Gabby Thomas can do it all on and off the track.
The 27-year-old is one of the fastest 200-meter sprinters in the world, having won the bronze medal at the 2021 Tokyo Games. She’s once again in the finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics as the favorite to win gold.
In addition to her blazing speed, she’s incredibly smart. Thomas studied neurobiology and global health as an undergraduate student at Harvard before going on to earn her Master’s degree in public health. Her PhD may be up next in her educational journey, but the sprinter is focused on achieving her athletic goals at the moment.
The world likely already knows how fast Thomas is, but how smart is she? The Sporting News details her education history below.
MORE: Full results, highlights from Day 4 of track and field at 2024 Paris Olympics
How smart is Gabby Thomas?
Thomas is not only extremely athletic but she’s gifted in the classroom as well. She enrolled at Harvard University to study neurobiology and global health. She knew she wanted to study neurobiology since high school.
“I knew that I wanted to study neurobiology. I just didn’t know what college I wanted to study it at,” Thomas said on Cars and Culture with Jason Stein. “I was just really intrigued by just what you could do when you study the brain.
“I recalled seeing my twin brother going through some neuro treatments for his ADHD and seeing how effective that was. … You can change lives with this.”
MORE: Which country has the most Olympic medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics?
Just 3.2 percent of applicants are accepted into Harvard, according to 2022 numbers from Prepscholar.com. The university is widely considered one of the best schools in the world.
Thomas balanced being a full-time NCAA athlete and a challenging neurobiology major.
When she graduated from Harvard in 2019, she began her graduate studies at the University of Texas. She obtained a Master’s degree in public health focused on epidemiology.
Thomas may not be done with her studies either. Her mother wants her to get her PhD next, though the Olympian is focusing on her Olympic goals at the moment.
MORE: How many gold medals does the USA have at 2024 Paris Olympics?
Where did Gabby Thomas go to college?
Thomas attended Harvard University for her undergraduate degree, graduating in 2019. She studied neurobiology and global health, which she had planned to do since high school.
The Olympic sprinter was named the Ivy League’s Most Outstanding Track Performer in 2017 and 2018. She won the NCAA title for the 200-meter dash in 2018.
After Harvard, Thomas enrolled at the University of Texas. She studied at the school’s health science center to earn her Master’s degree in public health, specializing in epidemiology. She graduated in 2023.
Thomas’ mother would like her daughter to earn her PhD, but the Olympian is focused on her track career at the moment.
