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Bettor Harasses Olympian Gabby Thomas During Philadelphia Track Meet

The incident has reignited calls for stronger protections against the growing threat of gambling-fueled athlete harassment

Gabby Thomas poses after winning the women's 200 meters during the London Athletics Meet at London Stadium on July 20, 2024.
May 3, 2025; Miramar, FL, USA; Gabby Thomas aka Gabrielle Thomas (USA) reacts after winning the short sprints women's 200m in 21.95 during the Grand Slam Track Miami at Ansin Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images/File Photo
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Overview

  • During last weekend’s Grand Slam Track meet in Philadelphia, Thomas was verbally assaulted by a man as she signed autographs and took photos for fans
  • The harasser later boasted on social media that heckling her secured his winning multi-leg parlay on the FanDuel platform
  • Earlier this year Thomas revealed on TikTok that she’s been stalked at multiple US airports by men who tracked her flight details and confronted her with stacks of photographs
  • Fellow athletes and commentators, including Kara Goucher and Caroline Garcia, condemned the episode and urged sporting bodies to implement tougher safeguards
  • A recent report from major tennis governing bodies found that nearly half of abusive social media posts against female athletes originate from disgruntled gamblers