Three-time gold medal-winning Olympic champion Gabby Thomas will sit out the track world championships in Japan this month as she recovers from an Achilles tendon injury.

Thomas sustained the injury in May and said she aggravated it in July. She was able to participate at the Toyota USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships on Aug. 3, capturing third place in the 200 meters, however she now is opting to give her body a breather.

“I understand that it will be disappointing for some track fans to hear this news, but I’ve finally come to the realization that it’s OK to be human and take care of myself,” Thomas said in a press release. “As an athlete you always want to keep grinding, but sometimes you simply can’t outwork an injury. Sometimes it’s about patience and making the right decision for the long term. All the best to my Team USA teammates fighting for medals in Tokyo.”

Thomas, 28, won the 200-meter sprint and both the 4×100 and 4×400 meter relays at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The world championships will be contested from Sept. 13-21 in Tokyo.

–Field Level Media