“When I first came here, I wasn’t a very social butterfly,” said student-athlete Gabby Bailey, “I’m still not.” That changed as she got to know her academic advisors at Kent State University and “realized how cool they were.” “Throughout my years here, I could always go to them for advice, and they’ll always be there, to welcome you with open arms; it just a feeling of being welcome all the time,” she said. “To this day, if you ask any of them, they’ll tell you ‘Gabby from freshman year versus Gabby now is not proportional.’”
In May, Bailey graduated with a master's degree in sport administration, after earning a bachelor of science degree in exercise science in 2022, both from Kent State. While studying sport administration in the School of Foundations, Leadership and Administration, Bailey also decided to study physiology, “so I know a little bit about the anatomy of the body, the buildup to becoming a great athlete.” Bailey said that she might like to pursue a doctoral degree in a year or two.
Coming to Kent State
Bailey is a champion thrower in discus and shot put. She came to Kent State as a freshman from Jamaica through a connection between her high school coach and her current coach, Kent State Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, Nathan Fanger.
She follows in the footsteps of Olympic athlete and Kent State alumna Danniel Thomas-Dodd. Thomas-Dodd came to Kent State from the same high school as Bailey and was also coached by Fanger at Kent State.
In 2016, Thomas became the eighth Golden Flash to compete in the Olympics, as she represented Jamaica in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. Now, holding the No. 9 world ranking, Thomas is scheduled to compete in a qualifying round for the 2024 Paris Olympics on Aug. 8.
Fanger was an outstanding athlete in his time as a student at Kent State and is the only four-time discus champion in MAC history. After earning his undergraduate degree in 2000, he joined the Kent State Golden Flashes coaching staff. He has coached nearly 100 student athletes to earn championships at the regional and national level with several competing in Olympic trials and the Olympic Games.
He noted the Bailey’s evolution from her freshman year as her initial shyness faded and she moved into a leadership role. “You grow up and see yourself have success and you see what you like about yourself,” said Fanger. “As you kind of grow into your spot, you kind of become the team leader.”
Discovering the Individual
Finding an athlete’s individual “fit” is part of what makes Kent State a special place to be, Fanger said. “There is no cookie-cutter coach,” he said. “There is no cookie-cutter life. You have to find who you are as an individual.”
“What makes you excited? What makes you keep coming back for more in this one area of life? And once you find that avenue, how do we support you in that avenue?” said Fanger.
“I think that’s what lends the best thing for an athlete and a student at Kent State is that we don’t pigeonhole anybody. You have a lot of different options and we’re trying to find those options for you. And once you find those options, now we’re trying to support you through them.”
Bailey said that she has experienced that kind of support in all aspects of her life at Kent State. "I feel like they just genuinely care about everybody on an individual level," she said. "They don't just see you as a student-athlete or a person who will just walk in and the walk out at the end of their time here. They really take the time to know you and I feel like that's what a lot of other schools don't have.”
Coaching a Future Olympian
Bailey appreciates the support from Coach Fanger and Kent State Athletics. “Fanger has been a devoted coach on and off the field [along with] the athletics department,” she said. “You could call him up at any time with questions and they’re always happy to be there for you. I feel like it’s an experience you won’t get anywhere else.”
Coach Fanger’s philosophy is that the key to success is “you have to be passionate.” “Passion is the No. 1 key ingredient to becoming successful in life, in throwing, in track and field and in sports,” Fanger said. “If you don’t have the passion, it’s hard to be successful anywhere you go. If you aren’t doing it with passion, then don’t do it.”
Another lesson Fanger teaches is “Practice does not make perfect; practice is going to make permanent.” He says that it is important to learn how to do things right the first time and then repeat that. If you’re doing something wrong the first time, you’re also doing it wrong the thousandth time. “Do it right the first time,” Fanger said. “And when you get to the thousandth time, guess what? You’re doing it right faster. And now, you’re at the Olympics because you stayed disciplined to do it right the first time. Stay disciplined. Be passionate.”
Looking Back and Looking Forward
In athletics, academics and student support, Bailey feels that her Kent State experience has been like a dream. “Everything is really unmatched,” she said. “If you had asked me 10 years ago if I would be where I am today, I’d probably tell you that this dream is not one that could become a reality.”
She said that Kent State is “not just a good place for athletes; it’s a good place for everybody.”
“Everybody feels supported here, whatever your background, whatever your race, whatever your situation is, I feel that Kent can support you.” Bailey said.
“The only goal I can say that I have not achieved from an athletic standpoint is the Olympics,” she said. “That’s probably the biggest stage for athletes and going into nationals, that’s the ultimate goal. That’s a manifestation of mine. Hopefully, God gets me through it, but to qualify for the Olympics would be the absolute way to go for track and field. And I’m just looking forward to that.”