Olympic gold medalist sprinter Gabby Thomas withdraws from World Championships due to Achilles injury

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Gabby Thomas wrote that she was nervous to announce her injury but that she received overwhelming support from fans and sponsors.
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Three-time U.S. Olympic gold medal sprinter Gabby Thomas will not compete at the World Championships.

Thomas announced Tuesday that she's withdrawing from the competition due to an Achilles tendon injury.

“I understand that it will be disappointing for some track fans to hear this news, but I’ve finally come to the realization that it’s OK to be human and take care of myself,” Thomas wrote in a statement shared with media. “As an athlete you always want to keep grinding, but sometimes you simply can’t outwork an injury.

"Sometimes it’s about patience and making the right decision for the long term. All the best to my Team USA teammates fighting for medals in Tokyo.”

Thomas wrote that she's been dealing with the injury since May and that she exacerbated it in July. The precise nature of the injury isn't clear, but Thomas wrote that she intends to return to competition in 2026.

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Thomas, 28, won the 200 meters at the Tokyo Olympics in 2024. She won two more gold medals in Tokyo as a member of the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relay teams. The World Championships are slated to be run in Tokyo from Sept. 13-21.

Thomas was also a gold medalist in the 4 x 100 and a silver medalist in the 200 meters at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. She has struggled, relatively, this season, apparently thanks in part to her injury. She finished third in the 200 meters at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships in August, earning the last spot on USA's World Championships team in the event.

Thomas wrote on social media after her announcement that she was initially nervous about announcing her injury, but that she was met with support from fans and partners.

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

"I love track and can’t wait to get back to myself and racing the best in the world," Thomas wrote. "See you guys soon."

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