjoyed like I enjoyed being on the track, and I 433 00:22:40,436 --> 00:22:44,916 Speaker 1: enjoyed racing, And that is genuinely when I actually loved it. 434 00:22:45,316 --> 00:22:48,676 Speaker 1: I'm wondering, Gavy, tell me if you think this hypothesis 435 00:22:48,716 --> 00:22:51,316 Speaker 1: is right. But it does feel like, I mean, nothing 436 00:22:51,396 --> 00:22:54,156 Speaker 1: changed about the workout, it's nothing changed about how grueling 437 00:22:54,156 --> 00:22:56,476 Speaker 1: it is to be an athlete. But it does seem 438 00:22:56,516 --> 00:22:59,436 Speaker 1: like what change coming out back from Senegal is that 439 00:22:59,876 --> 00:23:02,756 Speaker 1: you were finally running on your own terms. It was 440 00:23:02,836 --> 00:23:05,356 Speaker 1: finally a decision that you felt you were making that 441 00:23:05,396 --> 00:23:07,796 Speaker 1: the world wasn't making for you. And maybe that's where 442 00:23:07,836 --> 00:23:11,436 Speaker 1: that joy came from. I think one I think I 443 00:23:11,476 --> 00:23:14,436 Speaker 1: had taken everything and just put it on my own terms, 444 00:23:14,716 --> 00:23:17,436 Speaker 1: completely running on my own terms, deciding not to be pigeonholed, 445 00:23:17,756 --> 00:23:20,676 Speaker 1: to decide nothing was made for me. I think that 446 00:23:20,676 --> 00:23:24,836 Speaker 1: that made the difference. After the break, we'll hear all 447 00:23:24,876 --> 00:23:28,556 Speaker 1: about Gabby's journey to the Olympics. We'll be back in 448 00:23:28,556 --> 00:23:39,596 Speaker 1: a moment with a slight change of plans. I've got 449 00:23:39,596 --> 00:23:43,956 Speaker 1: to talk about the Olympics and your journey to the Olympics. Um, oh, 450 00:23:44,036 --> 00:23:46,676 Speaker 1: my gosh, tell me about the twenty twenty one US 451 00:23:46,716 --> 00:23:50,236 Speaker 1: Olympic trials. I have watched that video on loop. It 452 00:23:50,316 --> 00:23:52,796 Speaker 1: is one of the most joyful human moments. Oh my gosh, 453 00:23:52,796 --> 00:23:55,356 Speaker 1: this is your story to tell. Yeah, that's definitely the 454 00:23:55,516 --> 00:23:58,916 Speaker 1: most joyful moment of my wife. I think that realization 455 00:23:59,116 --> 00:24:02,476 Speaker 1: that I was crossing the line, in the realization that 456 00:24:02,516 --> 00:24:05,196 Speaker 1: I was going to the Olympics, right, was the first 457 00:24:05,236 --> 00:24:10,036 Speaker 1: thing that I was very excited about. And I've realized that, 458 00:24:10,116 --> 00:24:12,556 Speaker 1: you know, halfway down the street at the end of 459 00:24:12,596 --> 00:24:14,796 Speaker 1: my two hundred meters, that I'm going to make this 460 00:24:14,836 --> 00:24:23,316 Speaker 1: Olympic team. That's time and Thomas Thomas is Thomas is 461 00:24:23,356 --> 00:24:27,916 Speaker 1: going to And then I realized that I was coming 462 00:24:27,996 --> 00:24:31,236 Speaker 1: in first and winning a national championship and that I 463 00:24:31,316 --> 00:24:35,236 Speaker 1: was definitely making this Olympic team, and that was the 464 00:24:35,236 --> 00:24:38,236 Speaker 1: most joyous moment of all. But then there was the 465 00:24:38,276 --> 00:24:41,796 Speaker 1: realization that my time was the second fastest time ever 466 00:24:41,876 --> 00:24:46,876 Speaker 1: ran behind Flojoe and everyone knows Flojoe, And then it 467 00:24:46,956 --> 00:24:50,596 Speaker 1: was just unbelievable for me. I couldn't even hide how 468 00:24:50,636 --> 00:24:52,876 Speaker 1: excited I was. You were not advised to throw your 469 00:24:52,876 --> 00:24:54,796 Speaker 1: hands in the air before you finished this sprint race, 470 00:24:55,076 --> 00:24:59,236 Speaker 1: but I couldn't help it. I pictured that. You have 471 00:24:59,276 --> 00:25:01,556 