It should be one of the best times in her life. Fresh off a historic triple-gold medal performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Gabby Thomas should be basking in the glory of her achievements. Instead, she’s dealing with something truly terrifying: a group of aggressive men stalking her at airports across the country.
After a disturbing encounter, the 200m champion took to TikTok to share her unsettling experience, asking for advice on what to do. According to Thomas, a group of three to six middle-aged men have been tracking her movements, showing up at different airports—sometimes even at her gate—to demand autographs. But it’s not just innocent fandom. These men allegedly get hostile when she refuses, making the situation even more disturbing.
@itsgabbythomas They know the airport, day, time, gate, everything!!! Who do I report them to?? #fyp ♬ original sound – Gabby Thomas
What’s most alarming is that they seem to have access to her flight information. “They somehow have my flight details—even when I don’t even know what time I’m flying out sometimes,” Thomas shared in her video. She’s changed her email passwords in an effort to protect her privacy, but the men keep showing up. “I don’t know if they’re hacking me or if someone at the airport is tipping them off,” she speculated.
This isn’t just a one-time occurrence. Thomas has encountered these stalkers in multiple cities, from Miami to Chicago. “They show up either at the front door of the airport, at the correct concourse, or even at my gate, which means they have tickets and are getting past security,” she said.
Tennis superstar Coco Gauff, the reigning U.S. Open champion, commented on Thomas’s post, revealing that she’s experienced the same thing. “This happens to me too,” Gauff wrote. “I don’t know how it happens, but my theory is maybe someone at the airport tips them off.”
It’s a chilling reality for female athletes and public figures who, despite their accomplishments, still have to fight for their personal safety.
Thomas’s video quickly went viral, with fans flooding the comments in support. Many urged her to report the incidents to law enforcement or the FBI, while others criticized airport security for failing to protect high-profile travelers.
One commenter summed it up perfectly: “Gabby is an incredible athlete, but people need to respect her privacy. Just because someone is famous doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to feel safe.”
Another fan drew an ironic comparison to former Olympic sprinter Maurice Greene. “During one of the Olympics, a pickpocket tried to steal from an athlete but picked Maurice Greene—an elite sprinter. Let’s just say it didn’t end well for the thief. But in Gabby’s case, these guys are relentless. It’s terrifying.”
Thomas is still unsure of what steps to take next. Since the stalking is happening across multiple cities, she’s unsure if local police can do anything. “Do I go to the police or airport security?” she asked in her TikTok video. “I don’t know where these people live.”
For now, her story serves as a stark reminder of the privacy violations that athletes—especially female athletes—face. Whether it’s Gauff, Thomas, or other public figures, something needs to change.
There are a lot of privacy and security issues in our community.
I have an long “ex” partner who is unhinged and I still must hide from on the internet. I’ve also been discriminated against in the employment market.
And, races…from the 5k to the olympics post every athletes name, age, gender and home location on the internet for anyone to access via nothing more than a search.
Consider the possible consequences…my ex can find out exactly where I’ll be, every race day…it’s almost like race director’s are inviting a horrifying situation.
For years I’ve registered for races using just my first initial and (luckily) common last name…when the geniuses behind the registration website insist that my “first name” must have more than 1 character, I use my first initial twice.