Gabby Thomas Signs with Grand Slam Track — and Talks Why the League Will ‘Really Help’ the Sport (Exclusive)

• Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas is signing with Grand Slam Track, PEOPLE can exclusively confirm
• Thomas tells PEOPLE why the new track-and-field league is revolutionizing the sport
• Grand Slam Track’s inaugural season begins April 2025 and runs through September

Five-time Olympic medalist Gabby Thomas is ready for her next chapter.

PEOPLE can exclusively confirm that the track and field star, 27, is signing with Grand Slam Track — an exciting new league that Thomas hopes will bring new eyes to the sport.

“I’m really excited for this to start in 2025,” says the Olympian, calling Grand Slam Track’s inaugural season — which starts in April 2025 and runs through September — “an event with a predictable structure that fans and spectators can follow along with, and something that us athletes can be excited about.”

Thomas, a 200-meter specialist, tells PEOPLE she first fell in love with track and field when she saw “the personal growth and development that came from it.”

But it’s no secret that track and field is harder to follow as a casual fan. That’s why Thomas — who took home three gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 200 meters, the 4 x 100-meter relay and the 4 x 400-meter relay — jumped at the chance to join Grand Slam Track.

“People don’t really know how to watch track if it’s not the Olympics every four years,” Thomas notes. “We need opportunities to race more frequently, especially in the United States. So I think this will really help with that.”

Thomas was impressed by Grand Slam Track’s “predictable” structure of four meets on set days — a rarity in the sport. “With this, I know what I’m signing up for and I know what I’m getting into,” she says.

“That’s actually a change that I really welcome — usually, we’re, kind of, making last-minute decisions and choosing which meets to go to on a whim,” Thomas explains. “This helps me a lot with that because I’ll know what I’m training for and when I’ll be competing, so I can balance my schedule and manage my expectations accordingly, and I think that’s one of the better things about this league.”

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Announced this year by former Olympian Michael Johnson, Grand Slam Track offers a prize pot to competitors — one that Thomas says is “obviously, a lot more than we’re used to traditionally in our sport.”

And a higher prize pot means a better product on the track, says Thomas. “I think it’ll bring a lot competitors, which will also drive competition,” the three-time gold medalist says.

Grand Slam Track is a win for fans, too. Thomas tells PEOPLE that the league is structured so that fans can tune in specifically to watch their favorite athletes.

“I like how there are four meets that fans can look forward to and knowing who’s going to show up so they can watch their favorite athletes compete.”

For Thomas, inspiring the next generation is one of the biggest rewards. “One of my favorite parts about track is getting to meet the fans, especially with our sport.”

“A lot of younger kids come to our meets and seeing their excitement and being able to inspire them is one of my favorite parts of competing. [Grand Slam Track] will definitely contribute to that by bringing more visibility to the sport and it’s something fans can be excited about.”