Alexis Ohanian couldn’t have asked for a better start to his dream track and field project. The Athlos NYC 2024 was a scintillating meet, that is being hailed as a major step toward ensuring equality between male and female stars in the world of track sports. A long list of enigmatic sprinters made the female-only event an affair to remember, but it wasn’t just them who wooed the fans. The stands of the Icahn Stadium were packed to the brim with celebrities from all walks of life.

It was a confluence of some of the biggest stars from all over the USA and beyond. As the likes of Gabby Thomas and Nia Akins set fire to the tracks, popular faces in the crowd also made the attendees ecstatic. Among the international celebrities who lit up the stands, rapper Flavor Flav was undoubtedly the most notable name at the inaugural edition of the Athlos NYC. In the live YouTube broadcast, Flav was spotted sporting a badge that said Support Women’s Sports, once again highlighting his stand to give female athletes a commendable stage.

“The energy here is amazing. When I walked in here I could feel the electricity walking inside this place for real. I’m getting a lot of love from a lot of people too,” beamed Flav as he talked about how Ohanian’s grand plans were looking like a hit from the get-go. But he wasn’t the only one whose voice was heard cheering on the performers at the Icahn Stadium on September 26.

The rapper was joined by former soccer star Ashlyn Harris and Nathalie Emmanuel of Game of Thrones fame. Popular YouTuber Sean Evans, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin, and 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medalist Fred Kerley were also present among the crowd, making sure their female colleagues got the acclaim they deserved. Keeping up with the A-listers who made the galleries, the athletes also set the tracks on fire, as they once again made it clear why the women stars deserve equal praise and exposure to their male counterparts.

Athlos NYC makes its emphatic debut

The 2020 Olympic gold medalist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico bagged the top spot on the podium in the 100mH. Defeating her Kentucky teammate Masai Russell, Camacho-Quinn clocked an impressive e 12.36 to win the first event of the night and set the tone for others to match up to. Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith secured the winning spot in the 100m race and defeated Olympic medalist Brittany Brown in the process. But Brown soon made up for her loss, as she subdued the favorite and the biggest star of the Athlos NYC 2024 Gabby Thomas in the 200m. Thomas still retained her poise as she took her defeat sportingly, clearly enjoying herself as she spearheaded Ohanian’s dream project.

Dominican Republic’s 2024 Olympic gold winner Marileidy Paulino showcased her speed once again as she decimated all competition to win the 400m, while Ethiopian Tsige Duguma crossed the finishing line first in the 800m race. In the 1500m event, Kenyan middle-distance legend and three-time Olympian (add 3x Olympic gold to the mix!) Faith Kipyegon was announced the winner after a thunderous 4:04.79 finish. Which of these races did you enjoy watching the most? Who was your hero of the day? Drop by with a comment to let us know!