Alexis Ohanian’s Athlos made its debut on September 26. The lineup saw some of the world’s fastest women at the iconic Icahn Stadium in New York City. The air was loaded with excitement as it saw 35 athletes from 14 countries, including 30 Olympians, at the start line. The event featured six distances, from the 100-meter hurdles to the 1500 meters.

Puerto Rican athlete Jasmine Camacho-Quinn won the 100m hurdles, clocking 12.36 seconds, while Ivorian athlete Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith took home the 100m flat Gold, clocking 10.98 seconds. Marie’s time is just 0.26 seconds slower than Julien Alfred’s Paris Olympics Gold! Not to be outdone, Dominican sprinter Marileidy Paulino closed the season, winning the 400m in style, clocking 49.59 seconds. To make it even more interesting, the event wasn’t all about the races.

It was a celebration of sports and culture. Walkout music from a trackside DJ set the tone, while fireworks lit up the night sky after each race, creating a festive vibe reminiscent of a music festival. As the creator, Alexis Ohanian himself puts it, “I wanted to capture like the US Open night match energy I wanted to capture if we can get a little a little bit of the New York like Knicks or Liberty playoff match energy and maybe throw in a little bit of Music Festival energy.” Ohanian did exactly that and more!

But was this just a one-time wonder event? “We’re absolutely doing this again next year. Yeah, no, the bare minimum is that this is one of the most exciting sporting events in New York sports,” said Alexis. “If you can pull off an event here in New York that New Yorkers say is one of the best events they’ve been to in sports and culture, you’re doing something right”.  Alexis doing something right, because Athlos was a statement. A paradigm shift in focus from men’s events.

“These ladies are the best. They’re the fastest in the world, and people show up and show out for people in cars and people riding horses going fast. I’m talking about humans, you know, no accessories required,” Alexis Ohanian added. As the dust settled, it became clear that this was not just a one-off event. Athlos and its vision has the potential to become a major sporting event for all women athletes. “I think we are on to something,” Alexis added, hinting at the possibility of something bigger coming shortly. After all, why wouldn’t he have a second year of Athlos?

Some madness that went down at Athlos 2024

Athlos 2024 didn’t just deliver electrifying moments of energy and fun—it brought with it high-octane track drama that no one saw coming. One of the most anticipated names on the lineup was Paris Olympics 200m gold medalist Gabby Thomas, and most assumed the race would be a walk in the park for her. But the script was flipped when fellow American Brittany Brown surged past Gabby, clocking an impressive 22.18. Gabby, with a time of 22.21, finished just behind her—0.38 seconds slower than her blazing Olympic pace. The upset sent shockwaves through the stadium, proving that in track and field, anything can happen.

And if that wasn’t enough drama, Masai Russell’s journey in the 100-meter hurdles was nothing short of a rollercoaster. Touted as a favorite, Masai finished third with a time of 12.44, but controversy followed. After the race, she didn’t hold back, saying, “I want to protest because, as anyone can see, there was a lot of flinching going on at the starting line, so that kind of affected me.” Despite the post-race tension, Athlos continues to push the envelope, making strides toward parity and fairness in the sport.

The event wasn’t just about the races—it was a spectacle that drew a star-studded crowd, blending celebrity culture with the world of women’s track. The stands buzzed with energy as rapper Flavor Flav, soccer star Ashlyn Harris, and British actor Nathalie Emmanuel cheered on the athletes. Sprinting legends Justin Gatlin and Fred Kerley were also in attendance, adding even more firepower to the evening. And just when you thought the night couldn’t get any bigger, Megan Thee Stallion brought the house down with a show-stopping performance, closing out Athlos 2024 in unforgettable fashion.

With the curtains now drawn on this year’s event, the buzz for Athlos 2025 is already building. As Alex Ohanian himself said, “I think we are on to something.” Indeed, Athlos isn’t just an event—it’s becoming a movement, elevating women’s track to the mainstream spotlight. The countdown to next year has officially begun, and if 2024 was any indication, Athlos 2025 is poised to be even bigger and bolder.