Gabby Thomas is no stranger to pressure, but Athlos NYC, the first women-only track event of its kind, proved to be a unique challenge for her. Ahead of her signature 200m race, she admitted just how tough it’s been: “Honestly, it’s one of the biggest challenges I think I’ve ever had to face.” In fact, the emotional rollercoaster after snagging hardware in Paris and hitting the track again instead of taking a rest had been bound to take a toll on her.

That toll showed tonight when she was edged out by fellow American Brittany Brown in the 200m, marking a rare defeat for Gabby. But that defeat couldn’t block her from giving an honest opinion regarding her work with Alexis Ohanian, the main brain behind Athlos NYC. Earlier this year, Gabby and Alexis teamed up to unveil the concept for Athlos NYC 2024, working hand in hand to shape the blueprint for this groundbreaking event. Even in defeat, Gabby’s influence and partnership with Ohanian made their mark on a night of history in the making.

That feeling of working together once made the Olympian say, “He didn’t know anything about track, and now he’s using track lingo when he’s talking about, you know, our sport in the races, which I really appreciate.” However, Gabby had the engagement with her track duties as well. So, she had to side herself for the period from the essential role. Tonight, when she was asked about the note, Gabby disclosed a few valuable pieces of information. 

In the question of her direct role in the contest during the Olympics, Gabby Thomas replied, “There was a lot of stuff kind of influx when this was going on so all the details weren’t kind of hashed out so definitely was focused on the Olympics for the most part and then, you know everything kind of came together as it should.” In the meantime, as per her, Alexis Ohanian took the mantle of setting the motion. Douglas has no qualms with that, although.

Rather, the three-time Olympic champion has her flowers for the Reddit founder. Ohanian has, after all, established the framework for a competition in which each participating athlete is guaranteed a prize. Ohanian didn’t just create another competition—he’s built a framework where every athlete walks away with something, a portion of the overall revenue guaranteed to all participants. But it’s not just about the money; it’s about the spotlight.

Ohanian’s vision is bringing much-needed media attention to women athletes, and who can forget the staggering $60,000 prize money for the champion, which dwarfs the Diamond League prize money? Gabby has been vocal about Ohanian’s impact, saying, “You see it. I mean, he [Alexis Ohanian] really doubled the prize money of the Diamond League, and that’s fantastic because he saw what we deserve, and he doesn’t want to stop there.” That sentiment perfectly captures Ohanian’s mission with Athlos NYC, and Gabby Thomas is the quintessential centerpiece of that grand vision

Gabby Thomas brings in the most essential part of Athlos NYC 

In the realm of women’s sports, Alexis Ohanian is not a new name. Rather, Serena Williams’s husband already has a share in the ownership of Angel City Football Club in NWSL. But surprisingly, he had never been in a single match before buying out the stake in the club. However, Ohanian was present in the Olympic trial, sitting next to Gabby Thomas’s boyfriend, enjoying the gripping drama. So, for him, a lot of things are at the table while formulating Athlos NYC. 

Ohanian was particularly excited about bringing the excitement of the Olympics in Paris to Athlos NYC. After the Diamond League final in Brussels, the chance of it doubled. Furthermore, Gabby Thomas’s inclusion helped to magnify the limelight. The reward money was the cherry on top. Coming as a venture capitalist might have been the easiest part. 

Giving out his mindset on that, the entrepreneur said, “All that takes is a will and dollars,If that’s the top prize money, think of all the other athletes who cannot professionally do this sport. So how much are we missing in the array of talent? How much you’re gonna get, if we actually professionalize this a bit more. That just makes it appealing. And no one should be complacent with a $60,000 top prize. This is just a starting point and how we now work to build the infrastructure.” Now, as the first edition concludes, the fans will eagerly wait to see the rest of it.