The streets of New York City came alive with excitement as the female athletes brought life to Alexis Ohanian’s groundbreaking women-only track event. Unlike any other, Athlos aimed to uplift female athletes and showcase their speed, power, and determination to the world. The event, which took place on Randall’s Island at Icahn Stadium, wasn’t just about competition. Rather, Athlos NYC provided a statement of what can be achieved by female athletes with the right platform and support.

From day 1, Ohanian has been supported by the three-time Olympic champion to curate this event. Gabby Thomas played a significant role in organizing the event. Super proud of how the track meets panned out in its debut year, she praised Athlos, saying, “It shows what we can do, shows how fun it can be to support track meets.” But beyond the grand celebration, there was an underlying issue that Athlos sought to address. Ingrained misogyny. An issue that every female sprinter has to face at least once in their life.

On September 30th, an Instagram video was uploaded by Athlos and Alexis Ohanian’s official page. The video focused on the fact that every single female athlete has had a guy come up to them at some point and challenge them to a race, thinking they’d even have a chance. The Athlos event became the perfect platform to lay this comparison to rest, once and for all. Gabby Thomas shared the post in her story and added, “In case you’re wondering how fast you’d be compared to us.”

One of the most buzzed-about moments of the event featured “an average Joe” racing against the world’s fastest female athletes, and it was nothing short of spectacular! As the race kicked off, the women blasted off the starting line, showcasing their insane speed and elite skills. Meanwhile, our regular guy was giving it his all but fell behind, crossing the finish line at 14.84 seconds while the female athletes all zipped by in under 11.25 seconds. The look on his face was priceless—stunned yet sporting a sheepish grin, as if he’d just had the thrill of a lifetime.

This whole experiment was a brilliant showcase of the reality of elite athletics versus the everyday runner. Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, the mastermind behind this spectacle, said in the comments on Instagram, “I was inspired by a @reddit post about this from like a decade ago—finally got the chance to bring it to life at @ATHLOS.” Gabby also chimed in, commenting, “What the people wanted!” And honestly, this experiment captured the spirit of the entire event, highlighting the sheer talent and dedication of these incredible athletes while reminding us all just how fast they really are!

Gabby Thomas and Alexis Ohanian revolutionize women’s sports with groundbreaking Athlos NYC

This event sent a powerful message loud and clear: the speed and talent of elite female sprinters should never be underestimated. Athlos NYC not only championed women’s sports but also put a dent in the outdated notion that men can easily outpace female athletes on the track. Enter Gabby Thomas, fresh off her historic performance at the Paris Olympics, who clinched three gold medals and brought American glory to the Olympic podium again. She was turning heads once again as she promoted and raced at Athlos NYC.

But this time, Gabby wasn’t just basking in her sprinting glory; she’s also been recognized for her pivotal role in transforming the landscape of women’s sports, all while teaming up with Alexis Ohanian. With six high-stakes races and a record-breaking prize purse of $500,000, Athlos set out to challenge the traditional approach to women’s sports.

The track meet featured an all-star roster with a combined 30 Olympic medals. Athlos drew a passionate crowd, including high-profile VIPs, eager to witness the next step in the evolution of women’s track. Gabby Thomas, who finished second in the 200 meters behind Brittany Brown, reflected on the event’s impact, calling it a proud moment for women in sports.

“It shows what is possible, it shows what we can do…” For Thomas, the winning pedestal did not matter the most this time. It is because the event was more than just a race; it was a celebration of everything women in track and field have accomplished and a statement about where the sport is headed. As Thomas and Ohanian look ahead to future editions, they’ve made it clear that Athlos is just getting started. This is a new blueprint for women’s track, and it’s already proving to be a game-changer.