Gabby Thomas and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone — Gabby Thomas [L] and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone [R] | Getty

Gabby Thomas explains why she wouldn't have raced Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at Brussels Diamond League

Modified Sep 18, 2024 16:31 GMT

Gabby Thomas has responded to a fan who said she should have run against Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at the Brussels Diamond League. According to Thomas, she couldn't have raced her 4x400m relay teammate since the latter ran the invitational 200m and 400m races.

Thomas added three golds to her Olympic medal tally at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She clocked 21.83s to win the 200m event, following it up by winning the women's 4x100m relay as the USA came in at 41.78s. Her third medal in Paris came in the women's 4x400m relay, as she ran her leg in 49.30s. The quartet, featuring Thomas, McLaughlin-Levrone, Shamier Little, and Alexis Holmes, clocked 3:15.27 to take the win for the USA.

In the Diamond League series, the 27-year-old participated in the London installment, the final event before the Olympics. She won the women's 200m in 21.82s, leaving Julien Alfred and Dina Asher-Smith in second and third, respectively.

Following her Olympic success, Thomas confirmed ending her season after running at Athlos. However, she responded to a fan who wished to have watched her race against the 400m hurdles record holder McLaughlin-Levrone in the 200m at the Brussels Diamond League finals.

In the comments of Thomas' recent off-day TikTok post, a fan wrote:

"You should be in Brussels racing Sydney"

Thomas responded, saying she would have run in the Diamond League finals and not the invitational, which Mclaughlin-Levrone took part in.

"I would’ve ran in the DL race, not the invitational so wouldn’t have raced her anyway tbh"

Gabby Thomas on Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone; TikTok - @gabbythomas

McLaughlin-Levrone was not permitted to run in the Diamond League finals in Brussels as she hadn't competed in any Diamond League races in the 2024 season. But Memorial Van Damme let her enter the invitational 200m and 400m races, which were not part of the Brussels finals.

Gabby Thomas on USA 4x400m relay final win - "Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and I, for the 4x400m didn't practice at all"

Gabby Thomas and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 - Source: Getty

Gabby Thomas shared after the USA won the women's 4x400m relay that athletes for that race don't train together as they don't have the time to do so.

She said athletes get only a short time to rehearse before they compete in the final. The five-time Olympic medalist further shared that she and McLaughlin-Levrone hadn't practiced the baton hand-over before the 4x400m relay final.

"Fun fact. Sydney and I, for the 4x400m didn't practice at all, we just went out there and won. American record!" she said in a fun post-Olympic conversation with Vogue.

Following the conclusion of the 2024 Olympics Games in Paris, the 400m hurdles world record holder enjoyed a Greek vacation with her husband, Andre Levrone. On the other hand, Gabby Thomas busied herself with talk shows and media appearances.