Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas reached out to her social media followers for help after men have been stalking her at airports in different cities.
Thomas, who has won five Olympic medals, shared a TikTok video on Tuesday saying that a group of men has been bothering her at airports around the country while she travels. They keep asking her to sign large piles of photos. She thinks the men are resellers, but says they become “aggressive and hostile” when she turns them down.
“It doesn’t matter what city,” Thomas said. “They’ve shown up while I’ve been traveling to and from Chicago and Miami.” “They have my flight details.”
She said that around three to six guys have arrived at the airport doors. But, Thomas said, they have also approached her at her concourses or gates, meaning they appear to have to have flight tickets and go through airport security.
She said that her experiences are especially scary when she is going by herself. She said it’s “freaking” her out that they seem to always know where and when she is going.
“I’m worried that they know my flight details, even when I’m not sure when I’m flying,” Thomas said. “I don’t share my flight info with anyone.”
Last year in Paris, Thomas competed in her second Olympics and won three gold medals. This was a chance for her to improve after coming in second and third at the Tokyo Games a few years ago.
Many people were inspired by Thomas as she prepared for a global competition while taking neurobiology courses at Harvard University and volunteering at a health center in Austin, Texas.
Now, Thomas is looking to her over 260,000 fans for advice to help her feel safe while she travels.
“I’m not sure what to do,” Thomas said. “Any suggestions are appreciated.”
People showed compassion and recognized that the situation is concerning. Fellow Olympian Ilona Maher wrote that it was “so scary.”
“These guys are finished,” Thomas told Maher. “Once I solve this, they won’t bother anyone again.”
Tennis player Coco Gauff said she has experienced the same thing.
“This happens to me too, I don’t know how it happens,” Gauff wrote. “I think maybe someone at the airport is giving them information.”
Others suggested she call the FBI and check her accounts for any apps the men might be using.
A commenter recommended that she tell her experiences to the local police and airport security to keep a record of what happened. Another person suggested that Thomas should try recording the guys to see if it would scare them away.
She shared a video in reply of two guys at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. In the video she narrates that the guys were “stalking” her. A man puts a hood over his face and goes away while she films.
“I took this video once when they were following me past TSA,” Thomas wrote. “I’ll find out who I can tell about it.” I will keep taking pictures and videos. “It frightened them off.”
Leave a Comment