As track and field gains popularity through new initiatives and media attention, triple Olympic champion Gabby Thomas sees a new era for the sport, advocating for professional leagues, increased athlete recognition, and increased fan involvement.
Gabby Thomas, a triple Olympic champion, is advocating for a new era in track and field that may elevate the sport from its current state to one that is more professional and profitable.
The 27-year-old sprinter has turned her attention to the future of athletics as she considers her outstanding accomplishments in the Paris Olympics, where she won three gold medals. She hopes to see reforms that will push the sport beyond its current paradigm.
According to Thomas, the goal of the future of track and field is to increase its visibility both domestically and internationally outside of the usual four-year Olympic cycle. She said, “I see that world on the horizon.”
Due in part to recent initiatives that have raised track and field’s profile, that change is already beginning to take place.
The well-liked Netflix documentary series Sprint, which has shown the personalities and inner workings of elite runners like Thomas, has been a significant contributing factor.
Thomas stated, “We have such an interesting product that we sparked the interest of these people who want to invest in our sport and start these new track leagues.”
I firmly believe that the athletes’ personalities are driving this new stage, this new era of track and field.