The unforeseen rivalry between NFL superstar Tyreek Hill and Olympic sprint champion Noah Lyles has been brewing for quite some time now! Ever since Lyles publicly criticized the title of “world champions” for Super Bowl winners, the debate sees no end. This comment struck a nerve with Hill, who promptly challenged Lyles to a race. The back-and-forth that followed turned the spotlight on a clash between two of the fastest men in their respective sports, each determined to prove who really holds the title of the fastest on the planet. 

However, recently, after the Athlos NYC success, tech mogul Alexis Ohanian has entered the debate surrounding Tyreek Hill and Noah Lyles. Ohanian’s thoughts on this much-discussed rivalry offered a refreshing perspective. As the founder of the Athlos track meet and a strong advocate for women’s sports, Ohanian used the feud as an opportunity to highlight how elite female athletes in track and field, and even basketball, are outperforming many NFL stars.

Ohanian’s remarks come just days after his successful Athlos initiative, which is undoubtedly a groundbreaking event aimed at elevating women’s sports. While many may focus on the men’s rivalry between Hill and Lyles, Ohanian believes the real story lies in the extraordinary performances of female athletes, particularly in track.

In the recent episode of Tidal League podcast hosted by Rodney Green and Justin Gatlin, Alexis Ohanian shared his personal take. Alexis Ohanian and the official Instagram page of Athlos shared a post where it was revealed that every female athlete at least once in their life has come across a guy who ain’t an athlete who had claimed to have better potential than the athletes. To finally put an end to this misogynistic conversation they arranged for an ordinary man, ‘an average Joe’. 

While average Joe got defeated by a bunch of women athletes, another take from the Ohanian also reflected on how the speed of female athletes has the capacity to stand against that of male NFL players. “We’re not even talking about the average Joe,” Rodney Green remarked, “Most elite women will beat most of these guys in a 50-yard or 60-yard sprint. It’s true, and I think there’s something to that.” Before delving into the same, Ohanian unapologetically stated, “I’m using this as a lightning rod to get people talking”. He acknowledged how “dynamic and exceptional” women athletes have been for decades, especially American women, and sees this as a pivotal moment in sports history.

Alexis Ohanian further injected humor into the discussion. He shared how he adored Noah Lyles’ stance on the field with the Yu-Gi-Oh cards. But his main point was clear, which dealt with the female track stars being brought under the spotlight and getting the recognition they truly deserve. While Ohanian was all praises about Lyles, he also mentioned how female athletes are creating waves in the WNBA as well.

Alexis Ohanian said, “The Indiana Fever, a WNBA team, is getting more average attendees to games than the Pacers right now because this Caitlin Clark”. And the mastermind behind this groundbreaking event, Alexis Ohanian, thus has made sure to raise women’s sports to a higher pedestal. Alongside Ohanian stood strong one of the sport’s most celebrated stars, a three-time Olympic champion Gabby Thomas.

Gabby Thomas and Alexis Ohanian lead game-changing revolution in women’s sports with Athlos

Just weeks after the Paris Olympics, Athlos turned out to be the most anticipated all-women’s track meet debuting in New York City. And Gabby Thomas, fresh off her spectacular performance, has not just headlined the list of participants but actively shaped it. As a key player behind the scenes, Thomas has worked alongside Ohanian to ensure the event isn’t just another race but a powerful statement for gender equity in sports. 

“This is bigger than myself and it’s bigger than this race,” stated Thomas, referring to the greater significance she believes the meet holds for the broader fight for women’s representation and compensation in athletics. With a star-studded lineup and an unprecedented $500,000 prize purse, Athlos truly redefined compensation in women’s track and field.