Gabby Thomas is looking back on the 2024 Olympic Games and her relationship with her 400×400 teammates fondly.
Thomas, who is partnering with Mrs. Meyer’s for the brand’s Lots of Compassion campaign, shared a moment with the three other women — Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Alexis Holmes, and Shamier Little — that she’ll never forget while speaking exclusively with Us Weekly.
“I remember we just all kind of took our hands and held each other’s hands in that moment because it was our way of saying you know we’re there for each other and we understand what each other is going through right now,” Thomas shared.
“It’s a very small act of kindness,” she continued, “but just showing that compassion for one another. We were still nervous, but I think it definitely helped a little bit [to share] compassion and encouragement there.”
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Expressing compassion for others and finding ways to pour into her community is important for Thomas, which is a major reason she joined the Mrs. Meyer’s campaign. “Compassion to me means uplifting others using whatever I have,” Thomas said. “My mom always taught me growing up that you leave a place better than you found it and so it’s really about, excuse me, it’s about really seeing people right and finding ways to make their lives better whether that’s small or large and for me whether it’s supporting younger athletes and mentoring them or advocating for health care at the clinic work that I do it’s just showing that kindness.”
One way Thomas connects with her local community is by volunteering at Volunteer Healthcare Clinic in Austin, Texas. The facility serves people who don’t have health insurance or who are underinsured.
Because she spends her own time volunteering, Thomas is aware of how time-consuming it can be, and knows that some people are looking for other ways to support those who live around them. “I think helping with your community is a commitment to consistency,” she explained.
“It’s not just about one-time efforts, it’s about small things that you can do every day, whether that is investing in green spaces,” Thomas added. Signing up for the Mrs. Meyer’s Lots of Compassion campaign also offers an easy and consistent way to give back, she also said. “It really could be as simple as leading by example and driving conversations.”
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Thomas added that there are plenty of ways to support the campaign, including buying Compassion Flower Hand Soap (Mrs. Meyer’s will donate one dollar for every bottle sold online).
“There are just so many small things you can do, and people don’t need to feel like it has to be this major robust effort every time,” she said. “It’s just about compassion and small acts.”
