### Olympic Champion Gabby Thomas Faces Verbal Abuse at Philadelphia Meet

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas has reported another incident of harassment, this time during the Grand Slam Track meet in Philadelphia last weekend. Thomas, who secured gold in the 200m, 4x100m relay, and 4x400m relay at the Paris Olympics, shared her distressing experience on social media.

In a post on X, Thomas detailed how a man followed her around the track, hurling insults while she interacted with fans, signing autographs, and taking photos. "Anybody who enables him online is gross," she wrote, expressing her frustration and disappointment.

The harassment unfolded further on social media, with a video clip showing the individual heckling Thomas at the starting line, shouting derogatory remarks like, "you're a choke artist - you're going down, Gabby." The individual later boasted online about his actions, linking his harassment to his successful bets on the FanDuel sportsbook platform. "I made Gabby lose by heckling her. And it made my parlay win," he claimed, sharing screenshots of his bets.

The Grand Slam Track organizers have yet to issue a response regarding the incident. This is not the first time Thomas has faced such issues; she has previously opened up about being stalked by men at multiple airports, shedding light on the dark side of fame that comes with increased social media exposure.

The harassment Thomas experienced highlights a troubling intersection between sports betting and abusive behavior, a growing concern that other female athletes like tennis player Caroline Garcia have also pointed out. The broader implications for female athletes are significant, showcasing the additional challenges they face beyond their athletic endeavors.

NBC Sports commentator and former world 10,000 meters silver medalist, Kara Goucher, took to social media to support Thomas. "Thank you for pointing out this disgusting behavior," Goucher wrote. "You are exposing the crap that women go through and will eventually help other women as well."

Gabby Thomas's ordeal underscores the ongoing need for addressing harassment in sports, as celebrated athletes continue to battle both on the track and against the societal issues magnified by their fame.