Gabby Thomas Speaks Out Against Harassment by Sports Bettor at Track Meet
A disturbing incident of harassment by a sports bettor has come to light, involving three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas. The incident occurred during a Grand Slam Track meet in Philadelphia over the weekend, with Thomas being followed and verbally abused by a man who had placed a bet on the event.
According to Thomas, the man followed her around the track as she took pictures and signed autographs for fans, mostly children, shouting personal insults. Thomas expressed her outrage on social media, stating: "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," as reported by The New York Times via The Athletic.
The incident was sparked by a video posted by the man, which showed him heckling Thomas at the starting line. The video also included a screenshot of a winning bet slip, which showed that he had won over $800 on a parlay that included a victory by Melissa Jefferson-Wooden in the women’s 100m. Thomas, who won gold in Paris in the 200m, was bested by Jefferson-Wooden in the 200 on Saturday and then beaten by Jefferson-Wooden again on Sunday in the 100.
The man was quoted as saying, "I made Gabby lose by heckling her. And it made my parlay win." Thomas later responded to the incident on social media, stating: "Honestly the heckling is tolerable, it’s following me around the stadium that’s wild." This incident has raised concerns about the increasing trend of harassment of athletes by sports bettors.
The incident has prompted an investigation by Grand Slam Track, with the organisation working to identify the man in the video and take appropriate action. A spokesperson for Grand Slam Track said: "Grand Slam Track is conducting a full investigation into the reprehensible behavior captured on video. We are working to identify the individual involved and will take appropriate action as necessary. We will implement additional safeguards to help prevent incidents like this in the future. Let us be clear, despicable behavior like this will not be tolerated," as reported by The Athletic.
This incident is not an isolated case, with several athletes speaking out about the alarming treatment they have received from fans related to sports betting. Earlier this year, Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and his family received death threats from a fan on social media following a 13-9 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on May 10. The Astros alerted Major League Baseball and the Houston Police Department, which later identified the fan as a frustrated bettor who lashed out online while inebriated.
Thomas, 28, has seen a boost in fame after winning gold in the 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m at the Paris Olympics last summer. However, her rise in mainstream popularity has also brought more intrusive attention from fans. Earlier this year, she said in a TikTok video that she was repeatedly approached by a group of men at several airports asking her to sign a stack of photos. The men reportedly got aggressive when she declined.
The incident has sparked a wider conversation about the impact of sports betting on athletes and the need for greater protection and support for those who are being targeted. As the investigation into the incident continues, it remains to be seen what action will be taken against the individual involved. One thing is certain, however: athletes like Gabby Thomas should be able to compete and perform without fear of harassment or abuse from fans.
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