FanDuel Bans Bettor for Harassing Olympic Star Gabby Thomas at Philly Track Meet
FanDuel has kicked a bettor off its platform for harassing Olympic sprinter Gabby Thomas, whose ordeal at a Philadelphia track meet sparked outrage.
A Bettor’s Ban After Abuse
FanDuel banned a sports bettor who heckled three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas during a Grand Slam Track event at Franklin Field in Philadelphia on May 31.
The bettor, who calls himself “The Track and Field Bully” and “Mr. 100K a Day” online, bragged on social media that his taunts caused Thomas to lose the 100-meter race, netting him over $2,500 on a $1,200 FanDuel parlay bet favoring Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.
FanDuel condemned the behavior, stating, “Threatening or harassing athletes is unacceptable and has no place in sports. This customer is no longer able to wager with FanDuel”.
Thomas, the 200-meter champion at the 2024 Paris Olympics, detailed the harassment on X, writing, “This grown man followed me around the track as I took pictures and signed autographs for fans (mostly children) shouting personal insults—anybody who enables him online is gross.”
The bettor’s video showed him yelling “choke artist” and making racial remarks about Thomas’s husband. She finished fourth in the 100 meters and second in the 200 meters, outrun by Jefferson-Wooden. Thomas later noted that while heckling is tolerable, “following me around the stadium is weird”.
Grand Slam Track’s Response
Grand Slam Track, a league launched by Michael Johnson, is investigating the “reprehensible behavior” caught on video. Organizers vowed to identify the bettor and implement safeguards, stating, “Despicable behavior like this will not be tolerated.” The incident, one of several targeting female athletes recently, has raised alarms about fan conduct at events.
The Philadelphia incident underscores a troubling trend of bettors harassing athletes to sway outcomes. Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. reported threats to his family after a May 2025 game, linked to a frustrated gambler. New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson described receiving “disrespectful” messages from anonymous bettors.
The bettor, reportedly from Puerto Rico, hasn’t faced legal charges, but Grand Slam Track’s probe could lead to event bans. FanDuel didn’t confirm if winnings were voided. Thomas, unfazed, is set to compete at Grand Slam Track’s final meet in Los Angeles on June 28. The league plans tighter security for future events.
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