Coco Gauff and Ilona Maher show support for fellow American sporting star Gabby Thomas after the three-time Olympic gold medalist details examples of being followed at airports and asks for advice in video on social media
Image: Gabby Thomas won one individual and two team golds at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Three-time Olympic gold medallist Gabby Thomas pleaded for advice on TikTok after expressing concern she was being stalked by a group of men at airports in America.
Thomas described how “three to six” middle-aged men appeared to be waiting for her in various US airports including Chicago and Miami, even sometimes showing up at her departure gate.
The 200m world and Olympic champion detailed how the men regularly appeared, asking her to sign pictures of herself, and that she was most disturbed by the fact they appeared to know her flight information.
In her video on TikTok, Thomas said she had changed her email passwords and does not tell anyone her flight details.
“At this point, every time I travel, I’m afraid that these men, are going to show up and harass me,” said Thomas.
“They have my flight information. And they show up at the front door of the airport at the correct concourse or they show up at my gate, which means they have flight tickets and they get past security and all that.
Thomas with her gold medal for winning the 200m Olympics final in Paris last summer
“They show up and they ask me to sign a bunch of these photos and pictures of me, like 40 of them. I don’t know what they’re doing with them, probably selling them, I don’t care. What scares me is that they have my flight information.
“I don’t even know what time I’m flying out sometimes. I don’t tell anyone my flight information. I’ve changed all my email passwords. I don’t know if they’re hacking me. But they get really aggressive and hostile if I say ‘no’.
“When I’m by myself, it’s really scary. They got really hostile with my boyfriend yesterday. It’s not even airline-specific but I don’t know how they’re getting my flight information. And it’s really starting to freak me out.
“And honestly, I don’t know who to go to about this. Do I go to the police? Do I go to airport security?”
Coco Gauff said she had her own experiences of being followed at airports
Fellow American sporting star Ilona Maher, who plays for the Bristol Bears in Premiership Women’s Rugby, showed her support in response on the social media platform, while Grand Slam tennis champion Coco Gauff admitted she too had experiences of similar instances.
“This happens to me too, I don’t know how it happens, my theory is maybe someone at the airport tips them off,” Gauff said.
Thomas concluded her appeal for advice by stating: “I don’t get why people can’t respect privacy? I really don’t get it. I don’t like feeling unsafe when travelling. I don’t know what to do, any advice is welcome.”
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