Gabby Thomas, known for her poise, brilliance, and undeniable flair, lit up the track at Kingston’s National Stadium during the debut of the Grand Slam Track series. The Harvard-educated five-time Olympic gold medalist stunned the crowd with a dominant performance that reminded everyone why she’s one of the top sprinters in the world.
In the 200m event on Friday, Thomas breezed past the competition, clocking 22.62 seconds and leaving behind top names like Marileidy Paulino and Dina Asher-Smith. Then on Saturday, she took part in the 400m and faced stiff competition from Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser. Though Thomas finished second with an impressive time of 49.14 seconds, she gathered enough points from both races—20 in total—to win the long sprint category overall and secure the $100,000 prize.
Olympic sensation, Gabby Thomas, hits the dougie after taking home $100K as a @GrandSlamTrack champion.
Gabby has been criticized online for “not being able to dance.” But that check gon dance right into her account. 🔥🔥 https://t.co/ViBhEGqjmD pic.twitter.com/Oa6fWMhHSE
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) April 6, 2025
While her performance on the track was spectacular, what truly stole the spotlight was her celebration. A viral video shows Thomas stepping up to the podium and instantly breaking into the “Dougie”—a dance move made popular by Doug E. Fresh and rooted in Dallas hip-hop culture. With smooth moves and unmistakable joy, she danced side to side with flair. The moment became even more iconic when she accepted her prize envelope—containing the $100K—from track legend Michael Johnson and kept dancing without missing a beat.
One of the most notable reactions came from former NFL linebacker and sports analyst Emmanuel Acho. Sharing the clip online, he praised her celebration, calling it a perfect response to critics who previously mocked her dancing. “That check gon dance right into her account,” he wrote, turning the moment into an empowering statement of triumph and joy.
The dance itself had a backstory. Earlier, Thomas had posted a casual TikTok video of herself attempting the Dougie, captioning it playfully: “Day 5.5 learning to Dougie, keeping my wrists lower.” She wasn’t aiming to go viral—just having fun. But instead of being received in good humor, the video attracted a wave of criticism from viewers mocking her dance skills.
Now, her triumphant Dougie on the podium feels like a full-circle moment—a joyful rebuttal to the naysayers, showcasing not just her athletic talent but her confidence and individuality.
In addition to the dancing criticism, Thomas has also faced hurtful attacks related to her academic background. In January, she had to defend herself after social media users questioned whether she truly graduated from Harvard. After responding jokingly to a comment that questioned her intelligence, she was flooded with messages suggesting that because she’s Black, she couldn’t have legitimately earned a Harvard degree. Thomas responded with a serious post highlighting the racism behind such assumptions, emphasizing that she did indeed earn her place at Harvard and graduate in 2019 with a degree in neuroscience and a minor in global health and health policy. She later went on to earn a master’s degree in public health from the University of Texas at Austin in 2023.
Support poured in for her, including from Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, who condemned the attacks and defended her achievements.
Despite facing both racist and personal attacks, Gabby Thomas continues to rise above it all—with powerful performances, academic brilliance, and a joyful Dougie that says more than words ever could.