Speaker 1: no idea how many people yelled at me. We were 472 00:25:01,596 --> 00:25:04,516 Speaker 1: all throwing our hands in the air for you. Okay, yeah, 473 00:25:04,556 --> 00:25:06,556 Speaker 1: Everyone's like, oh, you know, you should have done that. 474 00:25:06,596 --> 00:25:12,156 Speaker 1: I'm like, I don't care, m And just the excitement 475 00:25:12,316 --> 00:25:15,596 Speaker 1: was it's I can't even explain it. It was such 476 00:25:15,636 --> 00:25:18,516 Speaker 1: an amazing feeling. I pictured the moment so many times 477 00:25:18,516 --> 00:25:20,956 Speaker 1: in my head before actually running the race, and then 478 00:25:20,996 --> 00:25:26,636 Speaker 1: to have that visualization come to life was an amazing experience, 479 00:25:28,316 --> 00:25:31,076 Speaker 1: especially because leading up to that moment just I don't 480 00:25:31,116 --> 00:25:35,156 Speaker 1: know if people realize, but trials is the most stressful 481 00:25:35,196 --> 00:25:39,836 Speaker 1: thing that I think any athlete has will ever do. 482 00:25:40,636 --> 00:25:43,196 Speaker 1: The entire two weeks that I was there, I did 483 00:25:43,196 --> 00:25:48,196 Speaker 1: not eat or sleep because it was just so anxiety inducing. 484 00:25:48,236 --> 00:25:50,636 Speaker 1: And it's just pretty much, you know, for a track athlete, 485 00:25:50,636 --> 00:25:53,516 Speaker 1: it's just you versus the track, so there is there 486 00:25:53,556 --> 00:25:57,316 Speaker 1: are no other factors that go into it. There's nobody 487 00:25:57,356 --> 00:25:59,396 Speaker 1: else you can blame. It's really just you and what 488 00:25:59,436 --> 00:26:01,436 Speaker 1: you've put in. So I just made it that much 489 00:26:01,476 --> 00:26:05,356 Speaker 1: better when I actually did make the team, because we 490 00:26:05,476 --> 00:26:08,916 Speaker 1: all know that the Olympic being postponedde to COVID was 491 00:26:09,276 --> 00:26:12,996 Speaker 1: whole craziness. I you know, I picked up my entire 492 00:26:13,036 --> 00:26:15,316 Speaker 1: life and moved to Austin, Texas to make this Olympic team, 493 00:26:15,796 --> 00:26:19,356 Speaker 1: so everything needed to work out, and so I'm very 494 00:26:19,676 --> 00:26:23,036 Speaker 1: grateful that it did. Yeah, and You've said that when 495 00:26:23,076 --> 00:26:26,916 Speaker 1: you had this magnificent performance at trials, all of a 496 00:26:26,916 --> 00:26:29,956 Speaker 1: sudden there was a mindset shift again right where you're 497 00:26:29,996 --> 00:26:33,996 Speaker 1: going from running track to now competing for gold at 498 00:26:33,996 --> 00:26:37,236 Speaker 1: the Olympics, which is obviously an exceptional version of a shift, 499 00:26:37,236 --> 00:26:39,196 Speaker 1: but I do think it's very relatable for so many 500 00:26:39,236 --> 00:26:42,116 Speaker 1: of us that there are these key moments in life 501 00:26:42,156 --> 00:26:45,676 Speaker 1: where suddenly our goals come into sharp focus and it 502 00:26:45,756 --> 00:26:49,676 Speaker 1: just really changes the game. Yeah, that is actually very true. 503 00:26:49,676 --> 00:26:52,756 Speaker 1: It's funny because I had moved to Austin, Texas at 504 00:26:52,756 --> 00:26:55,796 Speaker 1: the end of twenty nineteen with the intentions of making 505 00:26:55,836 --> 00:26:59,756 Speaker 1: the Olympic team. And then very possibly just moving on 506 00:26:59,836 --> 00:27:03,836 Speaker 1: from track and field after accomplishing that and pursuing public 507 00:27:03,836 --> 00:27:06,116 Speaker 1: health or pursuing a career that I wanted, you know, 508 00:27:06,196 --> 00:27:07,716 Speaker 1: something else that I wanted to do with, you know, 509 00:27:07,796 --> 00:27:09,556 Speaker 1: going to school and getting me a master in public 510 00:27:09,596 --> 00:27:13,036 Speaker 1: health and then working after that. But after I made 511 00:27:13,076 --> 00:27:16,956 Speaker 1: the team with a time like that, yeah, suddenly I decided, Okay, 512 00:27:16,956 --> 00:27:19,036 Speaker 1: well now I can actually go for a gold medal. 