Key facts
- Athlos NYC was a women-only track meet held on September 26.
- The event aimed to create a "magnetic energy" by fusing speed and sound, featuring music by DJ D-Nice and walkout songs for athletes.
- Competitors received a record prize pool of over $500,000, with first-place winners awarded Tiffany crowns.
- Venture capitalist Alexis Ohanian, a backer of the event, emphasized the business opportunity in women's professional sports.
- Athlos CMO Kayla Green stated the vision was to ensure track's spotlight, gained during the Olympics, did not disappear.
The inaugural Athlos NYC track meet, held on September 26, aimed to redefine the experience of athletics by focusing on athlete well-being and creating a vibrant atmosphere. Backed by venture capitalist Alexis Ohanian and his fund Seven Seven Six, the event featured an all-women roster of 36 competitors, including 30 Olympic medalists.
Athlos NYC offered a record prize pool exceeding $500,000, with first-place winners receiving $60,000 and custom Tiffany & Co. crowns, a departure from traditional medals or trophies. The event's brand was built around "fusing speed and sound," incorporating music by DJ D-Nice, walkout songs for athletes, and a post-meet performance by Megan Thee Stallion. Spotlights and fountain sparklers enhanced the spectacle at Icahn Stadium.
Organizers emphasized prioritizing the athlete experience, a contrast to historical issues in women's sports such as low pay and sub-standard accommodations. CMO Kayla Green stated the vision was to maintain the spotlight track receives during the Olympics and create "magnetic energy" in the stadium. Alexis Ohanian highlighted the significant, untapped business opportunities in women's professional sports beyond traditional popular sports.
Athletes like 400-meter runner Shamier Little and 200-meter Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas shared positive feedback on social media, with Thomas declaring, "Every track meet needs to be like @athlos. end of discussion." Ohanian noted that the event's success stemmed from "talking to athletes & building toward a vision shaped by what THEY think would be the best track meet ever."