Gabby Thomas view of what it takes to triumph in track and field is also shared by Noah Lyles and Rai Benjamin.
Olympic champion Gabby Thomas has shared her thoughts on the unique mindset required to excel in track and field, calling it a mix of confidence and “a little bit of delusion.”
Thomas, a two-time Olympian with an impressive haul of five medals, three of them gold from the Paris 2024 Olympics, opened up about her approach to success during a video interview with internet personality Kate Mackaz.
The conversation, conducted while the pair attempted to run a mile through the streets of New York City, revealed the mental preparation behind Thomas’s stunning performances in Paris, where she claimed gold in the 200m and contributed to Team USA’s victories in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.
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Gabby Thomas shares her journey of overcoming challenges, finding belonging among extraordinary individuals and excelling in both athletics and academics.
“When I crossed the line, all I can remember was thinking how relieved I was,” Thomas recalled. “But going into the race, I remember thinking about confidence, like I needed to believe that I could win it, and I needed to believe that I was already going to win.”
Thomas explained how visualization played a crucial role in her preparation. “When I’m preparing for a race, I’m imagining every aspect of the race over and over again. I’m picturing myself in the lane, picturing my competitors, and imagining myself doing it. And every time, I’m imagining myself winning. So, before the Olympic 200m final, I had pictured myself winning over and over again. I was really prepared for that moment,” she said.
Acknowledging the extraordinary self-belief it takes to compete at the highest level, Thomas added, “I think honestly, part of being a pro athlete is being a little bit delusional because you have to believe that you’re better than everyone else.”
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Thomas’s views resonate with other elite athletes, including American Olympians Noah Lyles and Rai Benjamin, who recently reflected on their own mindsets during an episode of the Beyond the Records podcast.
Both athletes also struck gold in Paris, with Lyles dominating the 100m and Benjamin excelling in the 400m hurdles.
“When the chips are down, we all know it. When you’re by yourself, there’s nobody else that can help you. It’s you and you alone, and you have to have that unbelievable faith that this moment was made for you. Because if you don’t, somebody else is gonna take it,” said Lyles.
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Benjamin echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the role of self-confidence. “I always tell people, in track and field, you have to have an unhealthy amount of self-confidence and a sense of narcissism. In order to be good, especially in the 100m, you have to be that way. If you don’t have those tendencies, you’re not really going to be successful,” he said.
For Thomas, Lyles, Benjamin, and other athletes at the pinnacle of their sport, success is not just about physical ability but also the mental fortitude to believe in their own greatness. It’s a mindset that blends intense preparation, unwavering confidence, and just a touch of what Thomas calls “delusion”, an approach that clearly works for these champions.