513 00:27:19,876 --> 00:27:22,276 Speaker 1: And so that was it was such a rapid shift 514 00:27:22,916 --> 00:27:26,276 Speaker 1: and so rapid and huge, and I just felt it 515 00:27:26,796 --> 00:27:29,236 Speaker 1: so holy. And then you know, when I was at 516 00:27:29,276 --> 00:27:31,716 Speaker 1: the Olympics, it was a shift because now I decided 517 00:27:31,716 --> 00:27:34,716 Speaker 1: that I'm probably going to continue running for through the 518 00:27:34,756 --> 00:27:37,556 Speaker 1: next Olympics, and that just wasn't what I had in 519 00:27:37,636 --> 00:27:41,876 Speaker 1: mind before. It was definitely a change in plans. And 520 00:27:41,956 --> 00:27:44,996 Speaker 1: so now now I'm just I'm focused on that. Right now, 521 00:27:45,036 --> 00:27:47,396 Speaker 1: I'm focusing on World Championships its next year, and then 522 00:27:47,436 --> 00:27:49,756 Speaker 1: World Championships again and then the Olympics. By the way, 523 00:27:49,836 --> 00:27:51,956 Speaker 1: I'm glad you omitted the slight part of the change 524 00:27:51,996 --> 00:27:54,196 Speaker 1: in plants. I think this is a sizable change in plans. 525 00:27:54,396 --> 00:27:59,036 Speaker 1: I've got rid of the cheeky slight yeah, it was sizable. 526 00:27:59,476 --> 00:28:02,596 Speaker 1: So how how has this influenced how you see the 527 00:28:02,596 --> 00:28:05,916 Speaker 1: coming years? Right? So, you you're, from what I understand, 528 00:28:05,956 --> 00:28:09,676 Speaker 1: currently pursuing your masters in epidemiology and tech exist. You 529 00:28:09,756 --> 00:28:11,956 Speaker 1: said you are competing or you plan to compete in 530 00:28:11,956 --> 00:28:16,676 Speaker 1: the World Championships. Um. Is this now the new balancing 531 00:28:16,716 --> 00:28:19,716 Speaker 1: act for Gabby Thomas? Yeah? You know, I do what 532 00:28:19,796 --> 00:28:23,156 Speaker 1: I can. Um, So yeah, right now I'm currently doing 533 00:28:23,236 --> 00:28:27,636 Speaker 1: getting my masters in public health, specifically epidemiology and health 534 00:28:27,636 --> 00:28:31,596 Speaker 1: care administration, and I am still competing and I plan 535 00:28:31,676 --> 00:28:34,276 Speaker 1: to be competing in track and field for the foreseeable future. 536 00:28:34,476 --> 00:28:35,916 Speaker 1: Oh sorry, I was going to say, you know less 537 00:28:35,956 --> 00:28:40,236 Speaker 1: listeners think it was like a super clear cut decision. Again, 538 00:28:40,276 --> 00:28:43,316 Speaker 1: from what I understand, you did think you might quit 539 00:28:43,356 --> 00:28:47,156 Speaker 1: track again even after the Olympics. Is that right? Yeah? 540 00:28:47,196 --> 00:28:49,436 Speaker 1: I did think. I did think I might quit, or 541 00:28:49,476 --> 00:28:52,876 Speaker 1: I'll call it retire, retire. I feel a little bit 542 00:28:52,956 --> 00:28:56,836 Speaker 1: nicer than quitting. Okay, Gabby was odd record is potentially 543 00:28:56,836 --> 00:29:00,476 Speaker 1: wanting to retire? Um? Can you can you tell me 544 00:29:00,636 --> 00:29:03,276 Speaker 1: more about about that decision? Because like, again, look, I 545 00:29:03,276 --> 00:29:04,996 Speaker 1: think it's very easy for all of us to look 546 00:29:05,036 --> 00:29:07,596 Speaker 1: at you and be like Gabby Thomas that girls got 547 00:29:07,636 --> 00:29:10,476 Speaker 1: it figured out, and knowing that even in that moment 548 00:29:10,516 --> 00:29:13,236 Speaker 1: after winning these two medals at the Olympics, you're still like, 549 00:29:13,676 --> 00:29:18,876 Speaker 1: maybe maybe I've done You know, in those moments, what's 550 00:29:18,876 --> 00:29:22,596 Speaker 1: the calculation you're doing your head, like, what would need 551 00:29:22,636 --> 00:29:24,236 Speaker 1: to be in what needs to be in place for 552 00:29:24,276 --> 00:29:27,716 Speaker 1: you to say, Okay, yeah, I'm continuing running. Yeah. It's 553 00:29:27,756 --> 00:29:30,996 Speaker 1: actually really funny because I decided that the reason why 554 00:29:30,996 --> 00:29:35,156 Speaker 1: I wanted to retire are very possibly thought about retiring 555 00:29:35,276 --> 00:29:38,396 Speaker 1: was because, like just like in college, I think it 556 00:29:38,436 --> 00:29:41,036 Speaker 1: was a similar thing where there were so many things 557 00:29:41,036 --> 00:29:44,316 Speaker 1: that I wanted to pursue, and I was told that 558 00:29:44,356 --> 00:29:46,956 Speaker 1: as a pro athlete that you had to fully commit 559 00:29:46,996 --> 00:29:50,876 Speaker 1: to being a professional athlete. And what I learned in 560 00:29:50,916 --> 00:29:52,796 Speaker 1: the last year was that that was not the case 561 00:29:53,236 --> 00:29:56,116 Speaker 1: and I had to take a risk. And I was 562 00:29:56,156 --> 00:29:58,796 Speaker 1: told that I may have been doing too much and 563 00:29:58,836 --> 00:30:02,556 Speaker 1: that I was very risky. Again, I was told not 564 00:30:02,636 --> 00:30:05,636 Speaker 1: to move to Austin, Texas during an Olympic year. I 565 00:30:05,676 --> 00:30:08,356 Speaker 1: was told that I should not be taking classes, I 566 00:30:08,396 --> 00:30:11,916 Speaker 1: should not be wor while training. It was doing too much, 567 00:30:12,556 --> 00:30:15,596 Speaker 1: and I realized it wasn't. And the reason that is 568 00:30:15,676 --> 00:30:17,556 Speaker 1: is because I loved everything that I was doing, and 569 00:30:17,756 --> 00:30:20,636 Speaker 1: everything that I was doing was recharging and it was 570 00:30:20,636 --> 00:30:23,316 Speaker 1: fueling me. So when I was in school, I couldn't 571 00:30:23,356 --> 00:30:24,916 Speaker 1: wait to get to the track, and when I was, 572 00:30:25,036 --> 00:30:27,436 Speaker 1: you know, at the track, I couldn't wait to go 573 00:30:27,556 --> 00:30:29,916 Speaker 1: back and just hang out and be in my class 574 00:30:29,956 --> 00:30:34,036 Speaker 1: and not be dying by four hundreds. So they both 575 00:30:34,116 --> 00:30:36,356 Speaker 1: kind of like recharged each other. And so when I 576 00:30:36,396 --> 00:30:38,836 Speaker 1: realized that, I thought, Okay, well, I can definitely do 577 00:30:38,956 --> 00:30:41,996 Speaker 1: both at a great level, and so why not do it? 578 00:30:42,356 --> 00:30:43,956 Speaker 1: And if there ever comes a time where I do 579 00:30:44,036 --> 00:30:46,996 Speaker 1: feel like it's too much, then I'll dial it back 580 00:30:46,996 --> 00:30:48,636 Speaker 1: a little bit. Or if there's ever a time where 581 00:30:48,636 --> 00:30:50,716 Speaker 1: I feel like I need to shift gears because I'm like, hey, 582 00:30:50,756 --> 00:30:52,996 Speaker 1: I don't like what I'm doing anymore, I think that's 583 00:30:52,996 --> 00:30:56,676 Speaker 1: okay too. The only real pressure I feel is the 584 00:30:56,756 --> 00:30:59,516 Speaker 1: external pressure. Right. It's like this idea they nicknamed me 585 00:30:59,596 --> 00:31:01,436 Speaker 1: wonder Woman, that I'm doing all of these things and 586 00:31:01,436 --> 00:31:04,636 Speaker 1: I'm doing them all so well, well, I would hate 587 00:31:04,636 --> 00:31:06,796 Speaker 1: to let anyone down. But you know, at the same time, 588 00:31:06,916 --> 00:31:09,436 Speaker 1: I am doing all of these things ill because I 589 00:31:09,476 --> 00:31:12,516 Speaker 1: continue to choose me and to choose what makes me happy. 