Olympian Gabby Thomas Is Engaged, and We're Swooning Over the Romantic Details

Olympian Gabby Thomas emerged as one of the most dazzling gold medalists from the 2024 Paris Olympics. But this year, she's riding a different high—because she's about to get married! The five-time track and field Olympic medalist announced her engagement to entrepreneur Spencer McManes on March 25, 2025, telling Vogue, "Normally he's very bad with surprises—and this was the one surprise I think I've ever witnessed him keep."

The couple's engagement comes nearly three years after they began dating. After mutual friends suggested they might hit it off, they connected over Instagram DMs…and a shared love of pizza. Look back on Gabby Thomas and Spencer McManes' love story, from the details of their modern meet-cute to their sweetest memories from the proposal.

At a glance:

• Olympian Gabby Thomas is engaged to Spencer McManes, an entrepreneur. They announced their engagement on March 25, 2025.
• Gabby Thomas and her boyfriend Spencer McManes have been together since the fall of 2022. They were introduced by mutual friends and first connected on Instagram.
• Gabby Thomas' engagement ring is a round-shaped diamond on a platinum band from Tiffany & Co.

In this article:

• Gabby Thomas' Engagement Details
• All About Gabby Thomas' Fiancé, Spencer McManes
• How Gabby Thomas and Spencer McManes Met
• Gabby Thomas and Spencer McManes' Relationship Timeline

Gabby Thomas' Engagement Details

Gabby Thomas and her boyfriend Spencer McManes got engaged in 2025. In a conversation with Vogue, the prolific athlete admitted there were a few hints that tipped her off to a possible engagement. Not only did he take her ring shopping at Tiffany & Co. on Valentine's Day, he also made a special reservation at her favorite Austin, Texas restaurant on a random weekday. Perhaps the most obvious, though, was when he Venmoed her $50 to "immediately" fix a nail on her left hand that she broke during practice.

Still, she was surprised when he took her to the rooftop of an Airbnb they booked for a staycation to see flowers, her best friend, and a photographer at the ready. "That's when I realized, 'Oh my gosh, this is happening," she told Vogue. "Normally he's very bad with surprises—and this was the one surprise I think I've ever witnessed him keep."

As evidenced by their trip to one of the most iconic jewelry stores ever, McManes proposed with a timeless design. Gabby Thomas' engagement ring is a classic round-shaped diamond on a platinum band in Tiffany & Co.'s signature six-prong setting. "A timeless solitaire aligns beautifully with [Gabby's] refined-yet-effortless aesthetic," says Jillian Sassone, founder of Marrow Fine. "It's a classic choice. It's the kind of ring that feels as polished on the red carpet as it does running in everyday life, which suits her perfectly."

All About Gabby Thomas' Fiancé, Spencer McManes

Photo: @GabbyThomas | Instagram

Gabby Thomas' boyfriend-turned-fiancé is Spencer McManes. If you tuned into the 2024 Olympics, you probably saw him cheering proudly from the stands wearing a "Team Gabby" t-shirt. A former athlete, McManes played football at Yale. (It's a rather unlikely match-up, considering Thomas attended Harvard—Yale's number one rival.)

Now, in addition to supporting his fiancée at competitions around the world, McManes is also an entrepreneur. He founded the drink brand Kaviva, a non-alcoholic beverage made from the kava plant which is said to have "calming and euphoric effects."

How Gabby Thomas and Spencer McManes Met

Olympians: they're just like us. Gabby Thomas and Spencer McManes were first introduced through mutual friends, which is one of the most common ways spouses meet these days. In fact, according to The Knot 2024 Jewelry & Engagement Study, 16% of couples met through friends, second only to dating apps (which accounted for 27% of meet-cutes).

Looking back on the start of their love story, Thomas told Vogue that some of her friends suggested she might hit it off with McManes. She looked him up on Instagram and was pleased to see that his profile included a Story highlight for pizza reviews. "I'm a huge fan of pizza myself—I was like, 'This looks like really good quality content'," she told the outlet, adding that she followed him right away. "Almost immediately—he DM'd me."

As it turns out, McManes was rather starstruck by the encounter. "I got the notification that I had a new follower. I was like, 'That's crazy! Gabby Thomas?'" he said. "I immediately DM'd her and asked, 'What did I do to earn a follow?'"

Gabby Thomas and Spencer McManes' Relationship Timeline

Photo: Patrick Smith | Getty Images

It didn't take long for sparks to fly after their first digital encounter. Look back on Gabby Thomas and Spencer McManes' relationship timeline here.

Fall 2022: Gabby Thomas and Spencer McManes Start Dating

After a few months of DMing on social media, Gabby Thomas and Spencer McManes finally shared their first date at a speakeasy, where they talked for three hours. Quite fittingly, they enjoyed pizza on their second date, and the rest was history. "I fell in love with him despite the fact he went to Yale," Thomas joked to Vogue.

Early in their relationship, McManes learned what it meant to be dating a professional athlete. As he supported Thomas at international track and field meets the following year, he had a front-row seat to the grueling training regimen Olympic athletes experience. "It was my first go around the sun learning more about track and how to be a good partner to a professional track athlete," he told the outlet.

Summer 2024: Spencer McManes Supports Gabby Thomas at the Paris Olympics

Photo: Patrick Smith | Getty Images

Gabby Thomas was a breakout star at the 2024 Paris Olympics, securing three gold medals for the 200-meter relay, the 4x100-meter relay, and the 4x400-meter relay. At each event, McManes proudly cheered for her from the stands wearing a "Team Gabby" shirt. Considering her rise to stardom, Thomas was catapulted into the spotlight—and it turned into an experience that brought them closer than ever before. "Last season helped us solidify our relationship and work really well as a team through the ups and downs," she told Vogue.

March 2025: Gabby Thomas and Spencer McManes Announce Their Engagement

After dating for nearly three years, Spencer McManes proposed to Gabby Thomas during her off-season in early 2025. Considering wedding planning while training for the Olympics is no easy task, only time will tell when these two ultimately tie the knot.