Harvard graduate Gabby Thomas juggles training for Paris with work at a health clinic in Texas

American athlete Gabby Thomas’ typical day lasts 24 hours. She trains three to six hours a day in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

But at night, she works at a volunteer health care clinic in Austin, Texas, for people without insurance.

How does one of the fastest athletes in her sport find time to do it all? She attributes this work ethic to her mother. When Thomas and his twin brother were young, their mother was a waitress and taking courses to become a teacher.

“She showed me in real time growing up what it means to pursue your dreams and achieve them and be successful,” Thomas, 27, told NBC News. “I watched her do all of that on her own and while raising us.”

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Thomas’ interest in health care began at Harvard University, where she studied neurobiology. She took a course on disparities in the American health care system and its impact on people of color. After graduating from Harvard, she earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of Texas, which she uses today.

“I get to go to the clinic and volunteer and make a difference in people’s lives,” she told Olympics.com. “I feel so fulfilled and so passionate about everything that I do. And (it all) really comes from gratitude.”

Although Thomas competed in high school, it wasn’t until Harvard that she began winning accolades in track and field. It was there that she broke the NCAA indoor collegiate record in the women’s 200 meters.

“I pushed myself in class, in my extracurricular activities and on the track, and it forced me to get better at everything I did,” she told NBC News.

Thomas attributes this motivation to her success at the Tokyo Games, where she won bronze in the women’s 200 meters and silver in the women’s 4×100-meter relay. She also believes that having other interests outside of athletics plays a role in her athletic success.

“I found success in athletics by running part-time,” she said. “And I think for me, that’s really important for my mental health, to have other things in my life that helped me achieve my goals and feel fulfilled. »

In preparation for the Paris Games, Thomas takes part in the athletics trials. On Thursday evening, she clocked 22.11 seconds in her heat, qualifying for the semi-final scheduled for Friday, and she hopes to qualify for the final the following evening.

While Thomas has ambitions to win more medals at the Paris Games, she also has another important goal in mind: leading a hospital or nonprofit organization to expand access to health care.

“I hope I do the same thing I do now, which is let my passions guide me,” she said.

In the meantime, she hopes her story will serve as an inspiration to the younger generation of athletes.

“It’s a message to all the young girls watching, especially young women of color,” she told Olympics.com. “Just know that the world might try to put you down, but there are no limits to you. You can achieve anything you want to achieve, so keep going.”