© Copyright – 2025 – Athletics Illustrated
Gabby Thomas, the 2024 Paris Olympic gold medallist in the 200 metre event, is out of the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships with a hamstring injury.
Thomas announced the injury on social media on Tuesday.
Wowow I was a little nervous about sharing my injury news, but I have been met with so much support from partners and track fans. It truly means so much. I love track and can’t wait to get back to myself and racing the best in the world. See you guys soon 🫶🏽
— Gabby Thomas (@itsgabbyt) September 2, 2025
Thomas also earned Paris golds in the 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m events. Thomas picked up a silver medal in the 200m event during the 2023 Budapest World Athletics Championships and a gold in the 4 x 100m.
Thomas’ personal best over the 200m is 21.60, which she set during the 2023 Eugene Diamond League meet.
Bad luck and accusations
She has had bad luck this year. She had not quite rounded into her 2023 and 2024 form, likely due to the injury. Also, she is one of the athletes who is affected by Grand Slam Track for not paying athletes. And now she is out of the world championships.
Thomas has also subtly thrown comments toward relay teammate Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and her coach, Dennis Mitchell.
Mitchell does have a history of doping.
Meanwhile, Jefferson-Wooden has performed well in 2025, clocking new personal bests of 10.65 in the 100m and 21.84 in the 200m.
On social media, the 28-year-old Thomas wants lifetime bans for any coaches implicated in doping.
“Doping coaches should be banned for life from coaching in the sport. Whether you were banned while competing as an athlete or caught distributing as a coach (for some, both). I don’t care, I don’t care, I don’t care. If you train under a coach who is known for doping (once, twice, or even three times for some), you are complicit. That’s my stance.”
Gabby Thomas throws shade at Dennis Mitchell
Thomas’ posts could be seen as throwing shade at Mitchell, who coaches fellow American sprinters Sha’Carri Richardson and Twanisha “Tee Tee” Terry.
In 1998, Mitchell was banned by World Athletics (IAAF) for two years after a test showed high levels of testosterone. His defence was denied, “five bottles of beer and sex with his wife at least four times. It was her birthday; the lady deserved a treat.”
Mitchell made his final international appearance at the 2001 World Championships, where his team finished first in the 4 × 100m relay, but was subsequently disqualified because of the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative (BALCO) scandal involvement by a teammate.
On May 1, 2008, it was announced that the U.S. government, in its trial against Trevor Graham, would have Mitchell, as well as Antonio Pettigrew, as witnesses, with Mitchell to testify that Graham injected him with human growth hormone.
Mitchell is currently an active coach.
*Cover image from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games 200m gold medal win, screen capture from her Instagram account: @gabbythomas
AloJapan.com