Olympic champion Gabby Thomas was the target of harassment by a sports gambler during the Grand Slam Track meet in Philadelphia this past weekend, in an incident that has ignited widespread concern across the running and broader athletic communities.
Thomas, a three-time gold medalist from the Paris Olympics, said the man followed her around the stadium, shouting insults as she signed autographs for fans, including children.
The sprinter later identified the incident on social media, calling out the aggressor and those who condone such behavior online.
This grown man followed me around the track as I took pictures and signed autographs for fans (mostly children) shouting personal insults- anybody who enables him online is gross https://t.co/f9a6vPkX0v
— Gabby Thomas (@itsgabbyt) June 2, 2025
The heckler, who posts sports betting videos on YouTube, shared footage of himself shouting at Thomas on the starting line of the 100m, calling her a “choke artist.” He claimed his taunts helped her lose — and made his multi-leg parlay bet win. Screenshots of a FanDuel betting slip showing over $800 in winnings added a sinister edge to what many are calling a clear case of targeted abuse.
Thomas finished fourth in the 100m that day, with Melissa Jefferson-Wooden taking the win. Jefferson-Wooden had also bested Thomas in the 200m a day earlier.
Grand Slam Track issued a statement on Tuesday confirming that it is investigating the “reprehensible behavior” captured on video and is working to identify the individual involved. Organizers said they will be implementing new safeguards to protect athletes going forward.
The incident isn’t isolated — it’s part of a troubling pattern emerging at the intersection of sports, gambling, and athlete exposure. While sports betting was once limited to casinos and private pools, the legalization and mainstreaming of mobile sportsbooks across dozens of U.S. states has transformed the landscape. With more fans placing bets — and more money riding on outcomes — athletes across sports are increasingly being treated not as people, but as avatars of profit and loss.
In track and field, where betting is still relatively niche compared to football or basketball, this is a relatively new development. But as the sport grows through efforts like Grand Slam Track, it’s becoming more susceptible to the same pressures seen elsewhere.
Thomas is far from the only athlete to deal with fallout from gambling culture.
Earlier this year, tennis star Caroline Garcia told The Guardian that she was regularly targeted online by angry bettors after her losses. A 2023 report commissioned by the International Tennis Federation found that nearly half of all abusive social media posts aimed at players could be traced to frustrated gamblers.
For Thomas, the harassment in Philadelphia was not an isolated experience.
In a TikTok video earlier this year, she described how a group of men repeatedly approached her in various airports trying to get her to sign stacks of photos. When she declined, they became aggressive.
These moments underscore the darker side of fame, particularly for women in sport, as increased visibility brings increased vulnerability.
The outpouring of support for Thomas in recent days has been substantial. NBC Sports analyst and former world championship medalist Kara Goucher praised Thomas for speaking up. “You are exposing the crap that women go through and will eventually help other women as well,” Goucher wrote on X.
Grand Slam Track’s promise of a “new era” for professional track and field, with better pay, more visibility, and consistent competition, depends not just on excitement, but on athlete protection. If the sport hopes to grow in the public eye, it must create environments where athletes can perform without fear of harassment.
