Gabby Thomas and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone | Getty Images

"You didn't need to be the best"- Gabby Thomas opens up about being in the same team as Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at the Paris Olympics

Modified Nov 03, 2024 04:12 GMT

Gabby Thomas spoke about competing in the same team alongside 400m hurdles World Record Holder and Olympic Champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. The two Americans teamed up for the women's 4x400m finals at the Paris Olympics and emerged victorious to win the gold medal with a formidable lead. Thomas revealed how having a strong runner like McLaughlin-Levrone in the relay takes the pressure off the other athletes on the team.

For the 4x400m relay finals, the USA's women's team was comprised of Shamier Little, Alexis Holmes, Gabrielle Thomas, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. The team won the gold medal with a performance of 3:15.27 and, in the process, set a new world-leading time as well as a new American record over the distance.

In the podcast 'Set the Pace,' Gabby Thomas, who ran in the third leg of the race after receiving the baton from Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, spoke about being a part of a team that included such great athletes. Furthermore, she expressed her admiration for McLaughlin-Levrone's final 200m in the race, which increased the lead between the first two athletes.

“It's all grit. It's all grit and mental resilience. That's what it is. At the end of the day. Those reps that she practiced. Exactly. It was all you needed with an anchor like Sydney. You didn't need to be the best. Incredible team. Incredible team of women. I think we all trusted each other and that's what we needed. It showed.”

Gabby Thomas on the baton exchange with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at the Paris Olympics

McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas during Athletics at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024: Day 15 - Source: Getty

In a podcast with Mike Jackson, Thomas spoke about her baton exchange with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the finals of the 4x400m relay at the Paris Olympics. The American athlete revealed how they had not practiced before the ultimate showdown at the Stade de France.

"For that relay, we didn't get to practice at all, so that was my first time ever doing an exchange with Sydney, and I didn't realize how she was going to be coming in that fast. There is nobody in the world who can finish a 400 that fast. I've never seen that before in my life; she came in so hot I was like, she almost ran me over" [35:36].

In that race, McLaughlin-Levrone had registered a 400m split of 47.71s which was the fastest 400m relay split by a female American athlete and the third fastest of all time.