It seems like every athlete has a recovery sport of choice.

For three-time Olympic gold medal sprinter Gabby Thomas, it's pickleball. 

Thomas recently hit the court with her boyfriend, Spencer McManes, a former quarterback at Yale. 

The CEO and co-founder of Recess Pickleball, Maggie Brown, posted a video of the couple playing mixed doubles ahead of Thomas' upcoming appearance at the inaugural  Athlos NYC women's track event on Thursday. 

Thomas wore a fitted white top, pleated white tennis skirt, white crew socks, and white shoes, which is perfectly suited for the PPA Masters. After all, it's the only tournament on the schedule with a dress code. And she would certainly make the Best Dressed List with this outstanding look.

The Harvard grad was using a Recess Pickleball paddle during the session, so I wonder if a potential collaboration could be in the works here.

Recess Pickleball paddles are especially popular among beginners looking for aesthetically pleasing products that won’t break the bank. Recess also boasts successful collaborations with other brands, so I could easily see a Gabby Thomas signature paddle release in the future. Something retro and Americana-themed would do the trick.

There's no denying Thomas' love of racket sports.

She attended the 2024 US Open and shared this cool photo on Instagram.

Maybe she watched Donald Young’s remarkable run alongside Taylor Townsend in mixed doubles and heard all the chatter around his transition to pickleball?

Do viral pickleball points pop up on her feed, too? 

It was nice to see an athlete of Thomas' calibre incorporate America's fastest-growing sport into her downtime away from the track.

Pickleball is the perfect activity to help even the best of the best relax and rejuvenate. The intensity level is customizable and there's a lower risk of injury compared to other more strenuous sports. 

Given that Thomas is based in a pickleball hot spot like Austin, TX, it shouldn't be surprising that she picked up a paddle.

And playing with her significant other is a great double date.

Welcome to the picklesphere, Gabby! If you're thinking about turning pro, we're all for it. You’d easily be the fastest player out there. No doubt about it.