Gabby Thomas has a major support crew behind her at the Paris Olympics. The American sprinter, who is chasing gold after earning silver and bronze at the Tokyo Games, will have her boyfriend Spencer McManes cheering her on from the stands. Although the couple has been dating for almost two years, McManes isn’t a public figure, and they’ve kept their romance relatively low-key.
Meet Spencer McManes: A Former Athlete and Entrepreneur
Read on for everything you need to know about her beau, who is a former athlete, Ivy League graduate, and entrepreneur.
Athletic Background: He Played Football at Yale
Much like Thomas, McManes has an athletic background. He attended Yale University, where he was the Bulldogs quarterback in his freshman year. He remained on the team from 2013 until 2016 before graduating in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government. His player bio noted that he ‘enjoys fishing, country music, and working out.’
Shared Roots: They Both Hail from Georgia
Both Thomas and McManes grew up in Georgia. The Olympic athlete hails from Atlanta; however, her family relocated to Massachusetts in 2007. She remained in-state to attend Harvard University before moving to Texas to continue her athletics training and complete her Master’s degree. McManes, for his part, grew up in Roswell, Georgia, with his three siblings Carter, Mackie, and Livvie. He attended Blessed Trinity Catholic High School, where he set multiple football records, including most single-game passing yards, career passing yards, and career passing touchdowns.
Entrepreneurial Ventures: Launching a Non-Alcoholic Kava Seltzer Brand
After graduating from university in Connecticut, McManes moved to Virginia, where he worked for the McChrystal Group. He later relocated to Texas and joined the company People.ai. In August 2023, he moved into a new position at DataGrail as a Senior Customer Success Manager. While working a corporate job, he also launched a non-alcoholic kava seltzer brand called Kaviva. According to the company, the product is ‘a kava-based sparkling water with enough kava in one can to create a mouth-tingling sensation and euphoric buzz.’ It also ‘comes in fruity flavors,’ is ‘hangover-free and athlete-approved.’
A Blossoming Romance: They’ve Been Dating Since October 2022
Although it’s not clear how the couple met, they began dating in late 2022 while they were both living in Austin, Texas. Thomas moved to the Lone Star state to be coached by Tonja Buford-Bailey and to earn her Master’s Degree in epidemiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center. The sprinter is reportedly a frequent presence on the entrepreneur’s Instagram page; however, he made his social media accounts private at the beginning of the Paris Olympics.
Family Support: His Family Are Some of Thomas’ Biggest Supporters
McManes’ siblings, along with his parents Skip and Lori McManes, are some of Thomas’ biggest fans. The entire clan is in Paris cheering her on, according to snaps posted by Spencer’s mom. She shared a series of photos from the Olympic trials earlier this year, which showed the family wearing shirts featuring Thomas’ name. ‘We are SO PROUD to be TEAM GABBY,’ she wrote. ‘That win yesterday was hard! Incredible talent on the line. We are so happy Gabby will represent our great country on Team USA. Can’t wait to cheer her on IN PARIS!! Love you sweet Gabby,’ she added.
Conclusion
Gabby Thomas and Spencer McManes share a strong bond, rooted in their athletic backgrounds and shared experiences. With McManes’ unwavering support, Thomas aims to achieve new heights at the Paris Olympics, cheered on by both her and McManes’ families.
