“Men Were Taking All the Money”: Alexis Ohanian Gets Applauded by Jamaican Track & Field Legend For Elevating Women Athletes

The fast-paced world of track can often make us forget about the darker side of the sport. While fans mostly concern themselves with the results, the discrepancy that reigns over the industry can be severely detrimental for the female competitors. Enter Alexis Ohanian. The Reddit co-founder’s ambitious project Athlos NYC has arrived, and track veterans are lauding him for his commitment to making track and field less discriminating for everyone.

The 2024 Athlos NYC has begun its inaugural run, and so far things have been electrifying. As the celebrity women sprinters showcased their incredible speeds at the Icahn Stadium, some stars couldn’t help but highlight how Alexis Ohanian ushered in a new era for female athletes. Three-time Olympic gold medalist Gail Devers explicitly marveled at how female track stars are being treated incredibly well for the Athlos event. When asked how she feels looking at how Ohanian & Co. are hosting the competitors, Devers simply said, “Royalty,” during the live telecast from the iconic stadium.

“We win gold medals, this is platinum. This is taking a step above,” said Devers further. “What Alexis has been able to do with this meet, in one night, is give access and opportunity, and hope to kids, to everyone,” the 1992 Olympic gold medalist stated. Along with her appreciation for Ohanian’s work, Gail also claimed that, as a track fan, it was a missed opportunity to witness history for anyone who wasn’t present at the Icahn Stadium tonight.

To make the existing scenario more comprehensible, Jamaican middle-distance runner Aisha Praught-Leer revealed how things used to be when she started her professional track career. In a post by CitiusMag from September 26, Praught-Leer dropped a stunning bomb: “When I started the sport, men were making all the money.” But she also solemnly noted that Alexis Ohanian and his latest venture have dealt a blow to the guts.

“If you were a woman in sport you’re just kind of like who also ran. This has totally changed. Now, the females are the stars,” the 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medalist expressed her glee. With her statement, Praught-Leer made it evident that Alexis Ohanian has been able to follow up on his words with gusto and is sure to bring massive changes to the world of female athletics.

Alexis Ohanian makes big claims before his brainchild takes its first step

In a video uploaded by Bloomberg on September 27, Ohanian explained why he believes women’s sports have the potential to become something incredibly big and popular around the world. “It’s my strong belief that if the WWE can create a cast of characters that engaged us and compel us week after week after week, Athlose can absolutely do that with these superstar athletes,” grinned the Reddit boss with determination oozing from his tone.

“These women are incredibly compelling. This is the original sport, and these athletes are superstars,” he reiterated why the Athlos participants deserve every applause in the world. Considering how the venture capitalist Alexis Ohanian’s project aims to bring more exposure to female stars, it was only natural that it would also walk the talk when it came to commending the stars on their hard work for the event.

The Athlos NYC will pay its gold medalists $60,000, which is much higher prize money than what’s offered by important international tournaments such as the Diamond League discipline. With a promise to pay female stars generously, Ohanian managed to catch the attention of a lot of track stars from around the world who wanted to be a part of his dream. From the enigmatic Gabby Thomas to the emphatic Faith Kipyegon, the list of competitors at Alexis Ohanian’s 2024 Athlos was incredible, and the event did not disappoint one bit. What was your favorite moment from the night? Tell us below!