Gabby Thomas on winning gold at 2024 Paris Olympics: "I knew I was ready for that moment"

Gabby Thomas talks winning gold at Paris Olympic Games

U.S. track star Gabby Thomas earned her first-ever Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games.

"I wrote down over and over, every morning that I was in Paris, that I will be the Olympic champion in my Notes app … and I envisioned the race all day, every day, imagining myself winning and crossing the line in front," she said in an interview with "CBS Mornings."

The 27-year-old is the Olympic champion in the women's 200-meter sprint.

Gabrielle Thomas of the United States celebrates winning the women's 200m final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 6, 2024. ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images

For Thomas, it's all about preparation — both physical and mental — knowing she was lined up against the best athletes in the world.

"I had known that I had prepared for that moment for years, so that wasn't just a couple days in the making. That was years of practice and training and muscle memory."

Thomas also won gold in the 4x100-meter relay and the 4x400-meter relay. She explained there are challenges when you're part of a relay team.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: Shamier Little, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabrielle Thomas and Alexis Holmes of Team United States celebrat winning the Gold medal in the Women's 4 x 400m Relay Final on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. Getty Images

"When we come together, we have a very short amount of time and that was in Paris and what we have to do is build a rapport, and trust each other and respect each other as athletes."

Thomas also competed in the 2020 Tokyo Games, where she won a silver and bronze medal.

She said although she played different sports growing up, including soccer and basketball, running is always something that has come naturally to her.

"In elementary school, I used to race the boys in P.E. class, and everyone wanted to race me and see if they could beat me because I would always beat the boys," she said.

Gabrielle Thomas of the United States celebrates winning the gold medal after competing in the Women's 200m Final on day eleven of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 06, 2024 in Paris, France. Michael Steele / Getty Images

Off the track, the five-time Olympic medalist is a Harvard graduate, holding a degree in neurobiology. She also has a master's degree in public health.

Thomas offered advice for the young kids who look up to her.

"Focus on your own journey. Just grow, have fun with the sport, find a sport that you love and stick with it."

Thomas plans to stick with track, saying she would love to compete in the 2028 Olympic Games, which will be held in Los Angeles.

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