Money problems in track and field? It’s a real issue for a lot of athletes. Even though they’re competing at the highest level, athletes like Gabby Thomas, Noah Lyles, and Quincy Wilson are still relying heavily on sponsorships just to get by. These deals aren’t just nice to have—they’re essential for covering the costs of training, travel, and everyday expenses. Track and field may have been the first to offer prize money at the Paris Olympics, but it still doesn’t get the financial backing or recognition it deserves. Things are slowly starting to change!

Since Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, launched Athlos in 2024, things have really started to change for women in track and field. Athlos was the first all-women’s track meet with a major prize purse. The event featured Olympic champions like Gabby Thomas, Faith Kipyegon, and Alexis Holmes, with each winner earning a $60,000 prize i.e., double what the top athletes got at the 2024 Diamond League finale. Looking at all that, Gabby Thomas has plenty of reasons to be thankful to Alexis for helping make this a reality as she recently revealed.

What made Athlos NYC stand out for track and field athletes

Gabby Thomas recently opened up about her experience competing in the first-ever Congress edition of Alexis Ohanian’s Athlos NYC in September 2024. After the Paris Olympics, Gabby decided to skip the rest of the Diamond League season and wrapped up her 2024 competition at Athlos. There in the women’s 200 meters, she finished second to Brittany Brown and earned a $25,000 prize for her runner-up finish. But now she shared more about her experience at the Tiger 21 conference, where she appeared alongside Ohanian.

In a recent post by Athlos, which featured Gabby where she expressed her gratitude for the event, sharing, “As athletes, we felt so appreciated. Every small detail was done with us in mind to create something with longevity. Those kinds of things get us really excited about competing and being in the sport.” She went on to emphasize how Athlos differed from other events, saying, “Having events and an investment like Athlos, that is different. This is innovative, and it’s actually thinking along the lines of what a sporting event should look like. I mean, that’s the future of women in sports, and that’s what Athlos was.”

Athlos really gave track and field athletes the experience they deserve, and then some. It wasn’t just about the competition—it was an all-out celebration. Megan Thee Stallion brought the house down with hits like “Hiss” and “Mamushi,” while DJ D-Nice set the vibe with perfect walk-out songs for the athletes. Athletes got the star treatment, too, with a pre-event photo shoot on a red carpet. And even when the champions crossed the finish line, they were crowned with Tiffany & Co. crowns.

The energy didn’t stop there, an afterparty wrapped it all up, and the event was broadcast live on ESPN+, DAZN, YouTube, and X, making sure fans didn’t miss a moment. That’s exactly what every track star deserves. And it’s not just Alexis Ohanian making this happen—Michael Johnson is doing his part too.

Gabby Thomas is ready to make the next move!

Michael Johnson launched Grand Slam Track in June 2024. The idea is to keep the energy of track and field alive year-round, not just during the Olympic cycle. His plan? Host four three-day events each year, bringing together the world’s fastest athletes to compete at the highest level. It’s not just about the race—it’s about making these events count. Johnson’s vision is to gather the best of the best and put them in a place where their performances are celebrated.

And with a $12.6 million prize pool, plus salaries for 48 contracted racers, it’s clear these athletes are finally getting the recognition they deserve. The format is pretty exciting too: each slam will have short and long sprints, hurdles, and distance races, and the top finishers from each event will rack up points toward a $100,000 prize. It’s all about giving track athletes the platform and pay that other sports have long enjoyed.

On top of that, Gabby Thomas, an Olympic medalist herself, is joining the Grand Slam Track roster for the inaugural season in 2025. She’s hyped about the opportunity, saying, “I’m so excited to partner with Michael Johnson and give our sport the platform it deserves. After the Olympics, I want to keep challenging myself against the fastest women in the world. Grand Slam Track gives us that chance.” With names like Thomas leading the way, it looks like Grand Slam Track is about to take track and field to a whole new level.