Harvard grad Gabby Thomas balances training for Paris while working at a Texas health clinic

A typical day for American track and field athlete Gabby Thomas lasts a full 24 hours. During the day, she trains for three to six hours ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

But at night, she works at a volunteer health clinic in Austin, Texas, for people without insurance.

How does one of the fastest athletes in her sport find time to do it all? She attributes this work ethic to her mother. When Thomas and his twin brother were little, their mother worked as a waitress and took classes to become a teacher.

“She showed me in real time what it’s like to go after your dreams, achieve them and be successful,” Thomas, 27, told NBC News. “I watched her achieve all of this on her own and as she raised us.”

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Thomas’ interest in healthcare began at Harvard University, where he studied neurobiology. She took a class about disparities in the American healthcare system and their impact on people of color. After graduating from Harvard, she earned a master’s degree from the University of Texas in public health, which she uses today.

“I can go to the clinic and volunteer and make a difference in people’s lives,” she said Olympics. with. “So I feel so fulfilled and so passionate about everything I do. And (all of this) really comes from gratitude.”

Although Thomas competed in high school, it wasn’t until Harvard that she began earning accolades in track and field. That’s when she broke the NCAA indoor collegiate record in the women’s 200 meters.

“I was trying hard in the classroom, in extracurricular activities and on the track, and it forced me to get better at everything I did,” she told NBC News.

Thomas credits this to her success at the Tokyo Games, where she won bronze in the women’s 200 meters and silver in the women’s 4×100 meter relay. She also believes that having additional interests outside of track plays a role in her athletic success.

“The way I became successful in track and field was basically by running part-time,” she said. “And I think for me that’s really important for my mental health, just having other things in my life that helped fulfill, you know, my goals and made me feel fulfilled.”

Now, looking ahead to the Paris Games, Thomas is competing in the athletics events. On Thursday night, she posted a time of 22.11 seconds in her heat, advancing her to the semi-final scheduled for Friday, and she hopes to reach the final the following night.

While Thomas has ambitions to win more medals at the Paris Games, she also has another significant goal in mind: running a hospital or nonprofit organization to expand access to healthcare.

“I hope to be doing the same thing I’m doing now, which is letting my passions guide me,” she said.

Meanwhile, she hopes her story serves as inspiration for the younger generation of athletes.

“This is a message to all the girls watching, especially young black girls,” she told Olympics.com. “Know that the world may try to bring you down, but the sky is the limit for you. You can achieve anything you set your mind to – so keep going.”