27-year-old Gabby Thomas isn’t just basking in the glow of her three gold medals from the Paris Olympics. Oh no, she’s already zooming ahead to her next big thing with all the enthusiasm of a kid on a sugar rush – her dream track and field project, Athlos, the brainchild of Alexis Ohanian.

It isn’t surprising for Gabby to give the first-of-its-kind track invitational the necessary tailwind. Much like he used to break a sweat watching his wife, Serena Williams, playing in Grand Slams, this time, guess who Ohanian was seated next to at Hayward Field at the US Olympics Trials? Experiencing that same familiar feeling – as Ohanian likes to call it, “Grand Slam PTSD” – was Thomas’ boyfriend, Spencer McManes.

But they had nothing to worry about. Gabby Thomas, who led the 200m trials final from start to finish, clocked a remarkable time of 21.81 seconds. And from that moment on, Ohanian was hooked: “It was a fountain of stories, a fountain of storylines, a fountain of drama.” With the Olympics in the rearview, the time has come for Athlos NYC to reach its fever pitch. Set to start on September 26 at the historic Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, Gabby shared her excitement with a cheeky Instagram update.

Gabby Thomas posted a conversation with someone on her Instagram story, captioning it, “Yes, we’re talking about @athlos.” The other person hyped up the Invitational, writing, “This is going to literally be the track event of the year.” Gabby’s response? “And that’s counting the Olympics😂” That someone she was conversing with doubled down: “No deada**.” By saying that Athlos could outshine even the Olympics, Gabby subtly suggested that Paris might’ve been great, but it’s already in the rearview mirror. And that’s not all!

Just a few days ago, Gabby talked about taking a well-deserved five-week break after her epic haul at the Paris Olympics. And honestly, who could blame her? But it seems she’s already had a change of heart. On Tuesday, she posted an Instagram story revealing she’s already back at it. Yep, training for Athlos! She wrote, “Back at it today! Next race ➡️ @athlos in New York on Sep. 26 🤗.”

Ohanian and Thomas held off on announcing who the other athletes joining the women-only event would be to avoid taking the shine away from the Olympics. But now, Faith Kipyegon, Alexis Holmes, Lieke Klaver, and Annie Tagoe have become the newest additions to what is set to be a star-studded 36-athlete lineup. Even Sha’Carri Richardson might make an appearance, which would only add to the star power. After all, this isn’t just another event — Athlos is here to start a new era in women’s athletics. And they’re putting their money where their mouth is.

What’s even more enticing is that all 36 athletes participating will get paid, no matter where they finish. 10% of the event’s revenue will be split among them. In a sport that has become known for costing athletes money instead of rewarding them, Athlos will be a welcome change. The idea behind this huge prize came from a simple math problem. Alexis Ohanian crunched the numbers and concluded that the most a track and field athlete earns in a year is around $30,000. He just doubled it. To go along with the $60,000 check, the champ will also receive a custom Tiffany crown!

Prize money distribution in Athlos: –

• First place: $60,000
• Second place: $25,000
• Third place: $10,000
• Fourth place: $8,000
• Fifth place: $5,000
• Sixth place: $2,500

For Alexis Ohanian, this $60,000 top prize “is just a starting point,” one that the track and field community needs to build on. Referring to other events’ top prizes, he put forth a thought-provoking question: “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?”

It’s no coincidence that this all-female event is launching just as some of the biggest track stars in the world happen to be women. To amp things up even more, Ohanian’s bringing in Megan Thee Stallion to headline the event — continuing the trend of celebs boosting track viewership, just like when Snoop Dogg popped up at the Olympic Trials. But with so much riding on this event, why is Ohanian betting so big on the future of women’s athletics?

Serena Williams’ prime inspired Alexis Ohanian’s Athlos vision, and Gabby Thomas is already cashing in!

Alexis Ohanian isn’t new to investing in women’s sports — he’s the one who founded Angel City FC in the NWSL. But his real introduction came from cheering on Serena Williams during her epic Grand Slam victories. When he first saw Gabby Thomas compete at the Olympic Trials, he couldn’t help but compare it to watching Serena on the biggest stages. He even joked, “Seeing it in person, it was a little bit of Grand Slam PTSD.”

Ohanian added, “It was a fountain of stories, a fountain of storylines, a fountain of drama in those trials. So I definitely was spoiled to have that be my very first. But it also opened my eyes and reinforced the idea this is a huge opportunity.” And that’s when the light bulb went off — investing in women’s track and field could be his next big win, especially since it’s still a relatively untapped area. He saw Gabby as his winning horse, recognizing her as one of the world’s top athletes. Gabby’s no stranger to the financial perks of this venture, either.

She’s already pocketed $180,000 from Ohanian, thanks to his promise of $60,000 for every gold medal won by Athlos-affiliated women in the Paris Games. With her three golds, she cashed in big time. But this competition isn’t just about the money, though — it’s about giving more female athletes a stage to shine. Being Ohanian’s first signed athlete, Gabby has played a huge role in shaping Athlos. Describing her excitement while discussing plans for Athlos, Ohanian said, “She was like the Venn diagram of enthusiastic and incredibly insightful, where the Venn diagram was like a perfect circle.”

Seeing Gabby’s excitement for Athlos has only fueled Ohanian’s motivation. While we’ll have to wait and see if Athlos truly becomes a game-changer, Ohanian’s efforts to boost track and field viewership are undeniable. And now that Gabby Thomas is more hyped than ever, what do you make of her putting it on a higher level than the Paris Olympics? Share your thoughts in the comments!