Trinity Thomas, who recently transitioned from student-athlete to student-assistant for Florida’s gymnastics team, announced on Wednesday her intent to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The 22-year-old made a decision that was far from a hasty one. After dealing with ankle issues that prevented her from participating in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the talented student-athlete from York, Pennsylvania, returned in 2022 and was named the NCAA champion last season.
Thomas, who is arguably the best gymnast to ever wear the Orange and Blue, stepped away from the sport after drilling the final vault of her collegiate career at the national championships in April, the one that gave her a record-tying 28 perfect 10s.
But then she returned as a volunteer assistant coach for the team while she worked on her master’s degree in health education and behavior. Now, after a calf injury that limited her contributions in the NCAA Championships this spring, it appears she has a renewed drive to make it to the highest level of the sport.
“It’s one more year of gymnastics,” Thomas told the AP Press on Wednesday. “I love gymnastics. It can be as big or as small as I want it to be. I still have fuel in the tank, so let’s see how much.”
Thomas is now working on a second master’s degree — this time in entrepreneurship — as she grinds out what is likely her last chance to earn Olympic immortality. And she has 13 months to reach that pinnacle once again.
“You don’t have to do eight hours in the gym to be great,” Thomas said. “What you have to do is take care of your body so that it’s going to work for you years down the road.
“I’m not really worried about the thing at the end of the tunnel,” Thomas added. “I’m worried about doing it one step at a time and building on the foundation I have now.”
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