590 00:31:13,076 --> 00:31:15,556 Speaker 1: So if I want to shift gears again one day 591 00:31:15,716 --> 00:31:17,996 Speaker 1: after getting my master's in public health, I'm one hundred 592 00:31:18,036 --> 00:31:20,196 Speaker 1: percent okay with that. If one day I wake up 593 00:31:20,196 --> 00:31:21,716 Speaker 1: and decide that track is not for me, then I'm 594 00:31:21,716 --> 00:31:24,876 Speaker 1: okay with that too. But for now, they're both going well, 595 00:31:24,916 --> 00:31:26,636 Speaker 1: and I'm having so much fun and I'm loving it. 596 00:31:26,676 --> 00:31:28,556 Speaker 1: I'm loving my life and I'm loving the decisions and 597 00:31:28,636 --> 00:31:32,756 Speaker 1: choices that I've made for myself. And I'm designed to 598 00:31:32,796 --> 00:31:37,076 Speaker 1: continue to choose both. Oh, I love that. Thank you, Gavy, 599 00:31:37,836 --> 00:32:00,956 Speaker 1: thank you, and this is so much fun. Hey, thanks 600 00:32:00,956 --> 00:32:04,036 Speaker 1: for listening. Join me next week, And I really mean 601 00:32:04,156 --> 00:32:07,596 Speaker 1: next week when I talk with psychologists Angela Duckworth about 602 00:32:07,636 --> 00:32:10,636 Speaker 1: the science of grit and how natural talent and ability 603 00:32:10,796 --> 00:32:14,276 Speaker 1: will only get you so far. I really don't know 604 00:32:14,316 --> 00:32:18,396 Speaker 1: anybody who has become you know, world class and economics 605 00:32:18,556 --> 00:32:22,796 Speaker 1: or at you know, being a political leader or anything else, 606 00:32:22,836 --> 00:32:26,036 Speaker 1: you know, a classroom teacher, a nurse like without you know, 607 00:32:26,076 --> 00:32:38,596 Speaker 1: just years and years of effort. A Slight Change of 608 00:32:38,596 --> 00:32:42,196 Speaker 1: Plans is created, written an executive produced by Ni Maya Shanker. 609 00:32:42,836 --> 00:32:44,916 Speaker 1: The best part of creating this show is getting to 610 00:32:44,916 --> 00:32:49,516 Speaker 1: collaborate with my formidable Slight Change family. This includes Tyler Green, 611 00:32:49,636 --> 00:32:53,716 Speaker 1: our senior producer, Jen Guera, our senior editor, Ben Holliday, 612 00:32:53,796 --> 00:32:57,756 Speaker 1: our sound engineer, Emily Rostek, our associate producer, and Neil 613 00:32:57,836 --> 00:33:02,276 Speaker 1: LaBelle our executive producer. Louise Scara wrote our delightful theme song, 614 00:33:02,436 --> 00:33:06,916 Speaker 1: and Ginger Smith helped arrange the vocals. A Slight Change 615 00:33:06,916 --> 00:33:09,596 Speaker 1: of Plans is a production of Pushkin Industries, so big 616 00:33:09,636 --> 00:33:13,396 Speaker 1: thanks to everyone there, and of course a very special 617 00:33:13,436 --> 00:33:16,636 Speaker 1: thanks to Jimmy Lake. You can follow A Slight Change 618 00:33:16,676 --> 00:33:20,156 Speaker 1: of Plants on Instagram at doctor Maya Shunker, and please 619 00:33:20,156 --> 00:33:22,916 Speaker 1: remember to subscribe, share, and rate the show to help 620 00:33:22,916 --> 00:33:35,036 Speaker 1: get the word out. See you next week. I don't 621 00:33:35,036 --> 00:33:39,356 Speaker 1: plan on retiring anytime soon. Maybe when I'm thirty five. 622 00:33:40,036 --> 00:33:41,836 Speaker 1: You're telling me it's too late, Gabby, because I turned 623 00:33:41,836 --> 00:33:44,756 Speaker 1: thirty six in a few weeks. My dreams are over. 624 00:33:44,956 --> 00:33:47,396 Speaker 1: Gaddy's going require thirty five folks. I'm over the hill. 625 00:33:48,396 --> 00:33:50,916 Speaker 1: I know actually quite a few thirty five year olds 626 00:33:50,916 --> 00:33:55,876 Speaker 1: who actually competed for us. I did very well. Chance, Yeah, 627 00:33:56,036 --> 00:33:57,236 Speaker 1: it's still a fighting chance.