'It’s more than aesthetic'- Gabby Thomas' arm sleeve and the quiet force behind her 2024 wins

Most of her 2024 races, Gabby Thomas was unstoppable—her arm sleeve became a subtle yet powerful tool for track dominance.

Triple Olympic champion Gabby Thomas has made 2024 a year to remember.

From dominating the track in Paris to cementing herself as one of Team USA’s most dependable sprinters, Thomas has consistently brought her A-game.

One thing you might have noticed during her record-breaking performances: that sleek arm sleeve she often sports.

For casual fans, the sleeve may seem like just another fashionable accessory.

But for Thomas, it is far more than that—it’s a secret weapon that helps fine-tune her technique.

In an earlier interview with Women’s Running, Gabby explained its unique role in her training and racing.

“For a lot of people, they’re aesthetic,” she shared.

“For me, I feel like it’s a reminder out of the blocks to drive my arm up.”

Feeling the fabric against her skin keeps her focused on proper arm mechanics—critical for generating speed on the track.

“That’s what I wear it for, but I might be the only one who uses it as a cue for that,” she said with a laugh.

At this year’s Paris Olympics, Thomas’ precise form and raw power were on full display as she blazed through the 200-meter heats and finals.

Only St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred, who earlier bested Sha’Carri Richardson in the 100m sprint, matched Thomas in the under-22-second category heading into the final.

With the stakes higher than ever, the 27-year-old Harvard graduate left no detail unchecked—including her trusty sleeve.

Interestingly, arm sleeves like Thomas’ have a range of potential benefits beyond serving as mental cues.

According to sprinting coach and sports performance consultant Derek Hansen, these sleeves are often used for recovery purposes.

“Usually, these upper body compression sleeves are used for ‘recovery’ purposes to help with circulation and venous return,” Hansen told Women’s Health.

Hansen also pointed out that sleeves can help keep joints warm or disperse swelling and inflammation, particularly during intense competitions or training blocks.

“There are reasons you can wear sleeves as it relates to injury and recovery,” he added.

Doug Sklar, CPT, a track coach and founder of New York City training studio PhilanthroFIT, agrees that sleeves serve different purposes for different athletes.

“Some will wear them because they believe they may help prevent injury or increase blood flow,” he explained.

“Others likely wear them because they see some elite athletes wearing them, so they assume they are just supposed to. Others simply wear them for fashion.”

For Thomas, though, the sleeve’s impact seems to be as much mental as physical.

“[Gabby] had a good race result when she wore one or two in the past,” Hansen said.

“Perhaps it helps to remind her to keep pumping her arms, as the arms help drive the action of the legs.”

Sklar added that the belief in performance-enhancing benefits—real or not—can still play a role.

“If one believes that they will help them perform better, at the very least there is a chance for a placebo benefit, and potentially a physiological advantage as well.”

And clearly, it’s working for Thomas.

The combination of her relentless training, technical mastery, and a few small rituals like her arm sleeve has made 2024 her standout year.

Whether it is superstition, science, or a strategic reminder to “drive the arm,” the results speak for themselves.

So, for anyone hoping to channel their inner Gabby Thomas in 2025, consider this: it’s not just about the gear—it’s about how you use it.